IN this newspaper a few months ago, one voice from a regular contributor in favour of Independence forwarded a theoretical economic advantage (rather than an emotional one) that we could enjoy if we "went it alone".

I feel I should state here that I do not dismiss the fleeting psychological benefits of the pride and confidence expected to be gained by many when the shackles of colonial history and its links to slavery are removed when I argue against Independence now.

However, underneath I am a practical person. And I really struggle to reconcile how this emotional surge that will purportedly be experienced by a portion of our community will help the economic and social prosperity of our future generations, given that typically, such emotion is short-lived.

One case in point is the elation of the Progressive Labour Party faithful pursuant to their first victory in 1998 which died a relatively quick death. For most of them, life continued as before ? there were few free tickets handed out. I say most, because, obviously the new power-holders and their inner circle have certainly improved their own standards of living.

I believe that the fundamental desire of all Bermudians is to maintain our high standard of living and to provide a stable and/or improved community for our children. Surely, any analysis of the need for Independence should recognise the enormous comparative wealth of Bermuda.

The world is an awfully tough place, yet the average Bermudian lives a fabulous life relative to anyone from almost anywhere else in the world. The purchasing power of Bermudians abroad is phenomenal, and this wealth is why we have an infrastructure-strain ? most Bermudians marry and move back here, or never leave.

Back to that pro-Independence columnist who tackled the sovereignty topic (again) in our January 28 edition by first regurgitating the emotional argument and then forwarding another of some substance. After analysing the relationship Bermuda has with the United States and the EU countries he stated that "Bermuda may find that it will have to decide if its vital interests are best protected by being an Independent state".

In the article, the writer essentially suggested that the defence of our excellent economic and international position may be strengthened by cutting ties with the UK. He wisely does not reach that conclusion definitively because he does not have a crystal ball and neither do I.

Nor does the Premier, the Opposition, etc. Frankly, nobody knows how we will fare if international trade conduct is changed in the future ? and the frightening truth is that a considerable portion of our prosperity (international business and tourism) is beyond our control. This is just the way it is.

Given that our prosperity has and will always be tied to our giant neighbour the United States ? the world's only true remaining superpower ? what could happen to varying macroeconomic conditions in the West upon cutting ties to the UK (and EU)? None of us knows for sure, but we do know that what anyone clearly needs in the face of uncertainty is flexibility.

To me the single biggest problem, the major disadvantage of Independence is its irreversibility. If the US' rising debt and social security issues depress its economy and Bermuda is, once again, used as a political scapegoat, we could face economic hostility via the passing of more forms of protectionist legislation.

And I say "more" forms as a few states got caught up in John Kerry's political posturing against Bermuda and have banned some of our companies from bidding on Government contracts. I believe neither PXRE nor the failing Trenwick can bid on CEA coverage in California to this day.

Anyway, in the face of continued economic hostility it would be vital to be part and parcel of the EU as opposed to an isolated, unconnected dot in the Atlantic Ocean.

I am not particularly for or against Independence as a general concept, but let's recognise the potential importance of flexibility. If we go Independent now, flexibility is destroyed, if we do not, then some is maintained. The bottom line is that the pro-Independent voices need to articulate a case based on economic substance, which they have yet to do.

The columnist I refer to comes across as a person with over-average intelligence and quite articulate; his failure to offer a strong pro-Independence perspective outside of challenging Bermuda's pride and confidence issues (and putting down those with opposing views) underscores the utter weakness of the pro-Independence case.

If we act today under a neophyte Government for emotional reasons then we will complete a serious disservice to our future generations. Let's park Independence for now and maintain our flexibility. There are pressing issues to be dealt with, that, if we can solve, will do more for the pride and confidence of Bermudians than Independence could and will lay the foundation for continued success.

We must deal with (a) education (b) complacency in our youth, drugs, violence, etc and (c) the redistribution of wealth. The last point is, without question, the most controversial. In the US, the gap between the very wealthy and the poor has widened considerably in the last ten years and this problems has been similarly evidenced in Bermuda.

The onus should be on those who have tremendous wealth to come forward and participate in developing ideas as to how this issue can be addressed. To fail to do so would be to ignore the best interests of our island, our community and the success of our future generations.

Next I would answer the question posed when the less-than-objective UN's Decolonisation Committee came to town. They were apparently perplexed as to why an island with our superior infrastructure remained a colony.

Had I been asked to expand their tunnel vision, it would have been a no-brainer as the majority of former colonies suffered from a lack of infrastructure because their natural resources (coffee, minerals, produce, etc.) were plundered by their "mother" countries and life could not have been worse for the natives of these colonies. They had nothing left to lose by going Independent.

We, in Bermuda, have no such removable resources, and, in fact, our ties to the UK and its legal system have only enhanced the legitimacy of our foremost asset, intellectual capital. How did we gain such a formidable infrastructure ? because of our ties to the UK.

Bermudians claim that we are unique and I agree ? we are possibly one of the only (along with the Cayman Islands) Overseas Territories that has benefited, and continues to do so, because we are a colony. We can't be plundered without our consent and any forcing of Independence upon us would effectively serve to cause us to experience the brain-drain so many small nations face (i.e. all the local intellectual talent goes overseas and stays there for obvious reasons.) We find ourselves in the enviable opposite position of attracting overseas talent along with retaining our own.

Why mess with that? Really, why?

The biggest lie out there is that Independence will suddenly endow Bermudians with a sense of pride and self-esteem they could never feel today. Right! I therefore propose a litmus test to validate this national pride theory by polling all Bermudian men between the ages of 18 and 35 and ask them if they would voluntarily enter the Regiment ? given their increased pride in our island ? if we were Independent. I'll give odds on the outcome, folks. Any takers?

, self-esteem and self-worth, for any individual, is an inside job. There are no quick fixes. I back this up, not only with personal experience, but with proven social management theory. Simply reference Abraham Maslow's hierarchy ? or triangle ? of needs.

Maslow's undisputed theory supports the need for us to meet our island's physiological needs first in order to maximise any emotional benefits that could accrue by being Independent.

Maslow proved that the ultimate goal of self-actualisation (self-worth, esteem et al) can only be reached after satisfying other basic human needs first in a particular order. We can't achieve the next level if we have not met the needs of the preceding one. The first level refers to our need to be fed, sheltered and feel safe.

What proponents of Independence are attempting to con us with is the ability to transcend those of all other human beings and catapult ourselves to the apex of the triangle ? self- esteem ? on the occurrence of an outside event ? Independence. This is their fallacy and I hope we are not all that foolish. For those of you who are, call me as I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.