All too often Bermuda’s politicians and their surrogates like to style themselves as the shark-oil barometers of the public mood. But, just as often, they are actually attempting to manipulate popular sentiment rather than simply measure and mirror it.

The threatening conditions that they now claim endanger the lives and livelihoods of Bermudians on an almost daily basis are routinely exaggerated for dramatic effect and perceived political leverage.

The occasional apocalyptic forecasts of socioeconomic hurricanes poised to visit imminent devastation on the community have proved to be only about as reliable as Chicken Little’s weather reports.

As the poet said, most of the shadows in this life are caused by us deliberately manufacturing excuses to block our own sunshine.

Too many of Bermuda’s politicians have taken this line of reasoning to its logical, and most destructive, extreme: they now attempt to permanently eclipse the sun with never-ending parades of dark clouds they contend are marching across the sky.

Consequently, the genuine issues confronting us — and there are no shortage of them — are too often overshadowed by the passing hoopla and hysteria surrounding the fabricated ones.

Having politicians attempt to goad and guide public opinion to further their own electoral ends is an unavoidable by-product of living in an overly politicised culture. And permanent campaigning is now a permanent feature of the Bermudian scene.

In Bermudian politics, there has always been a degree of jockeying for position, of putting party political interests ahead of the public interest — certainly since the introduction of the Westminster system in the 1960s.

But, given the advent of a 24/7 news cycle on an Island where it is all too easy to pass trivia off as an attention-grabbing sensation, the concurrent rise of social media and the growing popularity of politics as a spectator sport (and a blood sport), it is increasingly evident that politicians are more interested in manipulating public opinion than in heeding it.

More’s the pity.

Simplistic slogans, simple-minded dogmas and an endless series of contrived standoffs between the Island’s two political parties are not substitutes for good governance and public accountability.

The parties can still fool — and mislead — some of the people some of the time. However, a growing number of Bermudians have had their fill of political floorshows and empty-headed grandstanding.

Increasingly, Bermuda’s electorate is looking to the Island’s politicians to come up with pragmatic measures for addressing the raft of urgent practical matters to hand: a stalled economy, stubborn pockets of unemployment and underemployment, the affordability and very sustainability of many of our public services.

Statesmanship rather than cheap showmanship and gamesmanship is what is being called for.

There are few disagreements among serious-minded Bermudians, regardless of party affiliation, when it comes to what our priorities should be. Most everybody wants to see economic retrenchment and recovery, and the greatest possible opportunity for all Bermudians to fulfil their potential.

Most everybody wants a compassionate and tolerant society, one dedicated to guaranteeing individual rights and dismantling the racial and cultural barriers separating Bermudians.

And everybody without exception cherishes our children’s futures and wants them to inherit a well-ordered, harmonious and vibrant Island.

But too often our parties are being used as a delivery system for what have rightly been called “Weapons of Mass Distraction”: malicious misrepresentations and serial distortions, divisive rhetoric and cynical obstructionism, all intended to enhance the parties’ own electability rather than advance the public interest.

The reality is that the selfish partisan interests of Bermuda’s political parties are not ends in themselves.

Rather, our parties are supposed to provide the means for intelligent, committed and socially responsible men and women to serve their community in turbulent and uncertain times.

Our parties are supposed to provide the means for ensuring Bermuda’s people enjoy better lives and brighter, more secure futures.

And, ultimately, our parties are supposed to be instruments of the popular will, not vehicles for coaxing and corralling it.

Just as barometers sometimes need a sharp tap before they will provide a proper reading, it’s now up to Bermudians to give their elected officials the occasional swift kick to the intellect so they will do what’s required of them.