their Country.

This has been evidenced most recently by the contribution of time and expertise to the Premier's remarkable and innovative committees on the future of Bermuda. These committees deal with such vital aspects of the future of our Country as the competitiveness of Bermuda in the tourism and international company markets, the future employment of Bermudians and the best future use of base lands by Bermuda. People have given time and work which Government would never have been able to afford.

Service to Government on such things as Government boards, service to helping organisations ranging in scope from sick children to the environment, and service to our multitude of churches is a part of the way of life for Bermudians. US President John F. Kennedy would never have had to say in Bermuda, "...ask what you can do for your country.'' Bermudians know what they can do for their Country and they do it.

That being the case, we are concerned that some areas of Bermudian politics in this election year do not reflect unselfish service.

Before party politics there was little to be gained financially from political service, and, while there might have been some parish prestige, there was a good deal of work involved, indeed more time was spent on the floor of the House of Assembly than is spent there today. Successful and respected people, mostly men, served their Country. Not all of these people were honourable and not all of them were distinguished. No wide group would be, but they served their country freely. In the terms of their times, they produced a sound Country and they laid the foundation for the success that is Bermuda's today.

Today, with obvious exceptions, the nastier aspects of party politics have caused many of the Country's top people to stay away from politics even though, like Mr. Mansfield Brock and Mr. David Lines, they continue to serve Bermuda on such things as the Premier's special commissions.

What concerns us is one of the more unpleasant aspects of party politics.

People who today run for political office do it to achieve a salary they are not equipped to earn in the private sector. It is disturbing to think that some people now run for Parliament for the power and the glory and not to serve Bermuda but to serve themselves.

In the past, Bermuda has been remarkably free of people who went into politics because they needed a decent job. Rather it has had people who have moved on from successful careers to politics in order to serve the Country while avoiding those who have been unhappy with their lack of private success and who have moved to politics to serve themselves. These people are not following Bermuda's long tradition of asking what they can do for their Country but are seeking to use Bermuda to do for themselves.

We think the public should ask itself if that is what it wants for Bermuda.

The public has to ask itself if Bermuda needs people who have never had a basic job. Does Parliament need people who have a failing law practice? Do we want to be governed by people who have failed at business? These are important questions for Bermuda's future.