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This famous quote from Malcolm X appears to capture Premier Brown's approach to government, certainly in light of the Uighur scandal and his planned takeover of the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George. Such an approach brings into stark relief the philosophical question: "Does the end justify the means?"

Most people would instinctively say "No" to that question, sometimes without considering exactly why. If a noble objective is not enough to justify any means to achieve it, then there must be something very important about the means to an end.

A more pragmatic word for "means" is the word "process." If the noblest of objectives cannot justify an ignoble or corrupt or unjust process then we, as legislators, must pay very close attention to process.

Why is this?

The answer is contained in the indisputable fact that the process, or the way we go about the people's business, broadcasts to the world a great deal about:

• What kind of people we are;

• Our guiding principles;

• The relationship we seek with our fellow citizens, and

• Our values.

If the methods we use to achieve our goals are peremptory and disrespectful - as we experienced with the Uighurs - then we communicate to the world we don't care what other people think, even though we represent and will someday seek support from these same people whose opinions we now consider to be worthless. It says we already have all the right answers and that nothing anyone can think or say can even contribute to our thought processes, much less change our plans.

If we disregard our own rules in the process of achieving even the most desirable objectives, then we send a message to the public that following rules is only for them, not for their leaders, who can choose when to follow or not follow rules enshrined in law and official precedent.

If we go about achieving our goals in a manner that is dishonest or corrupt and self serving, then we broadcast to the world that the values of honesty and integrity are not values we hold dear. Leadership by example is a double-edged sword. Therefore, we also broadcast by our actions that if it's alright for us to ignore these values, then it's okay for everybody else to ignore them too.

If the process we use to attain our goals is murky, instead of transparent, we again broadcast to the world that people do not have a right to know how we go about executing the people's business, even though it is THEIR business and they are paying for it. Moreover, lack of transparency gives rise to suspicion that there is dishonesty or corruption, even if there is in fact none.

It is from this perspective that my colleagues and I in the United Bermuda Party have been hammering relentlessly about "process and good governance" in this government's execution of the people's business. There have been many other examples of lack of due process by this government but the Uighurs and the intended takeover of Hamilton and St. George are the most flagrant examples of the old song that says: "It ain't what you do but the way that you do it."

Bob Richards is shadow finance minister.

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