Let's see how far the rabbit hole goes

Today is voting day for the LGE.

Go out and vote for the councillor who YOU think will best do the job and ALWAYS be vigilant, the system that's in place for the LG, definitely NEEDS reform. Push for that and push for constitutional reform!

This is the only way we can see a better T&T!

Stop thinking and go do!

We stand at the crossroads

If I have anything to say at this point is to say: PRAY. The fear in the country is VERY VERY prevalent and its fear from those who shouldn't be feeling fearful. Those that clamor for change are fearful that they are taking too big a risk. I say NUTS to that. There is ALWAYS risk. Hell there is risk crossing the fucking road these days. Decisions you make informed or not are only just that ,decisions. If you live by a code and believe that you have the power to see the change YOU want to see in the country in yourself, you would not hesitate. You will not think twice. You would not consider the consequences. The decision you make can only do two things and you cannot predict the future.

I for one welcome change. Change in myself. Do you know how hard it is to write this blog? When I started this blog I thought no one was going to read it. lol No one did, but then a funny thing happened. I wrote about Marlene being like Jabba the Hutt and all of a sudden every Tom, Dick and Harry started reading this thing! lol

BTW Who is Stacy Roopnarine? and WHY is her name in a Google search and why does MY blog come up when you search her name?

I digress.

So now I've been getting over 200 hits a day on this blog and suddenly I regarded this thing not so much as a risk anymore, but a duty. I HAD to keep writing. People needed to hear what I had to say, and THAT was encouraging. If I didn't take the decision to start writing, then my thoughts would have been wasted, for bad or for good SOMEBODY out there learned a few things, absorbed some new information, broadened their minds and started thinking for themselves.

I am glad. So when you go out tomorrow to vote. The results will be two ways, the way you want it and the way you DON'T want it, but in the end you made a decision and THAT cannot be taken away from you. You now have a power beyond reason, for you can stand up and say:

I did or didn't vote for this.

Whether its GOOD or BAD. I believe that we have a destiny, we do not know what it is, but it is there and one day, maybe at the end, we will suddenly realise, this is what I am here for! For those who like "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" The answer to the ultimate question is 42.

The question is "What number do u have?" In the line of life, you're just biding your time before the decision you make makes you more than you are.

Now stop thinking and go do.

There may be a message. . . after.

The Numbers Don't Lie

So we've been talking and thinking about voting. You still think that voting is a waste of time? Well even if you do, I'm going to show you some figures. Now don't get upset, DeepThought isn't just going to drop a table in here and then say "Look you see!" No we're going to look at a few of the constituencies that COULD have beaten the PNM, and this way I'll show you how a higher voter turn out this time around would mean better odds at beating the PNM. So let's begin shall we?

In 2007 right after that General Election, Mr Peter Quentrall Thomas, a columnist for the Express, published the results and a "what if scenario." The "what if" concerned the idea that the COP didn't in fact split the vote, that using existing finite numbers of voters (those who ACTUALLY turned out) the UNC and the COP even combined would not have gotten into government. Here's what he said.

I had so much possitive feedback from the "what if" analyis of the election results that I did last week, that I realised in fairness to COP I needed to do some more "what ifs" to see where they would have won if there had been just a little more swing towards them. Last week we saw clearly that even if you totally merged the COP and UNC votes you couldn't beat the PNM. And the figures this week clearly show that for COP to win they need to get at least 20% of the PNM "Grass Roots" to vote for them. Note I emphasised "Grass Roots". There are 10 Grass Roots votes for every Middle Class vote. 

The COP and the UNC even combined in 2007 couldn't get into government. So what does that say? You need  MORE voters voting for the opposition than the incumbent (Peter says 20% and I agree). If we are to assume that the number of registered voters increased between 2007 and 2010 by even 1% then we can calculate the results. The total number of votes registered by the EBC in 2007 was 653,882. If that were increased by 1% would be, correct me if I'm wrong, 660,420. that's an increase of 6,538 voters! But I think it reasonable to, just for argument, say that we could increase by a small amount. Say 200 voters. That's almost an insignificant percentile.

Lets look at some seats now. I have put up Mr Quentrall-Thomases spreadsheets of the results here. Let's pull some seats where the COP/UNC were going to win combined and maybe a few safe seats for comparison.

	PNM	COP/UNC COMBINED	WINNER
Diego Martin West	9,221	6,113	PNM
Pointe-a-Pierre	6,136	9,876	UNC/COP
Tunapuna	8,468	7,827	PNM
Barataria/San Juan	7,179	9,275	UNC/COP
St. Augustine	4,309	13,469	UNC/COP
San Fernando West	7,371	7,257	PNM

So we've INCREASED the voter turn out by 200 voting against the PNM. Let's look at those again.

	PNM	COP/UNC COMBINED	WINNER
Diego Martin West	9,221	6,313	PNM
Pointe-a-Pierre	6,136	10,076	UNC/COP
Tunapuna	8,468	8,027	PNM
Barataria/San Juan	7,179	9,275	UNC/COP
St. Augustine	4,309	13,669	UNC/COP
San Fernando West	7,371	7,457	UNC/COP

You see? Only 200 votes and we win one more seat than we did in 2007! And what happens if we did increase the voter turn out by 1%?

	PNM	COP/UNC COMBINED	WINNER
Diego Martin West	9,221	12,651	UNC/COP
Pointe-a-Pierre	6,136	16,414	UNC/COP
Tunapuna	8,468	14,365	UNC/COP
Barataria/San Juan	7,179	15,813	UNC/COP
St. Augustine	4,309	20,007	UNC/COP
San Fernando West	7,371	13,795	UNC/COP

This is why I maintain that voter turn out is key. Take the figures in the Mr Quentrall-Thomas' spreadsheet or go here and add them yourself, even increase the voter turn out.

NOW We're NOT taking into consideration a few things:

1. That PNM voters will vote against party lines, al la 1986 or just stay away from voting.
2. That the unity process fails and the COP run independent, whether you like it or not, the UNC will hold, maybe lose a few seats (Couva north maybe?) And we'll be in a lot of trouble then.
3. That the unity process causes COP supporters NOT to turn out to vote at all or UNC voters to do the same. and
4. If Trini's so silly as to swallow this Vision 20/20 or whatever campaign bullshit that the PNM decides to hawk during this election so that they vote for them regardless.
   

In the end the COP/UNC support needs to feel energised and having a solid issue run campaign. So far I have not seen one from either. The party's forces seem rudderless and completely routed at this stage. BUT as any student of Sun-Tzu knows, a weakened enemy may not be a vanquished enemy.

Oh, and by the way, if you look at the total amount of votes for BOTH the UNC and PNM (the main parties) notice their support base SHRUNK considerably during the last election! I think it will shrink even further.

Now go get you and your friends registered THIS WEEK.

Start doing!

Everybody want change

"Fella, ah could get some change for dis here one dallar?"
Me nah give change, you need buy, get change, you want powwa mint? Dat give u 75¢ for dat dolla."
"But fella, ah want four 25¢ pieces, not three!"
"Why you no want tree instea ah four? You get powwa mint in bargin, get nice breath, win ova lady, eh? u gimme dolla I gi you 3 25¢ and a powwa mint."
"Yeah? well, you know, meh bret really ain't smellin dat good. . .ok gimme de power mint and de change. . ."

"Dat go be one dolla 25¢"

And that's how an election starts. One person promises you more for just one 25¢ piece, but in the end they take you for the whole dollar and more.

Everybody's wants change, but are they willing to fight and die for it? Not in this country. They want it for nothing. Simple rule to follow.

Chinaman say cheap ting no good!

And he's right. Don't sell your vote in exchange for some outer space concept like Visions and futuristic cities, these do not a country make. Hard work and sweat and tears build a country, not a ten days. So seek not the easy path, they are filled with good intentions by politicians to get you to "believe in them." Neither seek to find solace in your political "elders" they are no more a guru than an everyday snake charmer. Look not even to a tribe for the answer from a tribe is barrel of crabs each trying to climb over everyone else's back to get to the top.

Believe in yourself. Trust your instincts. Don't believe what other's tell you, seek the truth yourself and vote based on the issues.

What are the issues? They are many and far ranging but the central issue is, this government as representatives of the people, have failed. That INCLUDES the opposition!

"You no want an exchange now sah? You want change? You need buy someting!"

Just don't sell your soul. . . for change

Elections fever has started. Stop thinking now and VOTE!

How to get Registered to Vote.

I figured since I've thrown down the gauntlet and I'm encouraging everyone to get their friends and themselves registered to vote, I think I should provide a little help. So here is some useful steps on getting registered. I will repost the voting process in another post. Remember you need to get registered NOW because the EBC needs time to check the list and so on. If an election date is set for this May, you have ONLY maybe two weeks maybe three to get yourself registered! Don't be left out in the cold! And DON'T come to DeepThought and complain that the Government sucks. . . you didn't vote, suck salt.

Step one. Get yourself a ELECTRONIC BIRTH CERTIFICATE. This takes no time at all. Find out how to do this here.

Step Two. Find out WHAT constituency you live in and when you figure that out, look for the nearest EBC office for your district. USUALLY its in a borough or in the nearest large populated area. Here is the list of offices from the EBC. Find yours. Look at the opening hours. Get there EARLY. Get a form.

Step Three. Don't carry too much electronic junk with you. There are metal detectors that you have to pass through (security) Besides if you go early enough you won't have to wait long. Make sure you have ALL your documentation. You need the Electronic Birth Certificate, filled out form and anything else that the form tells you need to prove that you live where you live.

Step Four. You are APPLYING for an ID card. This puts you on the list of available services INCLUDING jury duty. Yes. Once you have your ID card you are now a citizen of T&T!

Step Five. Step up to the counter. Present your documents and they will tell you what to do next. You will have to take a picture and they take your height and eye color etc. I mean it IS an ID card!

They will most probably send someone to your house to verify you live there. Routine. And you will get your ID card pretty quickly.

Check the list or go here to see if you've been registered. If not call the EBC and let them know.

When you go to vote check the list again.

See how easy that was?

You need to find out more? Check the EBC's FAQ. Or get a ton load of info from ttconnect.gov.tt.

So STOP thinking and GO GET REGISTERED. Oh and take a friend too.

image via cosmodaddy.com

The Mother of All Battles

So I heard a little rumor today that Patos callin his election on 17th May. That's almost two months away. Can I handle another 6 weeks or more of noise, placarding, tomfoolery and bill posting and environment destroying paper wastage this time around? I'll tell you something I can deal with it as long as I know at the end of it it brings an end to PNM rule. . .

FOREVER

You hear me? FOREVER! So all that mudslinging, pain and suffering has to have some fruit and this time around someone in the COP should tell good ol Dooks, run for your seat, win and then we go make you Minster of Finance or something, because like the man or not, is Kamla who go win this election! If Kamla not in the leadership front in this thing, PNM win for sure! You don't have to go far to see the sentiment you know! "Kamla for PM" "Kamla is de best!" "I voting Kamla!" are common sentiments expressed in the papers and on the streets.

But youse STILL an asshole is you think like that!

I go tell you why. In the end Kamla may be the leader but its the REPRESENTATIVES who you will have to deal with AFTER the election, the one's you should be concentrating on. In other words this damn shit called "Voting party and voting leader" should stop. Is your "representatives" NOW, who playing the ass. . . so. . .

STOP VOTING PARTY!

You might as well be voting race if you do that!

We too damn stupid in this country! This is why the PNM keeps winning. They vote race yes, but party too and leader as well! Not who can do the job, but who can take the best on the hustings! You tink patrick go talk shit on the political platforms, like he talking now? Of course not, is milk and honey and the promised land for all from now till that magical date of 17th May. (IF that's the date!) and YOU will run like lemmings to vote. "Ah sorry boss, why did I ever doubt you! Vision 2020 IS a reality! we WILL be all prosperous by that magical year!"

lol All I can do is laugh yes. Reminds me of the Simpsons' episode when Homer went to vote between Quimby and Sideshow Bob. Even though he KNOWS Bob will kill Bart if elected. . .he votes him on ISSUES! lol "When are people going to realise that Democracy just doesn't work!"

Ok here's my prediction:

Manning going to go to his No Confidence motion, with PNM-ites in the square, WITH permission this time and Police "Protection" and before the debate can open, he will. . .

DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT

and call the election date.

Think I'm thinking nonsense?

Lets see what happens.

Now stop thinking and go DO something!

image via dsaltsman.blogspot.com

Pulling bull over people's eyes

I don't care whether Manning is bluffing about this election. I really couldn't give a fuck. What I DO care about is this fucked up opposition getting its act together. IN my last post I spoke about "possibilities" and out of 3 possible outcomes Manning and his cronies come out on top in two! You could disagree and write and say, Deep, yuh talkin shit, but hey, that's your right, as is mine to say, "fuck you" Its a free world. What I do know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that 500,000 people voting in an electorate of over 1 million REGISTERED voters, is unacceptable!

UNACCEPTABLE!

I cannot believe we're that apathetic. You know what? It starts right there in the schools. Yeah, our mis-education, pushing the "sheep follow the herd" mentality. Doh worry about your life boy, CEPEP will take care of you, just be happy wit yuh ten days!

Fuck off

Its time to start doing, stop thinking what a terrible situation the PNM have us in and start doing. I challenge EVERYONE of my readers (and there are a lot! because DeepThought knows all!) to make it their PERSONAL crusade to get ONE person to vote in the next election, whenever it is.

ONE.

PERSON.

The PNM takes granny tantie, who can't even walk, to the election booth EVERY Election and then re-deposits her back into the graveyard they call a "home" only to see her again, maybe five years later, "god willing" to vote again! Who you tink she will vote for?

"Dem PNM boys and girls nice eh, they take meh for a drive today!"

Allyuh ain't see what going on? Between the small church mentality of going in secret packs to vote, egged on by the pressure of the pastor, who watching every single one of his flock, and judging them based on their allegiance to God by voting Manning and the CEPEP workers who have no choice, or lose that nice Health Insurance plan as a result of being fired if they don't sign a paper saying they voted for the PNM. Yes that's going on oui. I know ONE supervisor in South who had to keep a register of ALL CEPEP workers in her charge, who went to the convention last Saturday. They ALL had to sign before they went on the PTSC bus to Chaguramas! You think this is a "good clean" fight?

Not with the millions at stake in this country! The PNM and Manning NOT giving that up for nothing! I know ONE individual who gave up his job to work in San Fernando East SPECIFICALLY to work with the PNM as an "Advertising advisor" how much MONEY you think he getting with that ONE client? YOUR MONEY! Yes that's right OUR money! Every time we submit a TD-1 form that tax we pay goes straight to the PNM. And lets not forget the secret funders of the PNM, the face of which is Gary the Cunt and people like him! Not to mention the "drug dealers" Manning so open he big shit mout and let cat out of bag about.

But I digress.

The ONLY way to get rid of the PNM is to get the OTHER 500,000 registered and non-registered voters to vote. Get them to stop saying shit like "Was the point? dem going to win anyway in my cuntstituency. . ."

BULL SHIT

So you live in a "safe seat?" So fucking what? You know how to make seats "unsafe" You fucking get everyone to vote for someone else silly people! It has happened BEFORE in 1986 and it happened AGAIN in 1995! It will HAPPEN again!

What you think the PNM people not fed up too? But you can't rely on them to vote out their own bread and butter, so you have to show them yourself!

Get you and a friend registered and make a lime and GO VOTE!

Now stop thinking and start doing!

BTW Happy Shouter Baptist Liberation Day!

There's blood in the water. . .

From the Trinidad Express story by Ria Taitt "Manning threw the cat among the pigeons, with his instruction to his party to begin the nomination process for the holding of a general election. The screening process is scheduled to begin on April 7 with the Political Leader’s San Fernando East constituency."

Kamla says bring it on.

Dookeraan's in India. . .

No doubt this will be a 1 on 1 fight that the COP has indicated and accommodation is probably best but what ever they have to do they now have to do it fast! Less haste and more speed though. The way I see it at this juncture is that Manning hasn't ACTUALLY called a date, so elections could happen at the time of 2012 for all we know. In fact he could just turn around and call local government, but as some people have said, this would be political suicide, so he's not going to do that.

But let's look at what the possibilities are, what the moves in the chess board could be?

Scenario A. Manning holds a "snap election" and the COP and UNC have some sort of loose arrangement where the UNC contest their 15 seats and COP contest against the PNM directly in the PNM strongholds. So lets say the COP wins half of the PNM's seats and the UNC the 15 that it holds (COP takes Tobago, which is HIGHLY dubious at this stage) So what happens next? Under "Panday-Robinson tactics" Kamla does NOT become PM but Dookeraan does. (Untenable for the UNC) In-fighting WILL occur, c'mon who doesn't want to be in charge in this banana republic? All fall down the UNC would "cross the floor" or something. Result: Back to the polls, COP is destroyed by the UNC and PNM and the UNC remain in opposition and the PNM gain power once again. Status Quo. Analysis: where the accommodation thing would work, the COP would NOT win that many seats this brings me to scenario B.

Scenario B. COP wins half of PNM seats, UNC retains its 15 and the PNM the rest. Now the COP becomes the 'lynch pin' in Parliament, like a check, a balance to the PNM and UNC's bickering. Voting or withholding votes as it sees fit. This is unprecedented. . . this has never happened as far as I know, and we may see the UNC or the PNM mashing it up once again. Result: Back to the polls BUT the COP remain, they split the vote since the UNC would not want to try this "accommodation thing" again, PNM wins their seats back, UNC remain with 15. Back to status Quo. Analysis: In my opinion we're getting closer to a better Government with a third untainted party in the middle, but our system cannot sustain such a scenario. It HAS to be an all out win for BOTH parties. A total route of the PNM.

Scenario C. COP and UNC create the UNCOP and fight all areas. the old UNC strongholds become question marks, the old UNC guard may not vote a "NEW" party and the COP supporters would probably not vote for Kamla in charge over Dookeran. This scenario in theory would work, but it depends entirely up to the UNC supporters to treat the COP with the respect it "deserves." and vice-versa. What needs to happen is another "internal election" with COP voters joining UNC voters to decide on a leader and a new executive, for UNCOP. Are we mature enough to do this?

Result: UNCOP will probably remain in opposition with more seats. But its hard to tell. It all depends on voter turn out for THIS scenario. Analysis: UNCOP needs at least another year to solidify, the PNM knows this that's why the snap election. Manning senses that the opposition is starting to repair its foundation, but trust remains a factor, the old guard of both parties are still hesitant. What do you do to a foe who's unbalanced? You strike the death blow.

In the end do you realise what the common denominator is? Voter turn out. The more people who vote against the PNM in ANY area puts them on the run. The figures are clear there is a voting block for the PNM no matter how many elections are called. A finite number (that's dwindling as a result of death mind you) all one needs to do is to get the non voters in EVERY area to get registered and vote the opposition. It NEARLY happened in 2007! It can happen again. Voting isn't something you just "do," its a message. Hammer that home to your friends. Put your money where your mouth is.

Get registered now!

Now stop thinking and go do something!

So much to talk about, so little time. . .

I mean this thing is moving faster than a freight train. There's the NAPA issue. Like two ships firing at each other in the old pirate movies as they pass they tear up each other! Added to this situation is the COP who have sat down on their laurels for far too long, even after proving that there is a connection between Sunway and Calder Hart/UDECOTT and the can of worms that that opened up, they have attempted some lame "protest" to "view the white elephant that might be NAPA."

COP who you foolin? Before you go and bring some Malaysian police officer to prove without a shadow of a doubt that those documents real, you running into a fight between a giant battleship that is called HMS (Her Massive Self) Marlene and the S.S (Sad Sack) Victor et Al. Doh be jumping on anyone band wagon to get publicity.

The COP "claim" that they applied for permission from the Ministry to view NAPA and the Ministry has stated that they would have gotten back to them with the permission, although it was a few days from now, and would have been a probable PR stunt only showing what the COP wouldn't want to see (i.e the defects et al.) So the COP not really using its brain, or maybe using too much of it, because Middle Class, Knife and Forks love to think too much, went running like Don Quixoite at the windmills, without really waiting on said approvals.

What was achieved? Nothing really. The COP could have gotten their approvals, went in officially, did the PR thing, take some pictures and MAYBE discover something that the SS Victor was talking about. But NOOOOOO, the allure of the press was more important to the COP (since they are irrelevant now anyway and need the press to keep in the public eye!)

Anyway it just shows that the NAPA isn't "the people's space" its really just for the PM and PNM flunkies like the "Divine Echoes." Who really fool up the COP into thinking they could pull a coup like the Malaysian documents on NAPA? HMS Marlene was ready for that, obviously! Doh be going into someone else fight. . .

Now onto the PM and his "81 year old man fight." You've all seen the video I posted up recently, no I didn't do it, a friend of mine did it and was nice enough to give my blog some "advertisement", he's quite talented, and fast! Well it turns out Mr Manning "claims" the poor old guy is a Canadian. I point you to the terrible online Trinidad Express article here. In it Mr Manning says "It turns out, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the 81-year-old gentleman is a resident of Winnipeg, Canada." and Tattoo in the corner, like the court jester he is, mouths "He (the old man) don’t live here,’" Well of course shorty, isnt that what the PM just said? But Roodal Moonilal was quick to point out "he (the old man) could be a resident of Tokyo, if he is there and occupying there (the house) in whatever legal capacity and he tells you ’please don’t come in my property and you are trespassing, to go’." Well said Moons. So the PM's trying to tell us that he knew the man wasn't a Trini even before he entered the man's gate!? The PM is not only suffering from delusions of grandeur, he's really got the God complex! "I used my psychic powers bestowed on me by my Spiritual Advisor, to sense that this man is not a Trini and therefore irrelevant!"

Yeah

That's where we've reached!

You know who also thought he had these same powers?

Right?

We've been in deep shit for a while and we're now tasting it, because we're up to our nose holes with it. Does it smell nice to you?

Want to get out of it? Vote. Get registered and vote. Don't fucking complain when you don't vote and the Government screw you over. . . just doh vote for these jokers ever again!