Using Occam's razor as a rule of thumb, 'the simplest explanation or strategy tends to be the best one', the principle recommends that we choose the hypothesis that introduces the fewest assumptions while still sufficiently answering the question.

The big question, in my opinion, is, why would the same government that went to great lengths to provide health care for the poorest among us and free education for all those who may need it do such a horrendous 180-degree turn in its policy of looking out for the poor and working class in Jamaica?

tough decision

I eliminated the mainstream suggestions that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is evil or incompetent, because I have no illusion about the fact that the aim of any political party is to stay in power, and common sense dictates that the JLP cannot think that this is a winning formula for re-election. Then it would seem that the simplest explanation remaining is that our Government is forced to make this tough decision. Simply put: they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. It is my assumption that the mind-boggling debt is the rock, and that the IMF is the hard place.

If this new stringent tax package isn't a condition to get the lifeline loan from the International Monetary Fund then it would be the first time that I would have heard of that multinational bank not using its immense power to push Third-World countries like us to implement its one-size-fits-all strategy. This strategy can be simplified as: increase taxes, privatise all government interests, and later, devalue the currency.

raw deal

Most Jamaicans understand that the JLP government was given a raw deal in terms of the debt that they inherited, therefore, this administration cannot take full responsibility for the quagmire we now find ourselves in. Like Karl Marx said: "Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living."

With that being said, I think the JLP should stop casting blame and get on with the job that they so vehemently campaigned for, i.e. fixing the country.

The Government also cannot continue to operate under the guise that the public cannot handle the truth. My advice to Prime Minister Golding is, don't treat us like children, be fearlessly frank. Lead us; don't belittle us. Tell Jamaica the real truth behind this 'starve-the-poor' tax package then show us the way forward. After that, let the chips fall where they may. Who knows? We may just surprise you. Like my grandmother always says, "We likkle but wi tallawah!"

I am, etc.,

RICHARD COORE

richardcoore@yahoo.com