Even when we one day reach the 2029 general election, we will never know just how many people in the island genuinely thought that the introduction of a goods and services tax would be a good move for the island.
Over this campaign, in some ways it feels like the opposition to the proposal has been more strident than ever.
In other ways, its positioning, largely on social media, has meant that it has come across weaker than ever.
A handful – a big handful, admittedly – of individuals on Facebook have dominated the anti-GST chatter, and as the level of ‘debate’ on the platform has declined, so the level of serious opposition appeared to melt away.
The abuse has been felt – but so has the lack of any serious political challenge.
Political opponents have been vocal. But they’ve done nothing practical. All we’ve heard is political rhetoric, the same old stories, the video selfies on Facebook – everything bar Sweet Caroline in Market Square.
Previously deputies have taken the time to work up coherent packages and arguments, not simply resort to spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt; and the all-too-evident new-fangled ‘sealioning’ and ‘concern trolling’.
It’s both difficult, and possible, to understand many reasons why GST succeeded this time around.
But ultimately, the political ‘defence’ to attempt to stop it was just too weak.
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