|
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Carvajal: Of messianic complexes
By Orlando P. Carvajal
Sixty percent of Filipinos expect a better year, survey says. But hardly had the ink dried on that item when here come the politicians maneuvering and plotting new ways to oust President Arroyo. The opposition’s idea of saving RP remains for them to take over once PGMA is ousted. Dinky Soliman’s proposal that former president Fidel Ramos join up with former presidents Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada to save the country typifies this messianic complex.
The ironic thing about this is that while men and women in high office are looking for ways to save RP, the broad masses of poor and middle income Filipinos are looking for ways to save themselves from the greed, incompetence and insensitivity of people in high places.
That is why Filipinos want structural changes. The incompetence, lack of accountability, and corruption of people in high places are abetted by existing irrelevant political structures that are democratic in name only but aristocratic in reality. Structures are needed that give people more effective participation in all government processes. Structures are needed that effectively make government accountable to the people they serve.
Right now politicians and bureaucrats lord it over the people. They decide what is good for the people. What they are giving so far to the people are the crumbs from the head table which they, opposition and administration, have taken turns feasting on.
Look at the present alignment of forces. The Extreme Left, which in theory fights for the rights of the lower classes, has betrayed the latter by coalescing with the Extreme Right, which in both theory and practice works only for the interests of the upper classes yesterday, today and tomorrow. In addition, the administration also belongs to the Right and represents the interests of (one segment) of the upper classes.
Missing in the equation is a group fighting for the interests of the majority of poor and middle income Filipinos. Their voices continue to be unheard. They need more than a change of officials. They need better (translate pro-poor) structures of government. They want their fair share of the country’s economic and political resources and not crumbs from the tables of the rich and powerful as is the case at present.
There is only one way for the political elite to become truly messianic. They must have a change of heart, get down from their high horses and listen to the people. They need to hear people say they, the people, are quite capable of helping themselves, given the right structures for self-help.
For a start, the opposition could focus on the Consultative Commission’s proposals, PGMA could reject the No-election transitory provision and both can stop all the bickering and move this country not sideways but forward.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
