If more people voted with logic and reason instead of emotion, we would have better politicians, I am convinced of that.
Eleanor Pinugu is correct “How emotions shape votes,” Undercurrent, 10/07/24). The landscape during the primary election period in the Philippines is sometimes—including the way some of the candidates present themselves—as surreal as a David Lynch film.
The dynasty problem is a kind of declaration of bankruptcy of democracy in this country. It must also be mentioned here that many voters simply do not have the courage to vote for a newcomer, a complete outsider, instead of always voting for the same person.
This was the case in Pasig City years ago. After 27 years of the Eusebio family, Vico Sotto won and was reelected by the majority. This example can be applied everywhere in the Philippines, one just has to have the will to vote or as the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche would say: “The will to power.”
But many voters are probably so discouraged because they are frustrated. Most of the time, there are no political alternatives to the ruling dynasties on the ballot paper. Why? Fear? Finances? Stress? No sponsors? Exclusion from the election? Success is easy to achieve; it is more difficult to earn it. If no one has the courage to challenge the old establishment, they will, of course, stay in power and everything will stay the same.
There is no reason to hide if you have good political concepts. If you don’t want things to change, then you don’t need to vote in the first place. We don’t want to live in “Absurdistan.”
If you are not available as a candidate yourself, then you should at least have the courage to support an alternative candidate with others, even if his chances are slim this time. Next time, it may be different. He has to slowly become known and this would be a contribution to that. If not financially, then with your time, you can support someone in a campaign. If you give nothing, you have nothing.
Everyone has time, more or less. Every candidate can become your equal friend in the election campaign because you have a common goal in mind. The Nobel Prize winner in Literature Albert Camus said: “Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
