As anticipation of a general election gains momentum, one of the major risks is that voters will be presented with political Pied Pipers that might not be the best interest of the country.In any general election, the party in power usually pulls out all the stops and pours almost everything into trying to convince the electorate that regardless of how they may be perceived by sections of the community, they are the ones to lead the country to the promised land.However in this case and at this time of our history, the cries have become louder and louder for change in how Bermuda is run, and those cries should not be written off as coming from people who have a grudge against anything the Government does.Any democratic party in power is obliged to make certain the people come first, and their actions should always be conducted in a manner that cements that objective.Voters have much to think about in this regard, since the recent past presents many unanswered questions, including how Bermuda drifted into heavy debt, and the enormous impact this is having on our way of life.Most Bermudians are not looking for some type of political civil war before we can move the country forward, but they also know there is no shortage of anger and disappointment over where we find ourselves today with violent crime making everyone nervous, a chain reaction of job losses and the subsequent social fallout that is taking a toll on family life.In short, many Bermudians are scratching where they never used to itch in the current economic situation. While most people would agree that the global recession played a role, they also feel the Government spent money as though Bermuda would somehow be excluded from feeling the crunch of the economic downturn.People are hurting and there is no question about that, but is the pain sufficient to trigger an urge to vote for change, or will the old traditional impulse to do the usual take place behind the curtain? That goes for both sides.There is a school of thought that the Progressive Labour Party need not fear an election because they have sufficient supporters to keep them in power no matter how they perform.Democracy stays alive with the right to vote according to one’s convictions and that must be respected. However everyone should be mindful that a vote could decide whether one will grumble and complain for four years, or feel better about their choice. That decision is totally in the hands of the voter.The United Bermuda Party is now history, although one or two diehards are refusing to attend the burial.The new One Bermuda Alliance Party has yet to make its presence fully felt, but it is providing the country with a much stronger Opposition, although they too must break through the image barrier, if they hope to penetrate the hearts and minds of the populace who are looking for something more than words.Yes, there is much to think about, and no one can be faulted for thinking and reflecting on matters that concern them and the country. Transparency from the Government has not been what was initially promised, and that is fundamentally important in any democratic society.Trust is built with transparency, and confidence is damaged whenever anyone detects a possible cover-up on any issue, genuine or not. As we wade through our troubled political waters, let’s hope and pray our best instincts prevail for the good of the country.