Just as stores compete with colourful shop windows during peak shopping periods to attract customers, politicians use the same approach to gain voter support prior to a general election.Like shoppers, voters have to examine as closely as possible which store offers the best bargain. Voters face the same challenge when it comes to casting their ballots to decide which political party will move Bermuda to a new level of hope and prosperity.Shops are unlikely to survive if their prices are high but their expected quality falls short, unless the shopper, for whatever reason, feels obliged to support a particular establishment without question.In fact, Bermudian shoppers go to great lengths to secure the best deal, even if it means going overseas at the risk of short circuiting local businesses.When it comes to political window dressing, the usual trend is that the incumbent political party will go all out to convince the electorate that any change would be detrimental to progress. Nothing wrong with that. On the other hand an opposition party challenging the incumbent, is expected to leave no stone unturned in persuading voters that without change, progress would be stifled. Nothing wrong with that either. Much will depend on who has the best sell, and how voters buy into what is being offered.In our small multicultural society and in this new age of electronic communication, any expression, negative or positive, can be whipped across cyber space in seconds for the world to see. For politicians anywhere, this can be a nightmare if the tongue slips out of control.Recently a Republican US Senate candidate was ostracised, even by members of his own party, after he said women were unlikely to become pregnant if, as he put it, they were legitimately raped. He later apologised, but that failed to halt the deluge of calls from both sides for him to step out of the race. Major blunders are not easy to hide in this viral age.Locally, some online commentors’ emotions over take their better judgment, with bitter personal attacks over various issues. Public officials should be wary in their response. Being critical of the critics could spark even more criticism when it is seen as attempting to curb freedom of speech, along with protecting a political image at any cost.Bermudians are struggling to survive and don’t need experts to tell them about the mess we are in. It is easy to point fingers and while many find it too tempting to resist, it would help if more thought was be given to how best to move forward. That in itself is a challenge especially when various forms of divisiveness continue to hamper the ability to tackle vital problems collectively.The issue of illegal drugs remains has affected families throughout Bermuda. Despite good police work in cutting supplies reaching our shores, it is a never ending task since demand in the underworld drug market keeps this business alive.Gang activity and violent crime very much associated with illegal drugs continues to keep the populace uneasy, and police busy trying to keep law and order and communities safe. Many of our seniors are not having the easiest times during their sunset years in the midst of this economic crunch. Too often this segment of the population find themselves in a noisy environment and a lack of sensitivity to their plight.The vanishing family is still a concern for many countries including Bermuda, as many traditional values seem to disappear when young minds are left to fan for themselves. The problems are huge, and Bermudians cannot afford to pretend we are still riding the gravy train. Much needs to be done to catch that train again.Meanwhile we need to remain focused on key issues with a desire to keep decency, honesty, and integrity up front.Determining which party can best deal with these issues is the job of every voter between now and the general election — and they must be able to look past the window dressing to do it.alaseymour@logic.bm