Bermuda is in need of some clearing of political waters that continue to churn in a manner that makes it difficult to see what is really going on beneath the surface.

It certainly was no surprise to learn that in an island-wide poll, it was discovered that many were disappointed in the performances of both the One Bermuda Alliance in government and the Progressive Labour Party as the Opposition.

On one hand, there was a strong feeling that the OBA had fallen short on many promises made before being elected, which is something most new governments are confronted with, while the Opposition is struggling to regain momentum after being dethroned and is wrestling with leadership issues. That, too, is not uncommon in the political arena.

Most of the electorate have no taste for anything resembling the nasty exchanges in the American presidential campaigns, which have left many around the world wondering what is happening to the culture of that country. Perhaps the verdict will come in November.

General elections in most democratic countries have a tendency to bring out the bad, the good and the ugly in society, as emotions between opposing groups often slip out of control.

We have too many pressing problems that need cohesive attention from our legislators if meaningful headway is to be made in seeking solutions. We have among us bold criminals who act often in broad daylight as they commit daring armed robberies that have many business owners concerned.

Even though guns are illegal in Bermuda, the island still has a gun problem, and that also needs revisiting by those representatives who sit in Parliament — on both sides of the House.

With so many communication gadgets available, technology is often used by criminals in committing some offences. There have been stories that innocent-looking people appear to be texting when in fact they could be alerting an accomplice that the coast is clear to commit a crime. Police do have their work cut out for them, but perhaps stronger laws are required to make criminals think twice before brandishing a weapon to commit robbery.

We also know that strong laws alone will not stamp out violent crime, but when criminals know the price could be quite high if convicted, there just may be a few who decide it is not worth it. That would be a step in the right direction.

Most Bermudians want to feel safe and daring criminals at the moment are causing concerns that keep us all a little on edge.

Bermuda is noted for its crystal-clear waters, and most us know on a calm day we can almost tell whether a fish is frowning or not. Well, you get the point. Under stormy conditions, it is a different story. That holds true with our politically troubled waters when divisiveness prevents a more unified approach in trying to solve problems that affect all Bermudians.

Most people want nothing but the best from those elected to office, regardless of party allegiance. Unless we can calm our troubled political waters, our vision and efforts to move forward will be hampered.