THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY AND A BANANA REPUBLIC
Although Peter O'Neill's conspicuous move towards dismembering democratic institutions has forced us to see that we no longer have a democracy, Michael Somare not only proclaimed in the 1990s that he would willingly serve as PNG's 'benevolent dictator' but took all the actions during this 10 years in power to make that a reality.
The only different between Somare and O'Neill is that Somare is not a psychopath, but a political schemer and payback operator who failed to intellectually take his dream of dictatorship to the next higher level. The corruption during the Somare regime was driven by his cronies, including son Arthur, rather than Somare himself.
Peter O'Neill was able to structure a PNG dictatorship to a higher, more sophisticated and more stable level. This was especially spurred by his psychopathic tendencies, including his impulsiveness at taking risks, usually to increase his own personal wealth (signing the K70 million payment letter to Paul Paraka in return for what was almost certainly a personal kickback setup). Those risks frequently backfired in his face, which drove him to quickly start tying up any democratic institutions that might ensure that justice was served, with the PM not merely removed from power, but serving prison time.
At this point, there really is no point in comparing what happened in the UK with PM David Cameron's resignation versus Peter O'Neill's refusal to even step down temporarily. Why would a corrupt Prime Minister who's moves are specifically designed to retain and increase his power ever want to make a decision that would decrease his power? It will never happen.
In terms of putting together a dictatorship, a high level of sophistication is being shown in PNG. Whether or not he is studying Robert Mugabe's and other dictator's ascent to power purposely, O'Neill is proving to be a brilliant understudy.
Looking another direction, in terms of exhibiting high personal character in leadership, there is hardly a hint that it exists in our country today. Politicians are always an example of the devil taking over in terms of how many of the 10 commandments they can break simultaneously while denying all of it. In PNG, this is what has reached a level of achievement that few countries can now match.
For the sake of dreaming, however, let's state for the record what a politician would rightly do to set the best example as a role model. First, politicians won't do the right thing unless they are confined within a structure of democracy in which the citizens themselves put some of the strongest controlling pressure on the actions of the politician.
The politician therefore serves at the pleasure of the people, which means their power comes from the respect of the people.
In a democracy, the citizens give very little automatic respect to a politician. Nearly all that respect must be earned. Respect is the key to being able to possess and use maximum power.
When a politician in a democracy loses respect, this means they lose power. They cannot ignore that because if they do, the disrespect will only grow louder in volume and they start looking more and more like a clown surrounded by seriousness.
Very few politicians are able to stand that kind of heat, and the best of them who operate in democratic countries have learnt not even to try. They throw in the towel and they resign. A few have comebacks later one, most do not.
To resign is not part of any law nor the constitution of these countries. It is done because there are ethical imperatives that come from God's word that are being honoured.
In PNG, God's word doesn't run anything. It is ignored from top to bottom in our society which is only amusing when one sees all the street preachers, King James Bible marches, and other signs of empty, soulless Christianity in our country. It is all a fake and a front to disguise the evil that nearly all of us practice without any sense of guilt when we think no one is watching.
In the end, David Cameron's decision to resign and Peter O'Neill's decision to increase his power are nothing but mirror reflections of how we are as a people.
