politicians who are out of step with the people. Because of that, it would seem clear that both political parties have lost their way.

Trying to drag the reluctant people to Independence, just because some politicians want Independence as part of their personal agendas, is not a democratic process. Asking people not to cast their vote is not a democratic process. Politicians are democratically elected to carry out the will of the people. They are not elected to embark on their own agenda against the public will.

Yes, it is often annoying for people to be told that they cannot do this or that or the other. It is annoying for teenagers, who want to be adults, to be told that they cannot do any number of things. It is just as annoying for politicians not to get their own way but, ultimately, politicians in a democracy should serve the people who elected them.

If The Royal Gazette's polls are correct, and we believe they are and we also have reason to believe they are very similar to some other polls, then only about 17 percent of the people want Independence at this time but, and here lies the problem, some 75 percent of the politicians want Independence. Rather than honouring the wishes of the people, those politicians have gone off by themselves promoting Independence. Some of them are now angry at the people but probably not as angry as the people are at them for selfishly disrupting the Country and for calling a mid-August vacation time referendum.

The Progressive Labour Party lost its way and took the unprecedented step of asking its supporters not to vote, yet polls show that not too many are likely to give up their hard won right to vote. The PLP politicians favour Independence. Vote or do not vote, the PLP supporters are split and are not solidly behind the party in supporting Independence.

The United Bermuda Party is not really split on Independence. About 90 percent of the party's supporters are opposed to Independence. The politicians are split and one group of politicians is moving in the opposite direction to its own following.

Now Cabinet Ministers are grandly announcing that they will resign from Cabinet if there is a "NO'' vote. They are trying to pressure the people. But that is misleading because it is no big deal. Cabinet ministers MUST resign anyway if the Premier resigns to clear the way for a new leader. Anyway, we all know that if there is a "NO'' vote and we do need a new Premier, then the cabinet ministers will all, "for the good of the Country'' and "to serve the people'' want to return to the power of the Cabinet.

It is August and Cup Match. It has been a long, hot, difficult and stressful July. We think Bermudians should take advantage of the long weekend to turn off politics and the politicians, cool down and chill out.