"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

Let's start with the critics first, Mr. Editor. Barritt may not be making this stuff up, but it hardly sets the world on fire. Matters of good governance, scratch that, better governance, are just not that sexy. They don't make for big, bold action-oriented headlines. I understand. I do. It is difficult sometimes, most times, to connect the dots on how better governance will result in better lives for the average man, woman and child in Bermuda, although I do believe the task is getting easier now that more and more chickens are coming home to roost in a struggling economy.

But wait a minute. The United Bermuda Party had the chance to put these reforms in place, 30 years in fact, but never did. First, that isn't entirely true.

For example, the rules of the House on the Hill were overhauled during the United Bermuda Party's tenure, back in the late seventies, I believe, and as recently as their last term, when current deputy leader Trevor Moniz spearheaded the introduction of a Register of Interests for MPs. Secondly, and in any event, the world has moved on since the UBP left office and the Progressive Labour Party assumed power.

Exhibit A: Those annual CPA conferences to which we regularly and faithfully send parliamentary delegations.

Hold on, though. The only reason John Barritt pushes this now is because the PLP is in power and/or because it's a black party. That is a refrain I hear from time to time. My reaction in a word: Nonsense. Two words: Errant nonsense.

My position may be political but it isn't racial. Spend ten-plus years on the Opposition benches after five on the Government side. Keep your wits about you, you see and hear and learn a lot; a lot more than you knew when you started. The fact is our system of parliamentary oversight has not kept pace with the growth in Government over the years, the need for which is particularly acute.

The annual Government budget under the PLP has grown to over $1 billion in expenditure a year; not to mention the debt – which I will – which hovers at $1 billion. I appreciate too what's going on in other jurisdictions, some of which are our competitors for international business. We are in serious danger of falling behind on the CPA-recommended benchmarks for modern democratic legislatures. On the other hand, we have not been the least bit reluctant to raise standards legislatively for those in business in Bermuda, whether local or international, in insurance or in finance, along with the professions, lawyers, doctors, nurses and teachers. It's all been about bringing about better governance.

The Legislature should be no exception. On the contrary, we should be leading the way. I have to wonder why, in any event, we would want to condemn ourselves to repeating rather than learning from the past? We don't need to be fighting yesterday's battles, but we do need to tackle today's.

Don't get too excited, Barritt, people are going to believe what they want to believe anyhow. I have heard that one before, but not quite like the way one reader put it to me a short while ago. He sent an article, from The New York Times I believe, about studies conducted at the University of Michigan four or five years ago which concluded that facts do not necessarily change people's minds. Researchers found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. Quite the opposite, in fact: they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs.

Their findings confirmed the reality, which is that most of us often base our opinions on our beliefs, and rather than allowing facts to drive our beliefs, our beliefs dictate the facts that we choose to accept. The study found that the more attractive facts were those which reinforced their subjects' preconceived notions and this reinforcement in turn made them more confident that they were right and less likely to listen to any new information. I don't suppose this comes as much of a surprise – as discouraging and as depressing as it may be. The way we often hear it expressed in the political trade is that perception is reality. But it does explain a lot.

Reader Raymond Ray has his perception. You may recall his letter to the Editor in which he thought we might bring an end to party politicking by having coalition Cabinets. I agree, that could be a game changer.

However, I do not see it happening any time soon. It would take a brave soul to accept the invitation and an even braver one to make it. Party politics tend to work on loyalty and those who are loyal expect to reap the rewards i.e. a seat at the Cabinet table. You overlook the loyalist for an outsider or a Johnny-come-lately and, well, you're asking for trouble in the ranks. Nevertheless, we can make a start on changing the political culture in Bermuda by developing, and using more effectively, the committee system in the House which provides a mechanism for MPs from all sides to have to work together on major issues of the day – and, yes, in the sunshine of public scrutiny, i.e. with public hearings.

It can work. The Boundaries Commission is a good example of what can be produced. My recommendation of an Electoral Commission, a similarly-constituted body under a revised Parliamentary Election Act, found particular favour with one particular reader who wondered whether it would work better by reporting to the Legislature and working under the control of the Speaker. Whatever works best: I'm open to all good ideas.

Finally, my political arithmetic provoked puzzlement in some quarters. It should not have. It's Politics 101 frankly. Most of us have been around long enough, Mr. Editor, to know that one and one makes two. It should come then as no surprise that one minus one makes for zero.

Comments? Write jbarritt@ibl.bm