Contribution
Vigilance and morality in government
I thought election time is over. How wrong I was! Indeed, it is true that campaign for the 2010 election started last May 15.
Politics in the Philippines is at its dirtiest during the campaign period, butI have noticed that election fever isn't over and a lot of people are already positioning for the next election.
Look at what happened in the opening of both Houses of Congress afew days ago. The election of leaders in the Senate and the Lower House proved to what lengths people would go for their own selfish interests. You can't differentiate who among them are opposition or pro-administration. All wanted to be in the middle of the political arena until such time that they could definitely position themselves into places where they could be sure to win in the next election and where they could gain more popularity and more wealth.
But, I'd noticed that most Filipinos are entertained by the drama that unfolds before them. I just hope that though they find themselves entertained, they should not forget that they should not be deceived. They should be vigilant and vote for leaders who are true servants of the people.
Politicians are like actors in the soap opera. However, they all want to be the protagonists. Nobody wants the role of an antagonist.They seem to devote their entire lifetime trying to discredittheir rivals. They get a kick out of discovering the hidden skeletons of another and get excited by the prospect of exposing these ignominies. They have the nasty habit of looking forloopholes and the tiniest bit of scandal everywhere but their own office. During the campaign, expensive radio and television airtimes are paid for this purpose. Researchers and commentators are paid exorbitantly to hunt for the defectsand criticize others in public. What a waste and what a disgrace!
We'd voted forthose we think are worthy of the public office they want to have. I hope they understand that being an elected public official means being a public servant. Not apublic criticizer. In spite of quite a disappointing start I'd seen last week, I'm still hoping that those we voted will do what is expected of them and to do it well. I hope they will do their share in propelling this country to its economic heights. I'm praying that they will be morally upright; genuinely concernedof the plight of ordinary Filipinos; and conscious of their own faults and correct them, thus becoming shining examples to their fellow officials and their constituents.
The usual scenario after election are the following: unfulfilled promises and forgotten platforms of government. Most of the elected officials enjoy the perksthat go with the office while our country is plunging into oblivion. Most of them devote a lot of time in looking for faults of others as armaments for the next campaign period.They will be busy covering up their filthy tracks and uncovering the dirty tracks of others. They forget about poor Juan dela Cruz whovoted themfor them with the hope that they can help him survive this harsh and critical times.
I'm not saying that vigilance should not be engaged in. It is important in a societysuch as ours, but being overzealous in searching for the faults of others may make them forget their purpose -- that is, to help their fellowmen who were instrumental in giving the power and position they now occupy.
Morality, too, is important in making this country prosper.David Gergen in "Eyewitness to Power" said, "Morality in government begins with officials using wordsas honestly as possible to describe the truth." That should start with people we'd voted last May 14.
Our country needs an overhauling and I just hope and pray that the people we'd chosen to overhaul this governmenthas the character and strength to do that tremendous task.