If you haven’t yet, please go read Daniel Wagner’s article on The Huffington Post. I’ve read it, it hurt reading it but I have to concede that many of his observations are true — in part.
Mr. Wagner asks:
Politically, the Philippines has descended into an ongoing competition between political dynasties: Marcos, Arroyo, and yes, Aquino. What I don’t understand is, why do Filipinos continue to vote them in, election after election? Is it because of a lack of viable alternatives? No. Is it because of political apathy? Possibly. Or is it because they have no expectations that anything will change, regardless of who is in power? Definitely.
He is talking about the majority of the Filipinos which, as the principle of majority rule goes, encompasses all of us. It hurts that I find myself lumped among people whose views I do not share. It hurts even more that I have to wear the label that they have imposed on me because, as an individual and a minority, I live with the decision of the majority even when, in my mind and heart, there is a voice that never stops screaming in protest. In particular, I am referring to my fate of accepting the decision of the majority every election year — a fate to which I have become so apathetic that I have totally abandoned any kind of participation in elections. I haven’t voted in more than two decades. I kid you not.
But let me answer the questions that Mr. Wagner asks. He lived in the Philippines from 2003 to 2007; I have lived here all my life.
… why do Filipinos continue to vote them in, election after election? Is it because of a lack of viable alternatives?
Yes, but there’s more to it than that. The only people who can afford to run for public office are those who 1) can afford it or 2) who have enough financial backers. Yes, running for public office is expensive. We’re not talking of petty cash here. You have to have very deep pockets if you want to get elected. Those who can afford it belong to a social class way above the stratum to which the majority belongs. The wealthy. The elite. If they spend their money, they intend to recover their investment.
Those who may have no personal funds but who enjoy the backing of others run for office with strings attached. Businessmen do not make campaign contributions unless there is something in it for them if and when the candidate wins. A candidate who, even before getting elected, is already beholden to those who have spent for his campaign is far from someone who is free to make independent decisions.
So, yes, it is true that there is a lack of viable alternatives. Our options are so limited that there are no genuine choices. That’s why we’re left with the likes of the Arroyos, the Aquinos, the Marcoses, the Revillas, the Cayetanos, etcetera, etcetera. They have the money and, by virtue of their parentage, they have the connections with those who have even more money.
But a voter does not choose one and vote for him simply because, in his mind, he is the best choice among the bad choices. He votes because, all his life, he has been made to believe that it is his duty as a citizen and that his vote can lead to change. A legacy of American-style democracy. The irony is that while he thinks he is committing a patriotic and visionary act, the reality is that he becomes a tool for the moneyed class. Collectively, voters validate a lop-sided political system. A voter is presented with options that are no more than tokens (i.e., the candidates), he chooses one thinking it is his duty as a responsible citizen and, after all the votes are cast and tallied, they serve as proof that the people do want to be ruled by yet another member of an old political family. And that validation is so necessary in a modern democracy. Without it, a government would be labeled a dictatorship.
Why do you think people kill to rig elections? Because the official result is a validation that every candidate badly needs to back up his ascent to power.
Now, let’s zero in on that one word — change. Why would anyone tie his hope for change in that single act of voting?
… why do Filipinos continue to vote them in, election after election? … is it because they have no expectations that anything will change, regardless of who is in power?
Of course, there is hope for change. For the better. Always. But what change people expect to happen vary from one individual to the next. But the one persistent expectation is change in personal fortune. A person supports and contributes time to campaign for a candidate. He goes out of his way to make the candidate personally aware of his existence, remember his name and what he has done. After the candidate wins, the supporter goes to him and asks for a return of favor — a job, a small capital to start a business, intercession to get a son or daughter a position in some company…
We saw it happen right after Noynoy Aquino won. People who voted for him were literally knocking on his gate asking for an audience so they could ask him for a job.
And I’ve seen this happen in the local level. I have friends and acquaintances who supported candidates because they believed that these candidates would grant them personal favors later on as a show of gratitude.
So are all Filipinos like that? That is the extent of their concept of change? Well, no. There are some who think deeper. They think of change in a more meaningful way. Like, change within a community, within a region and within the country — the kind that benefits many people, not just himself.
But, see, this is a people who believe in heroes and larger-than-life personas who are capable of doing extraordinary things. This is a people who believe priests who tell them that they are only humans — weak and imperfect. These are people who have been raised to glorify a man who, stories say, rose from the dead and came back to save us all. This is a people who believe in saviors. Combine that with their belief in their own limitations, imperfections and weaknesses — human, after all — and you have a multitude who needs someone to look up to, someone who knows more than he does, someone who is more than he is, to perform those miracles that will bring about change. That’s one reason he votes — to choose the person who will bring about all that change.
Even when the EDSA Revolt happened in 1986, people did not look inward to bring about change. For most, it was enough that Marcos fled and Cory Aquino had taken her oath as President. It was up to her to bring about that change. The expectations were so high that, to believe she could do it, people venerated her like a saint — someone with the capacity for extraordinary feats.
… why do Filipinos continue to vote them in, election after election? … Is it because of political apathy?
Yes, in part, but probably not in the way that most people think.
What is apathy? It is an indifference or lack of concern. In electoral exercises, it is a kind of premature surrender. You concede even before the battle has been fought. You may ask: But people vote in droves so conceding is not part of the equation. Well, in many cases, what people concede is their personal right to make a choice. A person concedes when he accepts as rightful and correct that there are others who are smarter than he is who should make the decision for him. It is what happens when followers of religious congregations vote for a candidate, or does not vote for a candidate, in accordance with the dictates of church leaders.
This is what happens when heads of clans decide the vote for everyone in their clans. In a culture where parents and elders are respected and obeyed, this is no small thing.
One last point. Mr. Wagner also wrote, “Political apathy and a willingness to accept a low common denominator of performance have taken their toll on the psyche of the Philippine people.”
Yes, I agree. The question is why. Why is the multitude content with mediocrity? Why does it seem okay for the squatters to continue to live in squalor, for instance, where so many able-bodied men drink the days and nights away? Why is it okay for middle class parents to simply see their children graduate from college and become employed? Why are we content with what we have? Why do we not aspire for more and for something better? Is it because we are inherently lazy? Is it because we feel too safe in our comfort zone and anything beyond it is scary?
Basically, I am a discontented person. And I’m not just talking about material wealth. I’m talking about everything. Look at it this way: If I know X number of things when I go to bed tonight, I want to know more than those X number of things before I go to bed tomorrow night. If I’ve accomplished Y number of things today, I want to accomplish more than that tomorrow. I always look for progression. But then, I can afford to think like that because I have cast away all teachings that I ought to be content with what I have. In short, despite having been raised a Catholic, I have turned my back on the Catholic Church’s teachings and found a whole new world had opened up to me. I feel no guilt in wanting more. I feel no shame in aspiring to be more.
Yes, I’m talking about the effects of a five hundred year old religious culture. Acceptance. Meekness. Mildness. Forgiveness. Thankfulness. Sacrifice. The bullshit about the poor inheriting the earth. About the gates of heaven opening for the “innocents.” As though there is nobility in being poor. As though there is saintliness in being meek and ignorant and downtrodden. As though we should glorify our capacity for accepting abuse because we will all find reward in the afterlife.
Why are we content with mediocrity? Because we have been raised to believe that there is virtue in simply accepting our lot and not asking for nor wanting more.
So, where do we go from here? Hell, if I knew.
All obvious points. But there are still the minority who vote, because they sincerely believe in their candidates. The thinking that should be erased from people's minds is that they will vote for the person who is likely to win so that their vote will not go wasted. In the last presidential elections, there are a few excellent candidates who lack the winnability factor. On the candidates' part, the thinking should be if you know you cannot win (because we all know that the election system in the Philippines is a popularity contest), know when to back out and support the more deserving candidate.
The more deserving candidate is the more competent one.
If there's anyone who must back out, it's those who win by popularity alone. They should use their fame to support those who deserve it. But self-sacrifice is dead to people like them. Wishful thinking, I think.
I think the problem is that every candidate feels that he and he alone deserves to win — whether due to a belief in his capability (eg., Gordon) or a belief in one's moral superiority (eg. Noynoy).
Tenacity is an essential quality of a leader so he/she must have that strong belief. For me the best candidate is Gordon (he demonstrated he can turn small economy around). But with unresolved corruption charges for the past presidents, evidently the people are more interested in moral superiority than capability at this point in time. So this is where we are heading for the next 6 years. The economic priority will take a backseat in the people's mind until the next president. By that time Binay (that is why he was gunning for DILG post but failed) will be ready to showcase Makati vs Gordon's Olongapo and Fernando's Marikina. I tell you, it is exciting in the next presidential election.
"evidently the people are more interested in moral superiority than capability"
The way some if not most of the voters say it 'mayaman na yan, hindi na magpapayaman yan."
Meaning, they'll vote for the incumbent because he/she has already stole a lot. Busog na (daw) This newbie, once elected, will start the stealing cycle again.
Just like when Cory challenges Marcos in a presidential election. The woman has not done anything wrong yet and she was already guilty of an imaginary corruption charge – magpapayaman pa. Marcos, who, from that time, was known to so corrupt, was already being absolved because mayaman na daw.
"All obvious points."
To everyone?
"In the last presidential elections, there are a few excellent candidates who lack the winnability factor."
Oh my lord. Who?
Why are such a skeptic?
It's not very polite to ask a question before you have answered mine.
I take it you're young? In your 20s? Hopefully, in time, you'll learn the difference between skepticism and realism.
I suggest you read up. Learn a bit about communicating. Learn how not to evade a question you can't answer by asking another question.
Or are you here to promote your site? Ah, I see… So I'll just delete your URL.
No, not all Filipinos are mediocre or incompetent or apathetic. There are competent and sensible Filipinos. But–as I notice myself, and I agree with Ms. Connie–they are more the exception and the rule.
We seriously need to re-think everything in our country. Another thing that sucks in belonging to the minority is that no matter how loud you speak or protest, the majority simply listens inattentively. Mahirap talagang gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan.
Yep. And that really hurts, doesn't it? You feel like shaking the majority — physically — to wake them up but you can't because they are already awake.
Adding to that fact that is that most pinoys would call us "elitists" and other class-struggle bullshit when they're told straight to their face that their habits are wrong, or that what they're doing isn't right.
Daniel Wagner's article is funny. He lives in both worlds (Philippines and US) and yet his brain failed miserably that Americans did the same thing for Bush. Surely, Americans are not short of viable alternatives.
By the way, Jeb Bush who is considered by Bush Sr as the brightest, is actively orchestrating the political machinery just recently. He is preparing the legwork for the 2012.
Sass, on your question of "where do we go from here?"
Actually, you already mentioned the answer. Business. There is no greater motivation than a taste of success following the will to survive. Henry Sy would not be the billionaire today if he did not start peddling shoes at Quiapo.
He should be the template of Filipino entrepreneurs.
The beatitudes (blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven) and related religious teaching (easier for camel to go through needle's eye than for a rich man to enter heaven) are not good for progress and innovations. Most think, you have to be poor to enter heaven. Just in case you are not poor, you have to empty your wallet so you can earn path to heaven while the religious orders are getting free tax money and put them into investment funds. Religion is a big business in the Philippines. Just look at the private schools and hospitals. It is a lucrative market, purely cash and no insurance money.
Religion is doing it but teaches otherwise.The message is the same for all Filipinos. The future is in business.
"Just in case you are not poor, you have to empty your wallet so you can earn path to heaven"
Like… donating it to the church in your last will and testament? hahaha Amazing, isn't it?
Or, there are also plenty of non-religiously affiliated organizations that can make use of the money, such as Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, or WHO.
To anyone, actually, so long as it isn't done with the thought that the "giving away" is a ticket to heaven or wherever.
On a related note, I love the part of the Law on Succession that says The priest who heard the confession of the testator during his last illness, or the minister of the gospel who extended spiritual aid to him during the same period cannot inherit from the decedent.
Excellent it was done that way. The Larazabals become hacienderos because the patriarch who was then a doctor was the estate beneficiary of the patients he treated. That is how hacienderos accumulated lands.
Dodong, are you talking about the Larrazabals in Ormoc? That's very interesting.
Yep, small world indeed.
"Actually, you already mentioned the answer. Business. There is no greater motivation than a taste of success following the will to survive. Henry Sy would not be the billionaire today if he did not start peddling shoes at Quiapo." – Dodong
I definitely agree. Henry Sy started small by selling shoes, look where 'Shoe Mart' is now…SM malls in different locations in the Phillippines. SM has even invaded China.
Mr Wagner article in his Huffington Post ( hoe I wish it was in Newsbusters)
"Politically, the Philippines has descended into an ongoing competition between political dynasties: Marcos, Arroyo, and yes, Aquino. What I don’t understand is, why do Filipinos continue to vote them in, election after election? Is it because of a lack of viable alternatives? No. Is it because of political apathy? Possibly. Or is it because they have no expectations that anything will change, regardless of who is in power? Definitely."
Should Filipinos vote for somebody who is not in the official list of the candidates? Silly question isn't it?
Heh,, they have their Obama, the stupid ass who promised them "change". And now they're telling him to keep the change. What I don't understand is why did they vote for Obama?
I voted for McCain for the homeowner's bailout. Still, Obama is the right choice to change direction of foreign wars which drained billion of resources and cutdown the bloated military budget.
@D
Still, Obana..
Which is which?
I voted McCain but the majority are correct in voting Obama to shift government spending from foreign wars to local economy.
d0d0ng,
My apology for my previous incoherent comments.That was not the way I want it to be said.
According to you – "but the majority are correct in voting Obama to shift government spending from foreign wars to local economy."
Up to this time, I haven't read anything that says Obama has shifted government spending from foreign wars to local economy. If I'm not mistaken, he reduced the budget of NASA and he even told them to make Muslim "feel good"
Can I use the latest survey of his his approval rating in US of America to at least validate your claim? According to Rasmussen, his approval/disapproval from US of America as of Aug 28, 2010 is 47%/52%. He started with 52%/44% approval disapproval. His highest was 65%/30% Jan. 21, 2010 survey. The trend is already telling. I can agree with the conservatives that they are seeing their November mid-term election every time they see Obama's face.
He can console himself that his approval is higher outside of the US and Bush disapproval has reached 63% (mark that number) on May 1, 2008 survey. And he has the always higher approval survey from MSM – CNN, MSBC, Newsweak, Time (or should I use this latest acronym for them – MFM).
Analyze his stupidity. He was claiming or bragging that his stimulus package has created 600,000 jobs in the US of America! And how much was that stimulus package? Half trillion USD or 500 billion USD. You divide that by 600,000! He could just give the money directly to the affected jobless Americans without restructuring private businesses.
His Obamacare – taxpayers to pay for elective abortions and health benefit of illegal aliens. Could it also include the rehab of drug users?
He even sued Artizona for their anti-illegal immigration law. Calling it “misguided” and “irresponsible” — and even said his administration could insert itself into the fight if civil rights are found to be violated. Short of saying that illegal immigrants are not "illegals".
Both Obama and Bush played politics on immigrants for their votes, so it is something expected.
If you notice illegal immigration has never been solved because there is no decisive vote at Congress, either. So the states are left with radical solution like in Arizona.
It is just a matter of time on how fast the economy can rebound when it will be re-election once again. If he can bring unemployment down and make business go rehiring, his approval rating will rebound and he will be re-elected as long as there will be no major terrorist attack on American soil.
Those are the things I can readily agree with you. But with his style of governance, his country can't rebound to its glory.
But then, the radical solution of this immigration problem did not start in Arizona. If I'm not mistaken there are one or more states that are already implementing that law before Arizona.
It's not a radical solution. It's already enshrined in their constitution.
And according to you "…he will be re-elected as long as there will be no major terrorist attack on American soil."
He he he. If Al Qaeda wants to demolish America, they'd better hurry because Obama's beating them to it.
When Daniel Wagner lumped the answer of Miss Philippines to mediocrity, it only shows he did not understood Filipinos at all despite living in the Philippines for 4 years. While Americans advertise their dirty laundry routinely on the press, newspaper, tv and for anything to get sympathy points, any Pinoy will not simply do that.
It is just unfortunate Maria Venus Raj has to face American judges who were expecting a bare soul answer and looking how one triumphs over a big mistake – a preconceived drama to sell the crown.
The question is similar to common job interview of weaknesses. In America you cannot say you have none, else you are lying.
But Dodong, don't you agree that she could've answered it better? She was faltering and her answer sounded garbled from saying she doesn't have a major problem, to having the confidence, to thank you… I do get where she is coming from – to bare what she considers her major mistake to millions of people isn't something she was prepared to do. She was honest but obviously unprepared.
What I really didn't like was her attitude in answering the question. Sounded like a PR pitch/campaign at the same time ("Thank you very much for that wonderful question… Good evening everyone…" complete with pakaway-kaway). She could have just as well said — with a huge toothy smile — that her biggest mistake was not being able to bring about world peace.
"Thank you for that wonderful question…" the minute i heard those, i knew, she already blew her chance… it's like i heard a customer service representative at the other end of the phoneline selling me a crap. ewan.
" She could have just as well said — with a huge toothy smile — that her biggest mistake was not being able to bring about world peace."
She would have the crown by then. Oh well….
Connie, your answer is perfect! Would love to see the judges face lol
HAHAHA Lessons from "Miss Congeniality."
Geri, yes definitely she could have done it better. A no-answer is dead-end answer implying one – is lying, and two – is not using his/her brain. In the US, a similar question is routinely ask during job inteview to see the applicant's flexibility and quick thinking.
In fact, I asked Filipinas (who grew up entirely in the US) what was their impressions and everybody said Ms. Raj lied. And that is huge thing especially for American judges. Hence, she came last of all the finalists because of the lying impression by the American judges regardless if she honestly believe she had no major mistake.
But for Daniel Wagner to pick her as an example for what is wrong with the entire country is for me out of context due to American way of looking at a no-answer.
I remember reading somewhere before that in these beauty pageants it really doesn't matter what the answer was but how one answers the questions. It brings to mind Sarah Palin in the VP debate where she was asked what her achilles heel was and she gave a roundabout answer (I am up to now convinced that she didn't know what achilles heel was), but she was so confident in answering the question that her supporters still bought what she was saying even if she gave a no-answer. Which makes me think that there is truth to the saying. Achilles heel and biggest mistakes belong in the same category.
Palin was recently asked what newspapers she read and she said she read them all. The reporter pushed, asked again which ones, and Palin just kept repeating (with variations) that she reads them all — never once mentioning a name. And I wondered if the knew the names of newspapers at all, much less what's in them.
Related or not, wasn't she Miss Alaska once upon a time?
Palin is an ignorant, media-whoring moron. What more is there to say about her?
@ TS
Care to explain to us the facts of your opinion?
I once defended Palin from unfair criticism that was thrown to her in this blog prior to the US of America's last presidential election. Below is just a rehash of the facts of my opinion –
"XXXX’s comment-
“No amount of coaching, memorizing, rehearsing can hide the fact that this woman does not have the curiosity, knowledge and depth to grasp the serious issues facing the country (when asked by Katie Couric, she couldn’t even name one newspaper she supposedly reads). She sticks to her scripted speech, never mind if it doesn’t answer the question- it’s only a debate, right? Oh, those winks, colloquialisms, shout outs, ad nauseaum. Gosh darn it, you betcha we’re in a heap o’trouble if this woman gets elected.”
Please read below.
In that debate, even though Palin did not have the Washintonesque glib, she has exposed Biden to add 23 or more gaffes/lies to his accumulating list of lies. In this same post, I’ve commented on how stupid Biden is-
“When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, ‘Look, here’s what happened,”‘ Barack Obama’s running mate recently told the “CBS Evening News.
Except, Republican Herbert Hoover was in office when the stock market crashed in October 1929. There also was no television at the time; TV wasn’t introduced to the public until a decade later, at the 1939 World’s Fair.”
Take two on Biden on his debate with Palin –
“BIDEN: Look, all you have to do is go down Union Street with me in Wilmington [and] go to Katie’s Restaurant or walk into Home Depot with me.”
WHILE THERE WAS A KATIE’S IN WILMINGTON, IT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS IT ALSO WAS NOT ON UNION STREET. ”
Would you vote for that person?
Ha ha. Biden, as an experienced politician, the Washingtonesque glib, can always twist the fact and LIE WITH ELEGANCE.
For Palin, as one US conservative blogger has commented-
“A bad answer not because it’s so awkward but because she lacks the knack for spinning tough questions to her advantage in a way politicians ought to be able to.”
What are her lies XXXX?
I can understand that there are lots of justifications of not voting for McCain-Palin pair. Possibly, if I really have a deep understanding of US politics, I would do the same.
What I cannot understand is since you will not vote for them, then, it is justifiable to vote for Obama-Biden pair.
Barack Hussein Obama is exposed for what he is. The man who up to now has not produced an authenticated birth certificate, twisting the information in his academic records, and his performance as a senator. All that we can confirm is he is a community organizer (make it sure to google what is a community organizer in US is).
All his excuses are those are DISTRACTIONS from the main issue (he can’t even understand what are those main issues are). Everything are distractions if he can’t make any explanation.
From the web-
“Barack Obama’s supporters claim that he can be all things to all people if they simply believe. There is a word for that. Barack Obama is running as a placebo. He is a sugar pill wrapped in a bit of bitter to give it some authenticity, but he’s not real medicine. He’s never cured anything, and makes some conditions far more dire.”
It’s cool to vote for Obama, The Messiah, The One, The Only, the I AM! of American politics (but never a man who “was”) the first black president of US of America according to some or to many.
Ha ha ha…
BTW for leftard Couric in a friendly impromptu interview with TMZ –
TMZ has posted video of a friendly impromptu interview with Katie Couric on the streets of New York, where Couric suggested her interview with Sarah Palin was really fair and that Palin had lied like everyone else when she says she reads the British news mag The Economist. The TMZ man asked Couric how she felt about Palin complaining about her: “I feel we did a really fair job and gave her a lot of opportunities.”
He then asked “What magazines and newspapers do you read?” Couric gave a political answer: “All of them and any of them.” The interviewer said: “Can you name one?” She kept smiling and said, “Of course, everyone lies about The Economist, but I actually read it. And I read a lot of magazines and newspapers. LUCKILY, I’M NOT RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT.”
What an asshole…"
Barack "Hussein" Obama. Check.
Calling Katie Couric a leftard. Check.
Rabid Palin defense. Check.
Well I'm done. I'm not about to waste time in this debate.
Palin's an idiot. It's my opinion, and I don't need to explain to you why I think so.
Reading from all that, my opinion is, Palin and the defender are both * * * * t.
Connie, I knew she was an "almost" Miss Alaska so I looked it up in wiki. She was Miss Wasilla and third runner up Miss Alaska. Maybe she's sticking to the answer she gave Katie Couric way before when she was still running for VP. At least she's consisten in this matter. hahaha
Palin has her screw-ups just like other politicians.
And for Couric who grilled Palin –
TMZ has posted video of a friendly impromptu interview with Katie Couric on the streets of New York, where Couric suggested her interview with Sarah Palin was really fair and that Palin had lied like everyone else when she says she reads the British news mag The Economist. The TMZ man asked Couric how she felt about Palin complaining about her: “I feel we did a really fair job and gave her a lot of opportunities.”
He then asked “What magazines and newspapers do you read?” Couric gave a political answer: “All of them and any of them.” The interviewer said: “Can you name one?” She kept smiling and said, “Of course, everyone lies about The Economist, but I actually read it. And I read a lot of magazines and newspapers. LUCKILY, I’M NOT RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT.”
What an asshole…(my remark)
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/10/0…
How about these Obama and Biden gaffs and lies during their campaigns –
1.) Obama Says The U.S. Senate Banking Committee Is “My Committee.” Obama: “Just this past week, we passed out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which is my committee, a bill…” (Obama Press Conference, Sderot, Israel, July 23, 2008)
Obama Is Not A Member Of The U.S. Senate Committee On Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs. (U.S. Senate Committee On Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs Website, Accessed 7/23/08)
Read more of them including Biden's –
http://casaveneracion.com/lets-talk-about-politic…
Why are we content with mediocrity? Because "Pwede na yan". It's as simple as that.
And don't forget the "Bahala na – " attitude.
Filipinos are, more often than not, settlers.
"… why do Filipinos continue to vote them in, election after election? Is it because of a lack of viable alternatives? –
Here's a similar question, Why do many of us Filipinos line up patiently in front of lotto outlets, in spite of the fact that we have a very slim chance of hitting the jackpot? Is it because of a 'get rich quick' mentality? Maybe. But how about if we look at it this way: The PCSO is actually selling hope at about P10.00 per ticket. Deep in our hearts we hope for a change for the better. Didn't win today? Not to worry, there's always another day.
Hope.
Maybe that's why many of us still continue to vote for these people election after election…we hope na baka sakaling maka-jackpot tayo at magkaroon ng matitinong leader sa lahi nila.
Pehaps you're right. In a way, masabi lang na nakaboto na.
I don't believe we are running out of 'patriotic and bright' people, they just can't get in.There was a time, I think, we had three (3) Estradas in the upper echelons of government, can you imagine?
The problem is how do we get these 'sincere' bunch of patriotic bright' people into positions of power, management and authority.
Filipinos excel everywhere. We command the world's oceans with our mariners, top executives in top multi-national companies, top surgeons, manny pacquaio's, lea salonga's, carlos p romulo's, apple d app, erik spoelstra, charice pempengco's, filipino scholarships at harvard/yale….,jose rizal, nurses, teachers, brillante's, musicians, domestic helpers, engineers, ms. universe(s)……..we're quite a talented and resilient bunch of brown people, and I am sure proud to be one.
The problemis is it is the same group of opportunistic, unpatriotic, corrupt, selfish people who control power and money, are the same people sitting there for decades, enriching themselves further and further. They have become kings and royal families. Look at almost every municipality, the father, the son, the wife take turns to be mayor, governor, congressman, senator….(heck if the dog can be registered) and they make a mockery of the electoral process and effectively block everybody out.
These kings need their subjects to be illiterate, hungry and 'uto-uto' to ensure that they are always 'begging' and 'selling' their votes. They put their names on billboards of completed road projects like it was their own money they used, and the constituents are forever grateful. They give dole-outs for funerals, weddings, baptisms, basketball tournaments. THey send the barangay captains to HK/Singapore junkets. SK is also a breeding ground for future kings. It's a vicious cycle of exploitation and greed. The kings get richer and buy or plunder more land, the poor gets poorer.
If we can only put more genuinely 'patriotic and bright' people into positions of power…….and pass a stricter 'anti-dynasty' law perhaps? new political system?
Without knowing personally former Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela and the merits of her governance (and others like her), their election is a demonstration that it is possible to break into the Dy-nastic chain (pardon the pun) thru sheer voting power. It is possible, but very difficult.
"SK is also a breeding ground for future kings. It’s a vicious cycle of exploitation and greed." – skwerhol
You just hit the nail on the head. The SK is a rich breeding ground for future grafters and corrupt officials in this country. I hope former Senator Nene Pimentel gets to realize that he has created a "monster." He was the author of the local government code which created the SK.
Isn't SK just a new version of Marcos' (now defunct) Kabataang Barangay (KB)? Seems ironic that Pimentel who claims to be anti-Marcos would be borrowing his ideas and political strategies.
To be a bit off-topic, borrowing an oppresive regime's ideas isn't always bad…so long as they work, and don't actually hurt the people.
For example, the Nazis used a particularly aggressive anti-smoking campaign during their time that's still used as a basis for similar campaigns today.
What The F**K ! They also had an aggresive population control idea , you want to use that too ?????
Obviously the commenter did not mean copy EVERYTHING. You shouldn't pick one idea and run away with it while ignoring the rest.
Did that commenter explicitly say that?
And what are those ignoring the rest?
Are you seriously suggesting that the nazis left anything worth implementing ?Get real ! Millions died fighting the Nazis and what they stood for !
Speaking from a strictly pragmatic standpoint, yes.
Lest you forget that the moon missions wouldn't have been possible had it not been for Werner Von Braun's defecting to the US.
Question – this Werner Von Braun, is he a Nazi by default or by association or a loyal German soldier or a traitor etc. or none of the above?
He has made a claim that he was a Nazi and he also praise the freedom of expression that somebody one could have in his adopted country. Either he did not understand what is to be a Nazi or he did not understand what to have a freedom of expression.
My speculation, he could have been forced to Nazism and he did not fully understand what Nazism is. If that is so, I don't think he could have been a Nazi.
I don't have the obligation to explain this. I'm just giving the readers to have something to think out of the box from a stupid supposition – that Braun was a Nazi.
He has admitted to being a member of the Nazi party, although it seems to be more out of necessity than out of matching ideologies.
Civilian Rocket development was forbidden in Nazi Germany, and Von Braun has that he felt the only way he could continue his research was to work with the Nazis.
"Civilian Rocket development was forbidden in Nazi Germany, and Von Braun has that he felt the only way he could continue his research was to work with the Nazis."
In our modern times, I still have to see a country where they would allow a civilian to develop his own rocket.
If I'm not mistaken, there was a time that a civilian can develop their own rocket. The time when they don't know anything about rocket.
Silly comment?
Not really.
There are civilian groups that do develop rockets sans gov't funding:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Ship_One
[SpaceShipOne was developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures (a joint venture between Paul Allen and Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan's aviation company, in their Tier One program), without government funding.
On June 21, 2004, it made the first privately funded human spaceflight. On October 4, it won the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE, by reaching 100 kilometers in altitude twice in a two-week period with the equivalent of three people on board and with no more than ten percent of the non-fuel weight of the spacecraft replaced between flights.
Development costs were estimated to be $25 million, funded completely by Paul Allen.]
Props to Popular Science for doing some extensive coverage on this story even before it became mainstream
I'm simply saying that we get whatever works, and scrap what doesn't.
Now if you're done overreacting, can we get back to the topic at hand?
And if you're wondering where that info was sourced, well, that in itself makes for a good read too http://www.cracked.com/article_18378_6-enlightene…
Relax. Getting pissed at every small thing isn't going to make you any smarter. I speak from experience – ask Tr0sp over there about our previous arguments.
Tell that too my grandfather , his friends and other family members I have never met as they died fighting the Nazis , and Japanese .
And would it do your dead relative's memory any good if they realized you were spiteful, angry an vengeful at every little thing?
Yup, start 'em young. Being a 'trapo' is good business, career or livelihood. Also look at all of those 'has been' actors, singers, basketball players, etc…..all squeezing their way into politics. But that is another topic..
Connie, how else can the voice of a man on the street be heard but during the elections when he casts his vote though? While you have the enviable position having this blog which has thousands of followers, people pay attention to you pero paano naman yung mga common tao? What can we/they do? It is frustrating when we are presented with a line up of candidates that are less than satisfactory but most of the time, sadly, it just comes down to choosing the lesser evil – Si Noynoy or si Erap? The common taos voices were heard during Edsa 1 and Edsa 2 pero heto na naman tayo. Same old, same old, Yeah we shouldn't be content with mediocrity but how does one fight the old system? We should be vigilant, that I get? But how does one translate it into action? In what way? Should we all be activistas? I would really be interested to know your input on this…
There's this guy (forgot his name, if I remember correctly, he's based in Central Luzon) who formed a village quite accidentally. He was developing a system for recycling garbage and making compost. Nothing expensive. Just as series of pits, really, with a little know how. As he needed more and more people to help him, the helpers eventually stayed, a small village was formed. And I mean a real village where people started planting, taking care of small animals for food… Not a wealthy village by all means but self-sufficient in terms of basic needs. Ecologically responsible too.
So, what I'm saying is it isn't about being heard. It's about living a life that is not dependent on the political system.
Never forget …They can only govern with the consent of the governed .
Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran won the Miss Universe contest because they're really beautiful and intelligent. ad sexy too.
I don't know if I'm correct on this one. It seems to me the criteria now is different. Those who are winning the representative to Miss Universe contest are skinny. I don't mean they have to be a plus size or voluptuous.
They have the body of a model for a fashion show.
I'm wondering why.
@ TS
As you've commented –
"Barack “Hussein” Obama. Check.
Calling Katie Couric a leftard. Check.
Rabid Palin defense. Check.
Well I’m done. I’m not about to waste time in this debate.
Palin’s an idiot. It’s my opinion, and I don’t need to explain to you why I think so."
I know that in your case, asking for a fact where you based your opinion is too much to ask.
And I also don't have to explain the magnitude of your stupidity. They were spread out everywhere in this blog. Don't make your poor sight as an excuse for your stupidity.