Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Carvajal: An ominous sign By Orlando P. Carvajal Break Point
WE have it from the Social Weather Station that Filipinos are full of hope for a better life in 2007.
Which is probably true and for good reason. For the record, despite all the negative noise, we have been making some progress. It is not like we have stagnated and gone backwards. Our problem is we are the slowest growing economy in Asia because we are caught in the nasty tangle of our country’s extremely partisan politics.
Any growth is definitely some cause for a degree of optimism. It, however, cannot be the gushy optimism of a people energized by honest, competent and charismatic leaders. All indications are that we can only hope for the same slow progress in 2007, nothing more.
We haven’t had a statesman for some time now. I define a statesman as one who, on the minimum, knows that loyalty to the party ends where loyalty to the country begins. Progressive nations of the world make tremendous strides of progress when their leaders know when to be bi-partisan for the sake of the country. We are not progressive because our leaders know next to nothing of the art of bi-partisanship.
All political groups work from an implied premise that the country’s problems can only be solved if they took over power.
Hence, whoever the opposition will never admit that whoever the administration has done anything good for the country because that would take something away from their chances of winning in the next elections and taking over power.
Our politicians are purebred political animals. They do not know how to be bi-partisan when the situation calls for it. Their loyalty is to themselves first, to the party second and maybe third to the country. That is why no opposition will ever support any project of the administration, no matter how beneficial to the country.
That is why partisan administration’s recent call for unity is an exercise in futility if addressed to an equally partisan opposition. If addressed to the people, however, it is an ominous sign of brewing trouble ahead. How can the administration call for unity after changing their mind about giving in to the people’s demand that they stopped their way of doing the Cha-cha?
For one glorious moment administration leaders came down and united themselves with the people. But hardly had their feet touched the ground when these went back up again and Cha-cha was again being pursued in earnest. How much more partisan than this can you get? How can you break off union with the people and in the same instant call for unity?
There is still what seems like a dark cloud, an ominous sign, in our political horizon. I can only hope and pray for our sake, that I am wrong in this. In that sense I wish all a happy new year.
