For the past half-century, I have avidly listened to the US presidential elections. It is a time when political rhetoric is at its best. It is a time when the contrast and arguments have been refined so that choices and contests are clear.

Given that America is a democracy in a test tube and a visual display of work in progress, if anyone has any sense of their humanity, it’s a time when we can get inspired to be the best we can be.

Well, at least that’s the possibility.

However, having been a political and social activist for more than 50 years and having no ideological success that can be seen, these four-year intervals serve only to haunt my sensibilities and remind me how far Bermuda is from a real democracy.

I know I have often talked about systemic change, but for the sake of it, I would accept common sense and decent leadership that squares with what is considered rational or reasonable.

One simple example is the hotel development called the Grand Atlantic — now approaching $100 million in costs. No one needs to be an actuary, accountant or realtor to see something is seriously wrong with this picture. Newstead Hotel, which most would consider a beautiful piece of real estate with a long and successful history, and an ambience suitable for high-end guests, is selling for $21 million. Sonesta Beach sold for less.

Who under heaven would pay $100 million for an enclave a few metres from an eroding cliff?

I grew up in that area. There is no beach for most of the year, and God forbid a hurricane from which it takes months to recover. The problem here is, it’s a Cabinet minister who has been throwing money in the sand, is arrogant and is in charge of all government lands and infrastructure. Worst of all, he cannot be moved until his impending retirement despite this obvious waste of taxpayer money.

Which minister was in charge of immigration when the largest emigration of workers took place? An emigration from which the country has yet to recover, and which has been spiralling ever since.

You guessed right: it is the same minister now responsible for the country’s estate.

Arguably as mascot and partly the cause of the downfall of the Progressive Labour Party’s first female premier — Dame Jennifer Smith — to then be rewarded with two essential ministries which have similarly harmed the economy, in the words of Julian Hall, “he is a train wreck in slow motion”.

I’m not simply complaining about him; rather, it’s our democracy or lack thereof because the people cannot fix a blatantly obvious problem. He would never have had the second and third chances to screw up as he did had we a vibrant democracy.

What democracy tries to achieve is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We know we don’t have that when there are insurmountable layers between the representatives that have to be climbed over to remedy what is visibly wrong.

Yes, every four years I experience a high followed quickly by a low. I see possibilities and am inspired to have hope of pursuing human ideals, but brought down by the sad reality that there is no zest in our local politics for attaining ideals or democracy.