How to vote
It’s really very simple. Do not be daunted by the sheer number of candidates vying for your vote. The fact that there are so many candidates does not mean there are too many choices, only the appearance of choice. I mean, look at them. By a simple process of elimination you can figure out whose names land in your ballot.
Bear in mind that the desire to serve your country, no matter how sincere, does not in itself make you fit to hold public office. I want to play in a Wimbledon final, but am prevented by my total lack of tennis-playing ability. As for popularity, it is a qualification for winning elections, but not for doing the job (or knowing what it is). In the absence of a real party system, you have to look at the individuals. Here is a partial list of the candidates you cannot vote for.
A. Flaming idiots. That should get rid of at least half, and I’m being charitable.
B. The illiterate and ignorant.
C. The demonstrably inept.
D. The obviously corrupt.
E. Mayoral and gubernatorial candidates with no managerial experience whatsoever.
F. Senatorial wannabes and congressional aspirants who have no idea what the Constitution is.
G. Candidates with no actual plan.
You’ll find it is a very short list. Yes, we all wish we could elect the best that the nation has to offer, but often we have to settle for the least atrocious of a disastrous lot.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
February 19th, 2007 at 20:29
how would you feel seeing miriam santiago and franklin drilon starring in a movie or sing-and-dancing-ing on a noon time show? you should be feeling the same about those artistas running for congressional and -more quixotically- senatorial slots.
politics is for (deserving) politicians. showbiz is for actors. no crossing of borders.
February 22nd, 2007 at 15:11
There’s no one left to vote for. But I think that was the point.
February 23rd, 2007 at 18:41
What the Philippines really has is democracy in form but not substance. The elections are held only to give people a semblance of democracy in action, with people getting deluded into thinking that their votes will indeed make change possible. The nation is still ruled by old oligarchies; it would be foolish to think that people’s votes can actually serve as the much needed intervention in improving how this country is governed. It’s pretty obvious that the politicians are only after access to public funds; it is here that they exercise their creativity, but only to scheme about how one can siphon off as much as he possibly could. That’s Philippine politics for you.