Sun.Star Essay: Boast that list

THESE days are a time to show off platforms.

What does a platform mean to you, not just during election time?

There’s a picture of a place in Greece, in Pnyx, with the ancient Acropolis in the background, of a small rocky hill with a large flat platform of eroded stone, surrounded by steps carved on its slope. It was on this platform where the first democratic legislature ever was born, not in what we call a congressional session but in the assembly (ikklesia) platform of ancient Athens’ first try at democracy. The flat stone platform was called the speakers’ platform.

Click here for Election 2010 updates

These assembly meetings are historically important to the world. It was there where “equal speech” was upheld as every citizen’s right to debate on matters of policy. Yes, it was a long time ago. The Pnyx platform assemblies, which illustrated the Greek government’s equality of vote in the city of Athens, happened in 507 BC. But what took place then, we’ve had the imagination to inherit.

Picture, a presiding officer in the Pnyx assemblies opening the discussions with “Who wishes to speak?”

(It’s gone deep enough in us so that there are speakers who hug the stage or politicians who will do anything to stay in power.)

I suppose that with these Athenian assemblies, out under the open sky, came the sense of the leaders’ visions and plans for the Athenian government in such far time, although the democratic processes in Greece would be overcome later by monarchies. And this is probably why the word “platform” took another meaning besides being a flat open area in one level, or a railway step, or a shoe with thick sole, or the wide steps to a house.

Today, a platform is something you can imagine, one that inspires you, but still something to arrive at. It’s a manifesto, a political document of a promise offered by leaders to the people. It includes a list of support for or opposition to controversial issues in the country which political parties during election time play up.

Platforms are crucial tools in national leadership. Individual topics within a platform are sometimes called “planks.” There are similar planks to issues, like education, justice, the economy, governance. And in all these, there must be a consciousness for the changing cultural values and attention-getting global issues, like terrorism and climate change.

How do you see the platforms?

We can’t brush off this question because as voters, we have to make a decision.

Manny Villar will, in summary, be in “emancipating the people from poverty and injustice.” Erap Estrada will “fight poverty.” Dick Gordon’s promise is good governance. Noynoy Aquino’s fight is against corruption. The focus of Gibo Teodoro’s promises is on “academic excellence and a better curriculum.”

Do you want to fight poverty, according to Erap Estrada? Erap goes back to his Agrikulturang Makamasa (and Jeep ni Erap) that promises to give incentives to the agricultural sector and priority help to investors and industry groups. Add to this the Agri-Agra Law through ERAP Bonds, in an administration that’s wrapped in Erap, “Pag may Erap…Walang Mahirap.”

Noynoy Aquino will fight corruption in a “transformational leadership” out from the hands of a corrupt one to save the people “crying out for change.” Noynoy will drive away the “major cause of widespread poverty, misery and despair.”

Manny will increase agricultural productivity and develop domestic industries. “High priority” will be “education, health, housing and other basic social services.”

Gibo will push for “Pork Barrel Competence,” among others, in its management, to solve the Pork Barrel problem. Local government units should know how to handle more effectively the local funds for intended projects. He says the issue is not the problem, “but how it is managed and utilized.”

Managing a state is more than just minding the store, more than motherhood statements, more than emotional tearful moments on TV, much more than the campaign songs and the swing and sway of hired entertainers.

Let’s watch out for platforms.

(ecuizon@gmail.com)