about his former Cabinet colleagues when he spoke about leadership on Tuesday.

But his message was impossible to misunderstand; any government should avoid complacency and beware of losing touch with the community it has been chosen to lead.

That simple message held as true for the United Bermuda Party, which lost touch with the community as it engaged in civil war over Independence and McDonald's, as it does for the Progressive Labour Party when it gives the impression that it cares more about big cars and first class air tickets than it does about housing and health care.

Mr. Hodgson made a further point in his speech when he discussed the late Sir John Sharpe who used to ride to work at the Cabinet Office on his Mobylette.

That was not a criticism of oversized cars; it was a criticism of leaders who think they need the trappings of power to get respect. Mr. Hodgson's point is that true leaders do not need large cars or entourages. They get respect because they serve their communities in a spirit of humility.

It is that spirit of service which, Mr. Hodgson seems to be saying, is lacking in the current leadership of the Island, and that is not exclusive to government or politics.

To be sure, Mr. Hodgson sets high standards of service in his speech, and argues for an ideal which is hard to achieve. But what is wrong with striving for that ideal? And who would argue with the notion that Bermuda is a long way from that ideal now? He said in his speech: "Most leaders who seek office on the basis of their willingness to serve decide that they should reap greater rewards than they would otherwise have and then seek to justify it by comparing themselves with those who are in Government or business who make no pretence that they are doing anything other than earning an income or a profit. The roar of the crowd must never seduce us into substituting power for service or emotion for reason.'' He adds later: "But if we in Bermuda, as individuals can adopt the right attitudes, embrace the right vision and develop the right character, we will indeed present the world with a model that it can follow. And they will follow it.'' It has long been argued that if any society can solve the problems facing the modern world it is Bermuda.

Because of its size, because of the education and sophistication of its races, because two races have sat down and worked out many, if not all, of their differences relatively amicably, and because of its wealth, Bermuda should be able to solve problems ranging from drugs to crime to housing.

Mr. Hodgson seems to be suggesting that if the community approaches these problems honestly and rationally and in a spirit of service, then we can achieve a great deal.

But if we seek political advantage, wait to find offence, carry grudges or sport airs of superiority as we grapple with these problems, then we are doomed to failure.