On a regular basis I run into Bermudians with the world's best ideas. They are very critical of what exist and they have some incredible suggestions. For some strange reason they want me to promote them. They are capable people but they are unwilling to proceed further. Why?

The Government's idea, on paper, to revive the parish council is a good one. Elected parish councils would give people the opportunity to get involved, present their ideas, defend them and see them to the dustbin or fruition. It would also enable people to see how difficult it can be to convince others to see their vision and commit to it. It would provide an opportunity to see how things are prioritised and what happens when there is no money. What do you do when your idea is rejected? And most important of all, what happens when your idea is accepted and nobody wants to chair the committee, not even you?

Bermuda's established organisations are suffering from declining participation. On the one hand I run into the same people trying to do it all while too many others are concerned only about themselves and not the whole pie. The current traffic impasse involving bus drivers at Dockyard is a case in point.

After years and years of using the narrow thoroughfare the bus-drivers took a stand not to use it anymore. Although I salute them on their concerns for safety I must question their timing. Instead of pausing the bus along the way, or using an alternative route, over 2,300 visitors have been inconvenienced because they cannot get to the larger buses after they leave their cruise ship. Unfortunately they will leave Bermuda with such a bad feeling in their mouths that they will tell hundreds of people for the rest of their lives. This will have a negative impact on tourist numbers and the amount of income into the country.

Our valued bus drivers are stakeholders in Bermuda and as stakeholders it is essential to look at the whole product. We are a service economy and without the tourists the whole country will suffer including the bus drivers. And it isn't only the bus-drivers who have this attitude. We can look at people who take an attitude when it comes to service in general. When they have personal conversations on the phone while you wait for service, it sends a bold message that you are not important and they don't care. Don't we see the economic ramifications of putting ourselves first before the needs of the customers, when we are on the job?

The bus route had been used for years and with patience and caution accidents had been avoided. To complicate matters by refusing to drive the last 200 yards has left a bad taste in the mouths of our customers. The drivers might feel victorious but not one of them would appreciate such an action on their own holiday so why take such an irrational action now? The fact that there is so little public outcry about this is a further indication of the poor public perception of what service is and the long term drastic impact of such actions.

We put our heads in the sand rather than stand up and say: "Come on guys, we have to be rational or face the long term consequences in an industry that is already suffering. Surely you can understand this!"

But do we really understand economics and long term consequences? I think not. Had the bus drivers changed their minds until a solution was found they would have been hailed as sensible and rational people and retained the support of the public. But now people are beginning to ask if such actions will be seen in all professions. Will doctors, for example, refuse to treat indigent people because they are messy? Will lawyers refuse to try cases until they are paid? Will school teachers refuse to teach because the children are noisy or restless?

I often reflect on this while I am driving home at night after a series of meetings. I see people out walking, sailing in their boats and cleaning their cars. They can do all of this because of their hard work and our great economic climate. The next morning I listen on the radio to their critiques on how to make things better and what they would do. But I often wonder why they don't join and do something about it. If, for example, the bus drivers were given the budget and the power to do something about the Dockyard road, and the arrival of Bermudians and tourists in the area, what would they do to ensure that the economic picture remained bright for all concerned? How would they handle it?

I would like to provide people with an opportunity to be part of a Parish Council that has a set of different goals from the past. Maybe this way there would be a greater understanding of how things take time and how we all have to work together because our product is so fragile. In other words, as I travel along that narrow path, what will it take for me to stop and allow the other vehicle to pass as we try and reach consensus about a long-term solution for the problem? That way everyone wins. I therefore feel that we need to get more people involved in decision making and the Parish Council is a good way of focusing attention from "me", the individual, to "us" the country.

I want to know how people would:

1. Get the parish clean and keep it clean

2. Get the young men off the walls

3. Build youth centres with meaningful programmes

4. Distribute social assistance

5. Address the parish drug issue

6. Get adults to wear reflectors when they walk early in the morning or late at night

7. Get dads involved in parenting classes

8. Address teenage rage, alienation and aggression

9. Deal with the parish homeless

10. Deal with crime

Talking to me about their numerous ideas seems to be some type of relief that they have passed the burden on for someone else to do. I cannot do it by myself. The Government and community organisations cannot do it all. The Radio Talk Show callers with ideas have to be challenged to get involved. The young citizen who has made it and has his car and boat can no longer just pass ideas on and NOT get involved. The country needs more than talk.

So when you have an idea, be prepared to get involved. When you do, we all benefit.

Dale Butler J.P.M.P. is a Member of Parliament for Warwick East