Crazy politicians

Every year our politicians a.k.a. public officials are getting richer and richer and crazier than ever. First of all, although they may seem to be running for public office, they are not really running to serve the people. They are running to get a job or a seat in government in order to abuse its coffers. Second, they may seem sweet, charming and innocent but don’t be fooled by the masks they wear. Third, haven’t you noticed their lineage just gets longer and longer each year but in retrospect, no progress is ever significant in their bailiwick?

What are these politicians doing? Why can’t they ever get this country moving? What is the matter with them? You will never find them campaigning in affluent areas or in highly urbanized cities. The educated man will just laugh at them because they make no sense. So they prey on the poor and the ignorant. They are at their best when talking to people in the market, squatter areas, dirty barangays and far-flung places.

Once they get the vote of the majority, those fooled and manipulated, worse bought by them get nothing in return. Their promises vanish into thin air. I remember one presidential candidate promising to lower the cost of power when elected. Of course, as expected the opposite happened. The poor remain poor while the ignorant remain illiterate with no chance for a better life.

That’s politics in the Philippines. It is made up of a bunch of losers who can’t even provide clean streets, enough water supply, clean air, sanitized hospitals and hygienic markets not to mention, child-friendly and beautiful parks and schools for the youth of our land. God help us!

Just look at the city you live in. The reigning family dynasty that has served your city/ district for many decades have not really shown real public service. They are all entangled in their own political web not realizing how lousy and pathetic public service is in their area. Yes, then they say they lack funds. But when they have projects in the barangay, city, or province they belong to, the cost is so high, prices are jacked up, for their own benefit. Unbelievable! Of course, we know the end of the story – corruption is inherent.

Our tax money is being abused. The government is not taking care of our hard-earned money. They create so many laws that protect city officials who create more directives to the point of emptying the pockets of the citizens for just way too many fees, permits, insurances, licenses – what have you!

In the past, the barangay officials were mere volunteers. No one wanted to become a barangay official. Today, the barangay has power. Our wise legislative bodies in the past up to the present have supported such uses and abuses of power knowing very well what happens in every level.

Yes, everything starts from the barangay. Business starts with small collections or what we call as “kotong” or what is referred to as protection money. And you wonder how a barangay captain can buy several cars, live like a king, take several mistresses (all well-provided for), travel the world, even gamble like there is no tomorrow? Susmariosep! And is there some truth to the allegations that some of our mayors and governors receive monthly or even weekly ‘allowances’ from the godfathers of big businesses they have been protecting all along or perhaps for whom little favors have been given particularly on the issuance of permits for businesses.

What about our esteemed congressmen and senators who even at retirement age, never want to quit? What about giving a chance to some new and young blood? When you reach the age of 85 and above, shouldn’t you just rest and enjoy life? What else have you not done after serving the country for so many years? By the way, what have you really done? Why are the citizens still wallowing in poverty? Nothing has really changed even during your time. Why?

Records show that those holding the top posts in government are multi-billionaires. When ranked according to their assets and liabilities, you will see that the older ones have more and pretty obvious reasons to spend more. Why? Do a background check and you will see how many families they need to support. It isn’t a game of survival of the fittest but more of a game of survival of the families.

Brian Fegan, an American anthropologist wrote in his book, “An Anarchy of Families,” “The Filipino family is the most enduring political unit and the one into which, failing some wider principle of organization, all other units dissolve.” He said, “Filipinos look at political continuity as merely a transfer of power among family members. Thus, they also look at political competition in terms of rivalry between families. “A family that has once contested an office, particularly if it has once won it, sets its eye on that office as its permanent right,” Fegan added.

I came across an article taken from the Library of Congress about old style politics in the Philippine countryside. It stated that Philippine politics, along with other aspects of society, rely heavily on kinship and other personal relationships. To win a local election, one must assemble a coalition of families. To win a provincial election, the important families in each town must be drawn into a wider structure. To win a national election, the most prominent aristocratic clans from each region must temporarily come together. A family’s power is not necessarily precisely correlated with wealth – numbers of followers matters more – but the middle class and the poor are sought mainly for the votes that they can deliver.

Carlos H. Conde wrote in the International Herald Tribune, “The reality here is that the same old faces, the same old families and the same old interests continue to hold sway over the political life of this country.” Manuel Quezon III, a political analyst, historian and the grandson of Manuel L. Quezon said, “In a healthy political environment the oligarchy would relinquish power to a new political class. Sadly, this is something most Filipino oligarchs never did.”

Who are those running for public office this May? Look at them. Read about them. Talk to your families, friends, staff, to the people you meet in the street. We need to educate our people and help them know the truth behind all these men and women in the posters, banners, TV ads, campaign trail around us. Have they served already but failed? Have they made a difference in public office? Are they tainted with immorality? Are they worthy of your vote?

Think Philippines!