Riveting, exciting and unpredictable even, Mr Editor. This is what elections hold not just for political junkies, but the casual observer as well. No, I do not have in mind the recent by-election in Devonshire North Central, which seemed to be anything but — and I will come back to that vote shortly. I am thinking more of those Republican and Democratic primaries and what they have to tell us about politics and the direction in which politics may be going — there and here.

The apparent and sustained popularity of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders has a lot of people stumped. Most of them are the so-called insiders. The irony of course is that both candidates portray themselves as outsiders, not part of the Washington establishment, each in their own way (and there are big differences, admittedly, between the two) looking to change the way public business is practised on and off their Hill (Capitol).

Like it or not, and voters seem to, they have a certain authenticity about them that makes for a refreshing change from the same old, same old, ie, the norm.

One of the more interesting and intriguing explanations for their emergence on the political scene comes from David Axelrod, the former senior strategist for Barack Obama.

In what he himself describes as a bullish analysis, Axelrod asserts that voters are looking for the opposite of what they already have in the White House and in Washington, and not just by way of policies, but in style and personal qualities as well.

Fascinating theory, huh? — and certainly one that applies more to, say, Trump than to Sanders, which is Axelrod’s point as he initially dismissed The Donald and his hair as unlikely to succeed, coming in as he did at the start as celebrity challenger and political novice.

Trump, of course, has also tapped into the fears and anger of voters. Rebukes and condemnations of him or his campaign serve only to fuel his support. Or so it seems.

Overlooked, perhaps, is that this phenomena is brought forth by a two-party system and party politics; although this is apparently not lost on Michael Bloomberg, the former Mayor of New York, who is reported to be contemplating a run as an independent.

With two parties, invariably if one says yes, the other says no; push, pull; stop, go; way, no way; if this, then that. And all members are expected to toe the line.

So I exaggerate a little. But you get the picture. We all do. It seems we are stuck with a system of government, here and there, that isn’t just built on division and disagreement but thrives on it, and to the extent that it often seems to get completely out of hand at times. Most times, maybe.

So let’s bring it on home and come back to that Devonshire North Central by-election. First, a shoutout to both candidates. My impression and information is that the two of them worked the campaign trail very hard, going door-to-door, winning constituents over (or not) in their living rooms and kitchens.

I have always thought that this is the best way to build and to maintain trust with the voters — and trust is the most critical component when it comes to effective and successful representation.

Second, both men represented themselves well as examples of not only what their respective parties have to offer, but what the future holds for politics in Bermuda. There should be a place for both of them at the legislative table.

But there could be only one winner and what we on the outside do not (yet) know is the extent to which party and party affiliation played a role in determining the outcome. I am guessing a lot: that was a big jump from the results of previous elections. Voters in the constituency were given the opportunity to tell the Government what they think of its performance to date. The result was not, on any view, an endorsement.

The ruling One Bermuda Alliance would have crowed endorsement of its decisions, policies and actions had it won. It is no surprise then that the Progressive Labour Party has declared the result a rejection instead.

Electoral messages can be that simple and that blunt. The issue now is where this takes us. Has division and discord and disagreement once again been cemented under a system that allows only for conflict and confrontation, whether out there on the campaign trail or back up there on the Hill? Budget coming, we will soon see.

Collaboration and co-operation would now seem like the last thing on anyone’s political agenda, Mr Editor. The next day’s announcement on the creation of pathways to Bermudian status has confirmed the point. The timing, frankly Mr Editor, could not have been worse for us as a community.

•Tomorrow: Part two: Sense and sensibility