regularly volunteer for such service. Indeed, without such service Bermuda would be without many of the boards, clubs, commissions and charity organisations which contribute to and enrich our lives.

Why then are we so hard on so many of the people who make these contributions? The National Drug Commission comes to mind.

Bermuda has been several years setting up an overall drugs commission to deal with what is probably the most demanding problem in Bermuda today. We dealt yesterday with the Progressive Labour Party's ongoing obstruction of the formation of the Commission. Now we have to wonder why citizens volunteer to be part of the punching bag and we have to wonder why the bag is punched.

It can probably be taken for granted that Bermuda spends far too much time on politics. Politics permeates Bermudian life. Very few decisions are made on merit but rather reached after very careful consideration of the political implications. In the process of all of that politicians will seek to tear down or to build up or to gain a vote or an advantage.

But politics does not always mean "government'' since politics takes many forms.

First of all, volunteers who encounter difficult situations are bound to be accused of having a "conflict of interest''. Very few people can, in fact, define what they mean by "conflict of interest'' if asked to do so and, if they can, they have to admit that just about everyone in public life in Bermuda has any number of conflicts. If Bermudians did not accept that people can continue to serve despite conflicts then we would be totally unable to staff Bermuda Incorporated.

Then the politicians will get in the act. Dirty politics has been extended these days even to volunteers. If you are a tiny bit liberal the Right Wing will accuse you of being an unacceptable communist. If you are a moderate conservative you will be branded as a lackey of Front Street. If you do not toe the line you will be a troublemaker, or worse. If you try to change things you will be a radical. You must always remember that if you "cause trouble'' the bully boys will be sent out to blacken your name in any way they can.

Then there are those other volunteers who hope to get glory from volunteering and just know they can do better than you can. They will do almost anything to you but they are not as bad as those who do not want to do the work but will tear you down just hoping to look better themselves.

Those who volunteer for public service in Bermuda do so knowing that their good deeds will not go unpunished. However, while there is unlikely to be much pleasure and there is precious little glory, there is satisfaction in making a contribution and getting the job done.

We hope that Alastair Macdonald and his National Drug Commission remember that. Bermuda needs them for a very important job.