tête-à-tête
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
starry starry politics
Recently, the Comelec issued a memorandum ordering personalities to resign or take a leave before they endorse politicians. Many of these personalities reacted dramatically (as they are good at it) saying that singing, dancing, and acting are their "bread and butter". That's so much bread and butter! And what about the masses whose vulnerability to get amused at tawdry appearances they exploit? I mean, these performers have done so much flop acts already, and so they must spare the masses their cheap shots! And if they have a little sense of responsibility, they should stop saturating the airwaves with their mountebankery!
But that is just a speck in this cosmos of third world politics. Many actors and actresses who cajole us into voting are also principal suspects to an impending crime - tax evasion. As many TV, movie, and radio stars turn into blackholes, the Bureau of Internal Revenue warned them of dying (so to speak) should they refuse to declare their assets and pay just taxes. But if this bureau is determined, why gaze only at the stars when politicians are more predisposed to defying the law? Given our current system, prosecuting them may take some light years to happen though.
And what about those pro bono endorsers? I'm not a lawyer, but I'm not stupid either. I think the intention of the law is to give equity to media control in relation to campaigning. The Omnibus Election Code sets airtime limits on different electoral positions. So, once personalities have expressed support over certain candidates, they are automatically associated with those candidates and whether they chant or sing or rap or do nothing, their mere appearance on TV is, in effect, campaining. Freedom of speech? Sure. But it is devoid of any ethical standards to abuse freedom in the name of personal or familial gains.
Let's all be a part of these historic elections. But before that, you are so crass if you vote without looking into the character, achievements, and political stance of your candidate. And you are also irresponsible not to encourage others to do the same.
Copyright © 2009 by DenniSinned2. All rights reserved.
But that is just a speck in this cosmos of third world politics. Many actors and actresses who cajole us into voting are also principal suspects to an impending crime - tax evasion. As many TV, movie, and radio stars turn into blackholes, the Bureau of Internal Revenue warned them of dying (so to speak) should they refuse to declare their assets and pay just taxes. But if this bureau is determined, why gaze only at the stars when politicians are more predisposed to defying the law? Given our current system, prosecuting them may take some light years to happen though.
And what about those pro bono endorsers? I'm not a lawyer, but I'm not stupid either. I think the intention of the law is to give equity to media control in relation to campaigning. The Omnibus Election Code sets airtime limits on different electoral positions. So, once personalities have expressed support over certain candidates, they are automatically associated with those candidates and whether they chant or sing or rap or do nothing, their mere appearance on TV is, in effect, campaining. Freedom of speech? Sure. But it is devoid of any ethical standards to abuse freedom in the name of personal or familial gains.
Let's all be a part of these historic elections. But before that, you are so crass if you vote without looking into the character, achievements, and political stance of your candidate. And you are also irresponsible not to encourage others to do the same.
Copyright © 2009 by DenniSinned2. All rights reserved.
Labels: BIR, comelec, politicians, politics, tax evasion, the philippines
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
politics 101
Yesterday, I watched some politicos talk. But I wasn't impressed. Maybe because whenever a politician opens his mouth I have this reflex to protect my reality from being distorted by his gobbledygook.
Many politicians intoxicate voters by bragging about their "achievements" so that when tipsy, as many Filipinos already are for decades, they irrationally vote for inexperienced actors or help extend the terms of mercenary officials. And so when these flagrant parasites get yet another chance to suck out from the taxpayers' money, they unabashedly publicize themselves through colossal banners on a pretense of thoughtful greetings to graduates and exam passers. As if they care that only 3 out of 10 high school students actually get to go to college and board passers can't find decent jobs. And yet these shape-shifters know when and how to polish their image because their political evolution had taught them how to be bogus agents of change.
Other politicians capitalize on their appellation. If they are the opposition, they present themselves as every good thing that the administration is not. If that doesn't work, they dichotomize the political arena further, take the safe side, then paint messianic images for sure outpour of support. They distance themselves by lambasting their colleagues as if the latter haven't done anything good at all. But they, too, don't walk their talk. They oppugn plans but they cannot offer alternatives. They orchestrate a charade where they all compete for the lead role. But when their stratagem fails, they resort to being pictographic. Can you understand why the waiting sheds' pillars in your city form the initials of your governor or congressman? Why engraved on the walkways are the first letters of your mayor's first and last names? Can you understand why they have to embed their names on projects we paid for? Do you know why they are willing to spend a fortune on political ads just to get elected to an office that pays little salary?
Months from now, we are going to vest power. Is it going to be in someone who exploits the failures of others to gain credibility? Someone who has good intentions but may not be good enough for the position he prays for? Someone who promises the stars? Someone whose idea of leadership is his leadership? Someone who may plan to simulate the past regime? Someone whose credibility is impugned for his alleged offenses? Someone whose visions are not so clear? Let's not be deceived by political shenanigans and fallacies. Let's take our time to choose because a mistake done in a day will be six years of nightmare.
Copyright © 2009 by DenniSinned2. All rights reserved.
Many politicians intoxicate voters by bragging about their "achievements" so that when tipsy, as many Filipinos already are for decades, they irrationally vote for inexperienced actors or help extend the terms of mercenary officials. And so when these flagrant parasites get yet another chance to suck out from the taxpayers' money, they unabashedly publicize themselves through colossal banners on a pretense of thoughtful greetings to graduates and exam passers. As if they care that only 3 out of 10 high school students actually get to go to college and board passers can't find decent jobs. And yet these shape-shifters know when and how to polish their image because their political evolution had taught them how to be bogus agents of change.
Other politicians capitalize on their appellation. If they are the opposition, they present themselves as every good thing that the administration is not. If that doesn't work, they dichotomize the political arena further, take the safe side, then paint messianic images for sure outpour of support. They distance themselves by lambasting their colleagues as if the latter haven't done anything good at all. But they, too, don't walk their talk. They oppugn plans but they cannot offer alternatives. They orchestrate a charade where they all compete for the lead role. But when their stratagem fails, they resort to being pictographic. Can you understand why the waiting sheds' pillars in your city form the initials of your governor or congressman? Why engraved on the walkways are the first letters of your mayor's first and last names? Can you understand why they have to embed their names on projects we paid for? Do you know why they are willing to spend a fortune on political ads just to get elected to an office that pays little salary?
Months from now, we are going to vest power. Is it going to be in someone who exploits the failures of others to gain credibility? Someone who has good intentions but may not be good enough for the position he prays for? Someone who promises the stars? Someone whose idea of leadership is his leadership? Someone who may plan to simulate the past regime? Someone whose credibility is impugned for his alleged offenses? Someone whose visions are not so clear? Let's not be deceived by political shenanigans and fallacies. Let's take our time to choose because a mistake done in a day will be six years of nightmare.
Copyright © 2009 by DenniSinned2. All rights reserved.
Labels: comelec, elections, may, philippines, politicians
