The editorial of the BVI Beacon of September 22, 2011, in a pre election piece, exhorted the general public to educate themselves about the issues and candidates".

It further went on to state that doing this would enable the voter be "positioned to vote responsibly, eschewing personal interest and partisanship, and making decisions based on what is best for the territory as a whole.’’ It admonished that ‘’ now more than ever, the Virgin Islands needs’’ these virtues.

Here was the classic call to national sacrifice by a well intentioned and intelligent national news organization, with a great tradition. But alas, as we all know, politics can be the very antithesis of those admonitions, and a very selfish business indeed; and seldom do voters not vote on their own very private bottom lines. But even more seldom do they go into the ballot box for a higher principle, such as the national interest, rather than self interest. But it is certainly right and requisite for the Fourth Estate, the Press, to summon the people to a better way, and a higher call, despite the cynicism of modern politics.

Then days later, in a commentary of September 29, 2011, in the same newspaper, the irrepressible and fiery Roger Harris admonished the main political parties to ‘’ state what they propose to do about existing problems as well as their ideas for future progress.’’ He went on further to write that insult and recrimination "at this stage serves no purpose whatsoever. What’s in the past cannot be undone.’’

He also wrote of his wish that "candidates, especially the incumbents, be more open at press conferences’’ instead of "showing utter contempt for questioners, avoiding direct answers, throwing the questions back to the askers, and generally displaying an attitude of ‘I know something you don’t know, and I’m not going to tell you."

Roger Harris, in his commentary, wrote of the need for politicians to take the lofty path, the high road, the principled route. But the reality is this, and very sadly so: politics can be a very underhanded game indeed; the province of the pole and alley cat; a blood sport, a veritable swordfight, and a rendition of the gunslinger. And that is not an overstatement on the nature of politics in the current age.

Now, these exertions by BVI Beacon writers and contributors were essentially an admonition to courage and integrity for both voter and politician, two solid virtues of the great men and women of history, but seriously lacking in today’s world of political expediency and pragmatism. However, any incumbent or aspiring leader need look no further than study Ancient History, specifically, the lives of Solon of Greece, the Great Pericles of Athens, and the Lord Jesus Christ to learn some lessons of leadership and greatness.

But the savvy politician and political aspirant may also fast forward a millennia and a half from the time of Christ, and visit the lives of Nicolo Machiavelli and Erasmus of Rotterdam, two great political philosophers of the Middle Ages. Machiavelli’s essay, ‘The Prince,’ remains a rendition of the dark side of power, and Erasmus was a Great Christian theologian and Courtier, but a deep thinker in the game of medieval politics and power.

Probably more relevant are Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Winston Churchill three wartime leaders of the West during World War 2. And then post 1945, John F Kennedy, Kwame Nkrumah, and Martin Luther king. These were all leaders of the Twentieth Century who remain subjects of serious biographical reading for modern political thinkers. Even a foray into the lives of Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, and William Jefferson Clinton, are also required readings for those wishing to look for contemporary exemplars in the game of power.

And closer to home, the lives of Alexander Bustamante, Eric Williams, and Robert Bradshaw, would proffer interesting research for the seeker of the lofty call to politics. But even in our own Virgin Islands, the lives of leaders past and present, including the early nationalist figures, Legislators of the first half of the 20th century, leading political figures of the 1960s and 70s, the First Chief Minister, and the First Premier, are worthy of research for the seeker of High Office.

Looking at the lives of great leaders enable an understanding of what it takes for those yearning for high office. It sets a mark to press towards, and explains the supreme qualities, sacrifices, and virtues that are at the heart of the high call to national power. But alas, the pragmatist and opportunist appear to prevail in the game of politics and power in the modern age. This narrative is consequently an examination of some core features of the sport of modern politics. Its aim is realism, rather than idealism!

As elections linger over all of our lives, it is a good idea to look at that most cunning and powerful of beasts called the politician. Power in a Western democracy is the prerogative of the political ruling classes and their influential and mostly wealthy allies. The alternatives to democracy however are dictatorship, tyranny and autocracy, too terrible to imagine for people accustomed to freedom. Some sage person stated once that democracy is the worst system, apart from all the rest.

Now, power and wealth are a symbiosis; that is, they are linked at the navel: an umbilical cord that is as intangible as it is very real. However, power is big brother to wealth, in that power creates wealth; it is not the other way round. Yes, it appears that a wealthy man or woman usually possesses power, and in proportion to their wealth, but thoughtful observation will usually reveal that power precedes wealth.

This is actually a phenomenon of history. Kings from earliest times have always been able to grant wealth and status to those subjects deemed worthy of such. Usually, these were the most ruthless and cunning among a kingdom’s peoples, and sometimes after being granted the King’s favour they actually usurped the king’s power. Wealth follows power, and do not be surprised when in a seeming democracy, certain individuals with the ‘right connections’ get the greater share of the pie. It has always been so. Disagree? Simply study history.

Another thing: all politics is local. What do I mean by that? Exactly what is written, people are more concerned about what is happening in their backyard than at national level. This is simply human nature. Remember Maslow and his hierarchy of needs? Well that is how it is in politics. Forget the lofty, sublime, and nice sounding themes on the national good: politics is about me and mine. Family and close friends! Man is a selfish being, has always been: surprise, surprise! And the politician who understands this is on to a good start.

People are more concerned about their businesses and jobs, safe neighbourhoods, a roof over their heads, having cheap and hot running water in the morning, regular electricity for a hot breakfast and night lighting, and swift access to a public road to get them to work and back, add good street lighting for safer streets, rather than the state of the tourism infrastructure, and global security, critical as these are to everyone’s livelihood in these eclectic Antilles.

Talk to a man of limited means about the state of the global economy and its effects on the Virgin Islands when last night’s rain has started a landslide that is about to swallow his humble home, and do not blame him if he thinks you mad. Yes that is shortsighted: but shortsightedness is also a very human feature: Maslow again!

The politician who appears at desperate Joe’s front yard with a cell phone, and then 15 minutes later heavy engineering equipment, add a couple of concrete trucks, a team of carpenters and masons, well guess who Joe’s going to vote for? You’re right! That is the way it is in the Virgin Islands, but that is the way it is all over the world, let no one fool you. All politics is local.

But there is more. Politics is not only local, it is intensely personal. Politics is all about very human relationships. Constituents want to know the politician is a personal friend. No easy feat for a politician with a constituency that runs into the thousands. But where there are a just few hundred? Well, that politician had better show up at those critical functions and occasions, where being present is half the political battle won.

The good politician is in constant touch with his constituents: he works his telephone daily for four years. He is always on top of his game. He is on the spot, at the right place, and at the right time. His or her hands get tired from all the handshakes, and do not forget the hugging and kissing routine. Yea! It’s tough ball game!

The seasoned politician is a consummate networker. Today, Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus, are offering politicians additional tools to network for power, add the ability to text, and swiftly post political articles in the online and print media. Yes, politics has gone the way of the rest of the world, and is becoming a game increasingly driven by digital and social media.

No point waiting until election time before campaigning and knocking at a voter’s door; that simply looks, well, hypocritical. The effective politician understands that a campaign never ends, from start of term to end of term he is on the campaign trail, saying the right things, avoiding pitfalls, kissing babies, shaking hands, listening, acting, emphatic, sympathetic, ever present, it’s sad but true! Politics is no easy job!

Politics is an emotional business, and the seasoned politician knows this. Successful politics is touching the heart, not the mind, of the voter. The politician must not just possess the right message or the most judicious position on an issue; he or she must be liked, even loved by the voter.

OK! Niccolo Machiavelli the Medieval Florentine political philosopher stated in his Summa work, ‘The Prince,’ that it is better to be feared than loved. But at election time, it is better to be loved as a politician, then when in power fear may come into play as a feature of power.

That is the reason traits such as ruthlessness, charisma, cunning, and a people orientation are so critical to success in the game of politics. Yes, politics is not only local and personal, it can be downright slippery, devious and treacherous: certainly not a walk in the park, unless an 800 lb Gorilla is hiding behind a massive oleander, and just about to pounce.