I would like to stress that the point is to build a level playing field for everyone. Our elite are too narrow-minded and engrossed on preserving their dominant position to allow empowerment of the masses. Our elite view this as opening the floodgates, eventually drowning them out. More progressive minds would see it as raising the water level to lift everyone.

But when the time comes, when you are alone inside the booth, no one points a barrel of armalite on your your sintido, no one records your vote in a video- you are all alone, the king of yourself and free to choose who ever you want to vote. Bottom line, most voters have no balls, many refuse to be informed, many more cling to padrino/ninong system.

We are and still remain infants of globalization/colonization.

We are a result of the first stages of capitalistic development by the more advanced countries. Hence we are and continue to be ancillary to the advanced capitalistic countries. States and nation states evolved from this societal development. We do not drive our own history to great extent.

As for the Philippines the weak state has proved to be the undoing of the rule of law that metamorphosed to the rule of the jungle. Guns, goons and gold. That is the reality on main street so to speak. Lawyers can go hang it up. The family or clan based culture prevails as the predominant societal culture that rules the political economy.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/rodrik28
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/opinion/20brooks.html

Before Robert Reich made “Lemon Capitalism” a buzzword, we already practiced Lemon Capitalism via behest loans. When you add that to Oligarchic Capitalism, you have a parasite that siphons off most of the wealth from the economy, leaving an impoverished population to fend for itself. A political structure that fails to empower the majority won’t be able to motivate creativity and growth for the country at large. That is why our economy has evolved at a very slow pace.

We have a narrow-minded oligarchy that jealously guards its dominant position in society. When you add that to our clannish mentality, it all the more handicaps those who are neither wealthy nor well-connected. When the majority feel that they have little at stake in the system, they either become apathetic and just take one day at a time, or take the bull by the horns.

Even Marcos’ Bagong Lipunan started on idealist grounds – to remove the strangle-hold of oligarchy and to instill a new society of discipline. Until their own and cronies’ greed took over.

Next, EDSA in 1986 which not only restored democracy but also, sadly, the reign of greed of the old oligarchs.

Then EDSA Dos in 2001 not only removed a popularly elected (but perceived as inept, womanizing, and drunkard) leader but installed a cabal leadership of crony capitalists and military generals.

And come 2010, we will have a new leadership to be corrupted by the national oligarchs, military generals, and graft-experienced politicians.

Are these the unintended consequences when you mix Western-style democracy and Filipino culture?

Is there an audacity in hoping for change in the Philippines?

complete overhaul is what the country needs and information campaign and educating the masses is another way. we used to say there is nowhere to go but up when our country was down but it seems that we are free falling as nation to the bottomless pit. sinking deeper and deeper with no hope in sight!

maybe we will all get a break when one of those cabinet meetings in the palace, they all get salmonella poisoning. LOL.
who knows as they say GOD has a strange sense of humor.

Maybe it’s some others fault but certainly not mine.

And in my side of the fence, we are never the ones who don’t give a damn.