BY Deepa BHOOKHUN

?Vote for us! For if they win, we?ll waste Rs300 to Rs 500 million because they will stop work on the South-eastern highway.? This is the gist of what the leader and the deputy-leader of the MMM-MSM alliance are saying to their supporters at public political gatherings. Well, well? we knew many politicians were short of ideas but really!

I?d much rather ?waste? Rs 500 million than spend countless more millions on facing up to the long term consequences of destroying the Ferney valley but, that?s just my opinion. In any case, this is not the issue. It would be pointless to try and debate on the importance of ecology with our politicians.

We have a prime minister, who boasts of being the most eco-minded PM of all times, but thinks nothing of destroying our last endemic forest in the name of development. On the other hand, we have someone who promises to lift the ban on sand extraction in the lagoon to try and win a few votes.

This speaks of a bigger problem; a shortage of ideas, a lack of genuine concern for the fate of the country they are fighting to rule. The latest survey published by ?l?express-dimanche? shows that a high proportion of voters are still unsure of whom to vote for in three weeks? time.

Well, this is the politicians? fault. In an interview given to a weekly, the campaign manager for the MMM says that a televised debate between his leader and the opposition leader is not ?on the agenda.? Come off it! Well, add it to the agenda then! Don?t the people have a right to evaluate the two PM hopefuls? Are we not allowed to judge how both perform when faced with? each other? On real issues?

But it seems that, when some politicians can?t resist taking cheap shots at each other, they have nothing else to say. Why won?t the PM debate? Why this reluctance to hide from public scrutiny on the part of the outgoing government?

The outgoing DPM and Finance minister refuses to debate with Rama Sithanen on the basis that he will one day be prime minister and can thus only debate with a leader. Arrogance! Arrogance! If some are not careful, this might just be their downfall?

It would all have been funny, had it not been so pathetic. Egos have replaced arguments and politicians are so scared by debates that they?d much rather go stand on the back of lorries where they can utter the most ridiculous of phrases unchallenged. Because, to every stupid thing they say, their supporters cheer and clap. So politicians think they are clever. Well guys, prove it. Because, so far you have not been doing too well.