There is an old Democrat tradition, according to sources, which requires the candidate,
to walk into a district, slip a certain amount of cash into community leaders,
or organizers hands,
...... and then they need to do no more.
The community leaders, do not work for the party's, they are simply bought by them with a few dollars, to convince others to vote a certain way.
These people live in poorer areas, are less educated, and tend to be naturalized citizens.
This is supposed to be a common practice, and also according to sources, some candidates are expected to engage in these activities if they want to make the slate.
The bribe policy, we were told, was especially efficient, when it came to wooing the Laveist voters, who were undecided if they were going to stick with DP, or leave for the NA.
So my question for Stuart Johnson today would be:
Is bribing an acceptable practice in the Democratic Party?

Stuart Johnson, everyone read on Facebook, where you said that you would answer these questions.
You said that you couldn't address the illegal activities of your colleagues, but you would discuss St Maarten issues.
So far, I guess the pensioners, being of age, and legal,
are of no interest to you, even when your party and their policies are forcing them into illness, poverty and earlier deaths.
The "old-timers", are set in their ways, they won't change who they vote for!
That's the strategy right now,
and that's why no politician stood up for them during the FZOG fiasco, when they were planning to charge the retirees for their medicine.
OR
Deny them their medicine.
No politician was thinking about our seniors, when for three years money that was owed to them was held back (I guess with 500 guilders a month, and the cost of living skyrocketing, they felt like extra cash was something our seniors could do without.)
So Stuart, when you're posing for your next photo-op, pretending to be picking up garbage in Middle Region, like it's something you do every Saturday morning, realize that people see through publicity "stunts", and we will continue to ask you these questions, which you promised to answer.
And no,
We're not going to focus on you, and forget about the candidates who've been propped up with mental illness,
messy financial dealings,
and of course the ones who are "getting married", to provide that  work permit-
idiot!
We have many more questions, but those are minor questions.
We're going to start with the relevant questions, and work our way down.

and we won't stop asking, and we won't stop blogging.

Oh we realize, since elections is next month, you'll probably be all over the island with your Hefty bag, cleaning up the pollution, that's only visible during election time
But we have and will be documenting all so-called "leaders", who are talking through both sides of their mouths.
There's not an original savvy, political bone in your body.
It's all been done before, but this is a different era, whether you want to realize that or not. We document everything, just to call you out on your b.s., every time you open your mouth.
The way you stick to a speech, but can't answer a question,
we've noted that.
And,
the DP or Stuart Johnson are not targets, after all one of the excuses given to us about the "bribes", was that the NA was also doing it,
And that they actually, had  been beating the DP in the door to door exchanges, until more money was offered.
Great job Stuart,
be the politician who talks a big game, and then dodges the question.
A question about "bribing", is one any "honest" politician should be able to answer, without thought.
Why wait for an adviser, to tell you how to answer a straight forward, and honest question?
It's 4 a.m., I'm going to have some coffee, and do some real work.
And Stuart, enjoy you day
knowing that these questions will
not go away.

Ask any local if St Maarten is ready for status apartus, and chances are, the answer will be no.
Ask them if St Maarten should receive status apartus, and the answer is overwhelmingly Yes.
I tried to argue the obvious contradiction, but it appears that although locals are very aware of how corrupt the island government is, they believe that the corruption in the Netherlands, is far more sinister, and deeper than anything that can be found in St Maarten.
The more locals that I asked the question to, the more I realized that St Maarteners are quite politically savvy, many are just so used to, and content with the old ways.
They see rule by the Dutch, as just a way for the Dutch to get their hands on more money.
I guess I will have to wait for the feedback from the Nederlanders in St Maarten and everywhere else.
Is the Netherlands as/more corrupt than St Maarten?
You can answer at our Facebook page: Sint Maarten (with the American flag) or St Maarten Politics , also on Facebook

It's been very quiet in St Maarten politics for almost a month.
The political parties have pretty much been sticking to their talking points, and even online, they are debating the same old arguments back and forth.
With Theo gone, Maria sabotaged,
and Louis probably on his way to prison, one would think that the worst has past.
I am here to let you know, that you are simply experiencing the calm before the storm.
In St Maarten, it would be the calm before the category 5.
All's not well in parliament, no matter how many smiling faces you see daily in the newspaper.
In politics, there are chess players and there are poker players, and the poker players have called bluff one time too many, and some are demanding that they pony up the ante.
NOW!
Or put their cards down, and walk away.
The poker players are convinced that everyone else is bluffing,
they seem unaware that this is a new era of elections.
In January 2009, something very significant happened in parliament and in the St Maarten government building.
Anyone with a modicum of power in these two establishments were informed about the situation and the risks.
They were aware,but chose to ignore it.
The issues grew increasingly worse, and yet the people in charge ignored the warnings.
So by Christmas or New Years this year, there will be yet another major scandal involving our leaders.
And once again, rather than do the right thing.
They will jump on the media bandwagon, and continue to point fingers at who's to blame.
At a certain point, getting angry at some of these politicians, makes absolutely no sense.
It's very much like arguing with someone who has lost most of their mental capacity, and all of their brain functions.
More and more in fact, the more I think about it, the more it does appear that most of these politicians were born in the "idiot tree", and hit every branch on the way down, and finally landed with a thump on their heads.
I can empathize, but I won't sympathize.
What's one more politician in the St Maarten penal system?
Wishing everyone a BRIGHT DAY!