1 week Ago By Orlando P. Carvajal
If our problem of mass poverty is ultimately traceable to the self-serving control of our economy by political dynasties, we must join voices to demand that the Supreme Court require our legislators to enact an enabling law of the constitutional ban on political dynasties. Yet, that is not nearly enough to change things around. We must also demand with one loud voice that legislators enact laws to convert our elections into a transparent system that gives all sectors equal access to elective government positions.
Realistically, however, we cannot expect those who are favored by existing systems to initiate reforms that will make those systems inclusive. In the meantime, therefore, we have to do whatever is in our power to rid us of the disgraceful governance by political dynasties. If we can’t have yet a law banning dynasties and if we can’t yet have fair and transparent elections, what we can definitely do on May 12 is not to vote for candidates who refuse to enact laws that will democratize our elections and our economy.
We should also not vote for candidates whose main qualification is their popularity. These are rich celebrity actors and actresses, sportsmen and sportswomen. I am not saying they don’t have the brains.
I am only saying their wealth and celebrity status do not provide them with the motivation to serve society’s marginalized. Non-dynasty candidates who otherwise have qualifying credentials must be asked to publicly declare and sign a covenant that they will support an enabling law for the constitutional ban on political dynasties and a law reforming our elections into a system that gives all sectors a chance of being represented in government by some of their own. These are the issues that matter.
All other issues are secondary. Like a candidate who does not believe in same sex marriage should be voted for if she/he is for a law implementing the constitutional ban on political dynasties and for making our election system open to representation in government of all sectors not just exclusive for the wealthy as it is now. Candidates who are openly known to belong to CPP-NPA party lists should also be avoided unless they publicly commit to abandoning armed struggle.
They want their cake and eat it too. That’s not fair to peace-loving citizens who want reforms within the legal parameters of the constitution. Besides, too much violence already exists in the country for it to do us any good.
Finally, I would suggest that voters think twice before electing those who spend scandalous amounts of money for their election campaigns, be they to buy votes directly, transport and feed voters or regale them with extravaganzas by TV and movie personalities. They will spend their time in office corruptly recovering those expenses. Don’t expect much though.
Surveys still show the usual clowns will win on May 12. But we can start serving notice that we can no longer stand being played for suckers by political dynasties..
