There is a course offered in a number of US schools called the "Big Questions". Students are challenged to discuss and seek possible solutions to very difficult issues.

Here are some examples: If life is important, why do we have capital punishment, euthanasia and abortion?

If water is a vital commodity for survival, why do we pollute it?

If drugs are bad, why do we sell cigarettes and alcohol but condemn marijuana?

There are big questions for Bermuda as well, and answers are needed because of growing community concerns:

If we have a hospitality and business economy, why are we placing emphasis on having a first-class basketball gymnasium at the Berkeley Institute and not a twenty-four hour business or computer school?

If we have a shortage of housing in Bermuda, why do we continue to bring in more and more businesses knowing that we have a shortage of houses and skilled labour? Have we reached saturation point?

If we are trying to develop diversity, why do we celebrate Black History Month, develop a Black Celebrity Golf Tournament and an African Diaspora Trail and not deal with all aspects of Bermuda which includes, the Portuguese, Americans and British?

If tourists want to see a beautiful country and receive good service, then why are we ignoring a friendly smile and welcome, and why are we trashing our own land?

If we are sending our students away to get additional training and they are returning and cannot find a job, why is it we don't collect and share the statistics and develop incentive, apprenticeship and internship programmes that will give them experience with entry level positions?

If work permits are one standard fee, is it fair that a permit for a dishwasher should be the exact same as that of a high powered executive?

If the island entertainment product and the island's cleanliness are not ready, why is the Minister of Tourism overseas promoting a product that is still not complete?

If we have developed an economy that is demanding a higher level of skills, then why are we so shocked when we have to bring in foreigners to do those jobs, if we have lowered our educational standards and if we keep opening more and more businesses that we don't have enough skilled people to fulfill?

If we have dozens of students doing psychology and only a few jobs in psychology, can we do anything to change their minds to consider other alternatives in areas that are most needed? (Chefs, waiters, actuaries, computers, accountants,psychiatry etc)

If teenage pregnancy remains a big issue, what can be done to ensure that the child is not adversely affected if the parents do not stay together?

If we all agree that our young men are not achieving or behaving as they should, what is our national strategy to resolve the issue or do we just want to continue to moan about it?

If the Government has stated that we will operate in the "sunshine of public scrutiny", does this mean 'when we feel like it', or every day and with all reports except those that might put the country at risk?

If we have many talented people working below capacity or not at all, do we continue to ignore them or do we establish a programme that will use all of our human resources regardless of race, creed or political opinion?

I think you get the picture and I will stop here and challenge you to discuss the "Big Questions" so we can make Bermuda a better place.

Dale Butler is Progressive Labour Party MP for Warwick East