How can the Philippines shoot for First World country status if we can’t even get elections in order? I mean seriously guys, let’s slap our officials who make those statements about First world status, and take away whatever they’re smoking. Every time there is an election we get all these conflicting stories of cheating, election hot spots, and takes-forever-manual-balloting. It’s the 21st century, it shouldn’t take forever to know who wins, and worst, it shouldn’t be this darn hard to make sure everyone plays by the election rules.
Elections might be something we Filipinos take too lightly — at our expense. As Thomas Jefferson said “The government you elect is government you deserve”. In taking elections not-too-seriously we end up giving a lot more of time, taxes, our future, our children’s future, and ourselves. Let’s follow the path here… a Filipino decides not to think about candidates too seriously and just votes whoever is popular or convenient (even if the candidate is a certified Trapo*), without any notion of if this candidate is competent and honest, this elected official then will spend the first part of his/her term “recovering the cost of the campaign”, and the middle part “enriching himself and the family/friends”, and the latter part of the term “saving up for the next campaign”. This cycle only leaves the Filipinos in poor status, with probably nothing more than a big waiting shed with the disgusting marketing advertisement “built during the term of honorary blah-blah-blah”.
It’s disgusting, totally disgusting. We must demand more from our elected officials, but before we can do that, we (the electorate) must demand more from ourselves:
- Stop electing “Trapos” (Traditional Politicians); these are politicians who’ve already made a career in politics doing nothing personally or collectively. Think about it, if these Trapos are so good at what they do, then why the freaking hell are we still a poor nation? Answer — They’ve made themselves rich at your own gullible expense! You think that’s funny? That’s our tax money!
- Stop electing non-performing politicians, these can be actors/actresses/or even new politicians who’ve done nothing but warm the seats of our supposedly hollowed government halls. If your senator can only come up with a bill that declares a day a holiday because for one of our athletes — then I’m sorry, back to the civilian life they go. If your senator still even has time to go make movies or TV shows — then I’m sorry, back to the civilian life they go.
- Stop electing entrenched families (kaanak inc) in their local posts (mayor, governors). This is one great example of change is definitely good. If a well-known family has been running the show for more than 2 terms – with no major improvements but still keeps winning, there is definitely something wrong — with the electorate of that town/province.
- Look around you, is your town really better off now? Is your mayor/governor driving in a Hummer while the mountain in your province is being depleted of its resources (trees, taxes etc.)? Helloooo — is there anything in between your ears that’ll at least spark something like: “hmmm this looks funny, how can he/she afford that lifestyle in a public officials salary?”… Please think for your own sake.
- Lastly, think before you vote, are you thinking short term like “I know this guy and if I vote him he’ll be a good help to me”. Short term. Don’t vote because you’re a friend or acquaintance of someone. Don’t vote because you will benefit directly. If everyone votes this way we’re never going to take off, we must not forget that good governance is for everyone not only for those who know someone, everyone gets taxed so everyone must be the beneficiary.
