Sad Parallels between The Bahamas and Chicago

Peggy and I returned from the Bahamas (Freeport) a couple weeks ago. I had made some notes on what I saw there. Then the news broke about the incredible corruption in the City of Chicago.

It made me reflect on how much like Chicago the Bahamas is.

• The people of the Bahamas are beautiful wonderful people.
• There is a music about them that is rich and clear.
• They are hard working but for very little money.
• They work for the pleasure of a very small ruling class.
• The jobs that people have are at the behest of the power sector. Nobody gets a job unless they are connected.
• There are a few wealthy and the vast majority just getting by.
• There are two main political parties, they trade off every few years, there is almost no difference between them. The people blindly vote in corrupt politicians every cycle.
• If a challenger to the status quo comes along, they are crushed by the power brokers.
• A large portion of the population works for the government.
• A person who plays the game well can become very wealthy on a huge government pension. One man who was at one time a customs agent has a mansion truly fit for a king. That money came from corrupt practices.
• The people are very God fearing. Church attendance is widespread. Yet some clergy shear the flock. I saw rampant examples of this.
• As long as the people allow the misleaders to continue to be in power they will never get out of the hole they are in.
• The bulk of the economy is dependent on the USA and it's wealth. Tourists. They take good care, but it's a real drag on the citizens since there is no real industry, mining or agriculture anymore.
• There was an effective forestry effort at one time, but the trees are all gone. Nothing has replaced it. There seems to be no agricultural instinct left.
• The culture that was very pristine is being invaded by western culture and it's music and mores. This invasion is leading to some gang related activities.

Reflecting on these issues reminds me very much of what the City of Chicago is like. People voting in the same crooks and liars that keep them oppressed.

I don't know if there is hope for Chicago, the most corrupt city in the USA. There may be hope for the Bahamas if it can shake off the chains of the plantation once again.