Monday, April 16, 2007 Echaves: Divine right of kings By Lelani P. Echaves Thinking Aloud
I’VE never voted straight for any party.
First, because I firmly believe in the need to hear as many views and ideologies factored into the distilled essence of new laws and programs. Second, because as the candidates’ credentials showed, no one political party ever had monopoly of brains, integrity, track record and sincerity. And third, because I demand more from administration candidates, they who enjoy the political machinery of incumbent leaderships; thus, their reasons for running should be better than continuing their term, or being scions of politicians who have fattened themselves in power, or hanging tenaciously to the largesse of the posts.
Thus, on Election Day, I go to my precinct with my list of chosen candidates. Still, I take a minute to pray that my choices are right. After all, while man proposes, God disposes. Truth to tell, I didn’t vote Arroyo into the presidency. Definitely not actor Fernando Poe Jr. either. Despite his inadequate political machinery, I voted for the late senator Raul Roco.
Unexpectedly, Poe and Roco died after the elections. But imagine the turmoil in the country if any of them had been elected instead, and died during their term. Knowing the dog-eat-dog world of politics in our country, turmoil would’ve been a sure thing. I still think that God must’ve so loved the Philippines that He spared its people from having Poe or Roco elected and then so unexpectedly dying on them.
True, Philippine presidents Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas and Ramon Magsaysay also died during their term. But I was too small to feel the impact of their deaths. And I’m told that the succession into power of their vice presidents Sergio Osmena Sr., Elpidio Quirino and Carlos Garcia, respectively, was smooth and non-turbulent. But that’s because their integrity, honor, respectability, honesty and credibility were unassailable.
This May we shall all be choosing the people who say they’re capable of bringing this country forward. But echoing the book “Twelve Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country,” credibility should weigh heavier than capability. Credibility is “the leader’s link to the people, and makes them look to one direction, follow a common vision and perform a uniform act.”
How, for instance, can fledgling candidates pretend at credibility if the only thing they brandish is their being relatives of politicians who refuse to go? I will certainly not waste my vote on those who treat political positions as a family heirloom, bequeathed like some divine right of kings.
At the rate our cellular phones are assaulted with text messages bearing squid tactics, we’re all the more convinced about the depth of the largesse that candidates must now fight tooth and nail to win attention. But they’ll not get my vote.
Neither will I turn a kind eye to candidates attempting to rise from the ignominy of a behavior found insensitive to the pains of a nation, abusive to political opponents, and exploitative of a trusting electorate.
