msugensan_POLITICS

Mighty Morphing Political Rangers

“Its Morphing time” power ranger Talong transform, power ranger Kamatis transform!! Galaxy police shaider transform. “Mask rider change “. No wonder these lines are very popular to the children of the past generation and even to the children of this current generation. Superheroes that uses high-tech gadgets to transform to a magical creature. This Phenomenon cause the children to imitate this super heroes but I am just wondering why politicians imitate them too. Do these politicians also possess battle gadgets that enable them to transform to a political butterfly? Do they also perform the funny ritual that these superhero do ? ******************************************************************** Politician A: What the Hell! I am supposed to be the standard bearer of this party! How come that Atty. Ernesto el Poso Negro won the national convention? I deserve to be the presidential candidate!

Politician B: I am very sorry Mr. Senator, the party do like your decision on the issue of charter change. Maybe that is why you lose the national convention.

Politician A: What the hell! Get out of my sight!!!!!!!

After 1 hour

Politician A: Its morphing time! Hello is this the headquarters of the Montesquienism party? This is Senator Karl Thomas Locke. I’m thinking of switching party.

Political Turncoatism

Migratory birds who prompted by a compelling biological instinct to escape, from a political winter of descent or defeat , fly in the search of warmer clime and another sun.

– Claro M. Recto

Political turncoats are really inevitable here in our country that has a multi party system. It is inevitable for a politician to change his party from one to another. In a parliamentary system a political butterfly are punish by the whip and he loses his political career sometimes. In a two party system it is like betting on Erik Morales on the Pacquaio-Morales trilogy, when you switch your party and it will be a total pain for you. The political turncoats are perceive in a two opposite way the first is as a enlighten one by those politicians who accept him or her to their party. While the people from whom this turncoat came perceive him as a traitor and a man without a honor and principle. We really cannot blame these people who want to be a turncoat to their allies, it is their decision and they may have a plan on something else. These political turncoats are perceived as opportunist by others and some perceive them as a liar and a man without sincerity. Senator Richard Gordon creates a bill about the political turncoats and giving them a punishment.

According to the bill any politicians after being chosen to run for on ticket of a party will be considered as a turncoat and should be subjected to penalties. The penalty will depend on the bylaws of the party to which they belong. This Bill provide that the political turncoat should be prohibited from assuming office if he changes party affiliation during the election period; forfeit his office if the elected public officer changes affiliation during his term; be disqualified from running for any elective office in the succeeding elections; and be disqualified from being appointed or from holding any position in any public or government office for three years after the expiration of his current term.

The problems with these political turncoats are they are creating a real bad image to the public causing a step back in the political maturity of our country. Because of this people lose faith on the government and they believe that the country cannot have a leader who will be sincere and serious on his work.

But if we would put our shoes to these political turncoats and analyze their political standings we might do the same way. In our history not all political turncoats end up crying and not all ends up laughing.

Some Mighty Morphing Political Rangers on their battles:

Do you know how and what is the story of how Former President Ramon Magsaysay won the presidency?

This legendary man a former liberal party congressman was appointed as the national defense secretary by the President Elpidio Quirino in year 1950. Many believe that this man was appointed because if his amicable diplomacy to the government of
America. Some people also call him as a “American puppy” because of his very close relation with the officials of the American government. Because of this closeness that he share with the American officials, the American government wants him to be the next president of the
Philippines. But unfortunately he has no chance on winning the national convention of liberal party. The reigning president Elpidio Quirino decides to run for reelection. And it’s like an Iron Mike Tyson versus Botha for the heavyweight championship. This is really frustrating for Magsaysay but he did not give up and instead of being a dog of the liberal party he whisper to his self “It’s MORPHING TIME” He transform form being a Liberal to a nationalist. The result favors Magsaysay and he won the 1953 presidential election. The powerful victory of Magsaysay and his political somersault is now a part of the history

Another is the story on how the legendary Ferdinand Edralin Marcos won the presidential election against Liberal standard bearer Diosdado Macapagal the Macho of the Liberal. Marcos and Magsaysay have a similar situation. Marcos wants to lead the country and be the president but his dream was slash by the declaration of Pres. Macapagal for reelection. Just Like what Magsaysay do Marcos use his power to transform from liberal to a Nationalista. But one thing confuses me which political pose is better to watch? Anyway Marcos won and he crushed the standard bearer of the liberal Macapagal by a landslide victory. Just like what Iron Mike Tyson do with Trevor Berbick in a 1 round KO Marcos won the same way in the election.

Another case is Fidel “Tobacco” Ramos who joined the L.D.P. in 1991 but the bad thing is he loses against speaker Ramon Mitra in the L.D.P. national convention. After a few the days Ramos came out and fly away from the L.D.P. and he said that there is fraud on the selection that is why he creates the LAKAS EDSA, which later known as the LAKAS-NUCD. He became the standard bearer of this party and won the presidential election. These are just some of the political turncoat in our country which create history and shock the Filipino nation.

Switching party is a like committing a suicide and we all know that politics is a Gamble and politicians risk their career on the line to achieve supremacy. Political turncoats should be ended here in our country so that we can achieve a political maturity.

“BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER”: Nepotism in Government

Bridgette Servino

     Let us say you are a manager in a company or
simply you have your own business, big enough for you
to hire employees or someone to assist you in managing
your business, you usually prefer to hire someone who
is related to you, maybe by blood or by marriage, or
someone you trust, your friend, instead of somebody
else. The others might be deserving for the position
but because of human instinct, automatically, you will
choose your friend or relative basically to help them
by giving job as a source of their income or because
of debt of gratitude, then you might be guilty of
nepotism.

     Nepotism… Favoring relatives because of their
relationship rather than their ability and merit. It
is very commonly used as a word describing
‘connection’ that allows anyone to obtain a certain
job. In the Philippines, it is known as “Compadre
System” in terms of economic and employment. Nepotism
creates problem, it is a common accusation in politics
when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to
similar power seemingly without appropriate
qualifications. nepotism is synonymous to succession.
In government, nepotism results to political dynasties
that constraints other more better employees to be
productive one. This also results to corruption
because of self interest, under the table
negotiations, illegal protection due to debt of
gratitude and other political crimes leading to claims
of conflict of interest, favoritism, and
discrimination. yes, it is true that blood is thicker
than water but it doesn’t mean that it is always
right. An ordinary employee, trustworthy and deserve
to be promoted suffers and choose to be silent and not
to speak out to avoid conflict within the company or
office.

     The thing is where is the fairness? What is the
essence of merit and fitness if nepotism dominates in
the government? Because of this injustice kin
selection, it lowers the morale of the government as
well as the productivity of the whole country. If
that’s the name of the game, then what’s the use of
studying? Establishing your credibility? Your
accomplishments? Where is the fair game? Everyone
should have the opportunity to make a better life for
themselves, then everyone should be equally given the
chance and choices. There’s nothing wrong in hiring
relatives in high office but of course, make sure that
their qualifications are not questionable. Because of
favoritism, every mechanism of the government is at
risk. 

Screaming Infidelity: Loyalty and Politics

Kris John Suñga
6:46, the last trip of the PNR train for that day when at the Pasay station a dog enter followed by it’s masters. But before the dog can go deeper into the crowd the “kundoktor” voiced out “boss bawal po aso dito” to the man who is most likely to be the owner of the dog. The man obviously was struck and confuse for he didn’t really want to let his dog out of the train plus his two children saying words of concern for tagpi, bruno, itim or whatever the dog’s name is. But then, their transport money is only good for PNR tickets. There goes the distinct noise. The dog outside. The little girl almost crying. The train starts to gain speed. The dog running after the train….. until we can see the dog nomore.
 
Nope i did not make up that story myself but the thought of posting an entry in my frienster acct., inspired by this scenario was in my head for months now.
 
Now, what would be my topic? The loyalty shown by the dog to his masters equating to loyalty and politics.
 
Given by Mr. Webster, loyalty is marked by alliance to a person, organization etc. The very example is what made the dog run after the train. It has two types:
                        1) one-way loyalty
                        2) two-way loyalty
In politics one-way loyalty is evident in absolute monarchial governments like the sultanate of Oman, Emir of Kuwait and in dictatorship like in Saddam Husseins cabinet. On the other side, two-way loyalty would have to include the democratic and parliamentary government. Here in the Philippines we are technically exhibiting the latter for the people have to be loyal to the leaders and the leaders must be loyal to the people to have a smooth-flowing relationship between the people and the gov’t.
 
That is for the macro sense, but behind these clusters of leaders and people being loyal to each other, there are still fidelities that governs an individual in the micro sense. A partylist representative would have to be loyal to his party and to the ideology of his party. An appointed officer tends to show loyalty to the one who appointed him. An activist is loyal to his truth. An officer is loyal to his organization.
 
In this sense for me, loyalty exists in all aspects and forms of politics.
 
Here in our country there are three vital sectors wherein their loyalty is much considered by all the incumbent governments namely ; the loyalty of the masses, of the military and of the church. The EDSA I revolution would have to be a concrete example. Basically these three united against the Marcos’ and express their disloyalty to the said dictator and loyalty to what they percieved as justice. But on the present administration, GMA’s, though events speaks for themselves, no matter how we try, it’s as if the administration still hold strong to their seats. how’s this? Taking it from the journalists “the military remains loyal to GMA”. See how much brain that little girl has?
 
In the recently concluded US election. Can we say that the people of America have been disloyal to the the Bush’s administration for  welcoming majority of the democrats in the house or are they considering the infidelity of the current administration to a peace loving America?
 
Is former secretary Avelino Cruz been disloyal to the president, the one who appointed him, in having a different point of view on the issue of charter change that fueled his resignation or is he just being loyal to his own thinking?
 
Can we say that the resignation of the HYATT 10 a sign of disloyalty to the administration or loyalty to their pursue to a transparent governmnet.? Was the “if we hold on” sung in unison was a bluff?
 
In Coup plans, is the military being disloyal to the administration or just being loyal to the their right thing to do?  
 
You see loyalty and disloyalty, maybe we just don’t see it most of the times, still holds some answers in questioned decisions of our people. To what they believe in, to their ideals, to their motto, to what they hold is not true.
 
Also, i find fidelity and infidelity a must in politics considering some of our major political problems. <But before that take note that i believe that human is in nature GOOD and RATIONAL>. Taking corruption as an example. Corrupt leaders are basically being disloyal, first to the people and second to their ideals of governace (humans are naturally for the good). Turncoating, turncoats are being disloyal to his party. In terrorism, these named terrorists are being loyal to their ideologies.
 
Giving stress to good and right loyalty would have to be one of my considered answers in these problems. Ranking loyalty in choosing our leaders and our leaders being loyal to the people and to his ideals that put him in that position. Loyalty, if only given much push by our constitution and by our leaders themselves, we could achieve the much craved transparent government. If we could only know how to appreciate loyalty to it’s purest sense maybe the philippines is not in it’s worst state.
 
You may find my arguments a little vague ( i admit it)… hehehe and that these could be easily challenged by many other ideas specifically dialectical materialism but i will say this. We’ve learned yet we’re in the state far beyond nothing, we’ve learned to the extent that we usually see things as complex as we could make it, we look at things as if there’s always beyond. But while looking or seeing these things’ complexity, sometimes we are missing the simple truths, the undeniable ones, the basic truths that sometimes are enough in answering our much asked questions.
 
God Bless