AS PART of my weekly discourse with graduate school students, I had the chance to ask them about the next elections in 2022. I asked about the possible considerations we need to set in choosing for the next set of leaders who will govern our country in the years to come.
With the orientation of graduate school, which is based on reason and high level of analysis, our discussion turned to the many social problems of the Filipino society. Considering that I also like that kind of approach, we resolved to apply our political analysis with reference to the dynamics of social institutions that created social problems since these will also haunt our leaders in the future.
Our topics revolved around the leading issues like poverty, the fight against Covid-19, the killings, illegal drugs and foreign policy. The students agreed that all these concerns dominate our everyday lives and exposed us to the unseen dynamics that have slowly taken control of lives in an unconscious way.
After citing some issues and concerns, we referred to the political personalities who can possibly answer these concerns if that was what we meant by running the affairs of government. Sadly, at the national level, we could only mention some names whom we can consider closer to what we are looking for. Yet, we are also one to say that Covid-19 is the focus and politics can have its time later.
It can’t be denied that the semblance of demoralization had taken the center stage in all aspects of our society. I reminded the students that this is the reason why we exist. We burn candles to read these dynamics and of course make ourselves available to find and suggest solutions to the pressing problems of the Philippine society.
Part of that struggle in the academic community is to engage with society and institutions that don’t recognize the role of understanding these dynamics to supposedly arrive at a sound decision-making process. It is understandable that power and positions are scarce resources, hence, it results in much less qualified and no expertise to force themselves to get access to the very limited and abused resources. Thus, we could get the same justification why we are seeing the same social problems that we have in a span of time.
It helps to think that in the complex process of becoming conscious about our dynamics, our leaders should first, situate themselves at the vantage point that they could appreciate the interplay among social institutions. If not, we will simply engage in the cycle of choosing the wrong leaders, who are notably too insecure to think what they want should always be followed.
I heard names who can be suggested to run the affairs of the country. But seeing the dynamics and play of interests should be given to someone with experience and the ability to see things and navigate situations. Try to look at what is happening at present. It could be hard for someone to steer this country forward if he doesn’t have the ability to look at the dynamics of the social institutions. If there are perceived gains, it could be worse to court for an elite governance that carries little or no concern on the actuality of the Filipino society.
It would be hard to see politics in this country being sent into the minds of unconscious beings, unable to recognize the true state of the people. If they could not see the true state of the people and its dynamic process, ask how could they see solutions to the many social problems.