Democracy's tyranny of numbers

The problem with elections is that they make choices for the most popular and not for the most competent. That is why we are the only ASEAN nation with actors as senators and congressmen. Our laws are made by TV hosts and retired boxers and basketball players. We are a nation of too many brilliant people being led by jesters and action stars.

Precisely, the intrinsic weakness of any democracy is that decisions are made by the majority who are not always right. Sometimes, if not most of the time, the decisions of the majority are downright wrong. In the last senatorial elections, a convicted actor who spent years in the national penitentiary topped the national elections for senators, beating many law experts and legal luminaries. The job calls for expertise in law-making.

The job of a senator requires fundamental knowledge of law and the mechanics and protocols of law-making. But despite that, the majority of the Filipino voters credited non-lawyers with huge chunks of votes over and above recognized legal experts in the country. Jojo Binay, a UP law graduate, a human rights lawyer, a former multi-term city mayor, MMDA chairman and vice president was beaten by three TV and movie personalities Robin Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Raffy Tulfo. Do you think the actors can make better laws than Jojo Binay? What are these guys doing in the Senate? What have they done along with their peers, Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla?

Gibo Teodoro, number one in the Bar Exams, honor student of Xavier School, De La Salle University and UP was rejected by the majority of the voters who opted to vote for popularity instead of competence. Do you think that the majority made the right decision? Chel Diokno, a brilliant lawyer, human rights advocate, the founding Dean of the De La Salle College of Law. He is a former Chairman of FLAG or the Free Legal Assistance Group. He is the eighth child of the famous Senator Jose W Diokno, also number one in the Bar Exams and also in the CPA Board. Chel was beaten only by actors and TV hosts. Do you think it was the correct choice?

The most painful cut of all was the loss of Dick Gordon. Incumbent Chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, the legendary former mayor of Subic, former congressman of Olongapo, Chairman of SBMA, senator of multiple terms, and Red Cross Chair for the longest time. He was beaten because the Duterte administration campaigned hard to make him lose. The reason? Gordon had the temerity to investigate Polong Duterte and Mans Carpio upon the urging of then senator Trillanes on the issue of alleged smuggling and on reported drugs. Diokno and Gordon lost to less competent men and women. That is the tyranny of numbers.

Today, BBM has the numbers. More than two-thirds of the members of the House are aligned with the coalition of Duterte and Romualdez. If BBM wants Sara impeached, rightly or wrongly, the House would impeach her. Even in the Senate, BBM has the numbers. That was proven when Migz Zubiri was unceremoniously removed and replaced by Chiz Escudero who happens to be the son of Salvador Escudero, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s agriculture secretary. Make no mistake about it, BBM has the numbers in the Senate.

BBM's wish will most probably be supported by Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Pia Cayetano and her brother Alan Peter ( et tu', Brute?), the Villars, mother Cynthia and son, Mark ( the Villars always support who has the power even if Mark was Duterte's DPWH secretary). Even Grace Poe is with BBM now with Tulfo, of course and the rest. Perhaps, the only ones who will most probably vote against the conviction of the vice president are senators Robin, Bato and Bong Go. Tol Tolentino is no longer loyal to the Dutertes. For political survival, Tol is now with BBM. The Marcoses and the Tolentinos were allies since the 1070s.

Choosing senators due to popularity rather than to competence is the worst act of democratic election. Just because one has the number does not mean he is right and the minority are wrong. Even Jesus Christ was beaten by the criminal, Barabas. If Barabas were an actor and he would run today, he could win over Cardinal Chito Tagle and Cardinal Ambo David.

Being right is not determined by majority of votes. Losing in an election does not mean that one is the inferior candidate. The way our country has deteriorated is the best evidence that being ruled by incompetent election winners is the best option for all.