In most democratic countries politicians are constantly challenged on whether they are in politics for prestige and personal gain, or truly to help the country and the people they serve.These challenges persist because too often the people see politicians dodging issues that could clash with their support for a particular Party.Most would agree this is a tough road to travel, because in politics being honest and forthright might be seen as counter-productive to preserving an image of party unity, which is vital when seeking full support from the public when elections roll around.Some people openly state that when politicians speak, it is always party first, and the people second. That is unfair since it paints all politicians with the same brush. But politicians must realise that the public is fully capable of thinking, and that when they sense something is not quite right, they are duty bound to raise questions and expect answers. Sadly many of the answers they get on sensitive matters beg even more questions. It is here where the promises of transparency on all matters concerning the people, starts to become foggy.It is not so much that the people are against Government, but that they have the right to question any policy that they find disturbing to the point where a decision comes across as negative rather than positive for Bermuda.The fact that it appears negative doesn’t necessarily mean it is, but when a large section of the community reacts, that matter deserves the fullest consideration. The Rosewood Tuckers Point area is an example of how many people from all walks of life feel a good portion of the country is slipping away for political or other interest. That debate is continuing.The bottom line here is that many people feel they are not getting transparency from authorities of the day on vital matters and some might be quick to say in politics do not expect honesty. However we know that without honesty, our values crumble.Democracy provides us with the ability to have a voice and the opportunity of free expression laced with dignity and respect. The free press in this setting, is the watchdog in protecting and upholding those rights.Bermuda is in the midst of challenging economic times in almost every area of community life and there is a need for solidifying efforts to move to a brighter day. Violent crime is not going to disappear over night, illegal drug activity remains a thorn in the countrys side, and joblessness could further hurt families.We should pause and take a hard look at where we are and where we want to go as a people. At the moment the country seems a little bit at war with itself. We can do better than that because we have people in the political arena, on both sides, who have shown a willingness to be forthright in dealing with problems for the betterment of Bermuda. That will always be applauded.Bermuda Day is not too far away and perhaps we might all reflect a little harder on how so many hard working Bermudians struggled through many challenges, social and economic, to bring us this far. There is still much work to be done. We have a choice. Either we work together as one people to build a stronger, safer, society, or we allow our differences to become obstacles in our path.