Several weeks ago,I was watching one of the political debates on tv when the issue of political dynasty was talked about and it was astutely pointed out that by definition what we have in the Philippines is not a dynasty, because it was not given to another member of the family to another, rather it won it through an election. True.
Strictly speaking what we have here are oligarchs. This was what the Apo, or Ferdinand Marvos Sr. called his enemies then. But in reality nearly all political families in the Philippines are oligarchs. Some descended from the Kabesas during the Spanish colonial time to and some descended from the revolutionaries of the Katipunan.
Of course from time to time the political class gets infused with new people, new politicians. People who have distinguished themselves and won public office by the strength of their character and deeds or by their renown. Some have been able to build and hold unto to their power by tagging in family members into the political arena. Then again this all done through elections.
The oligarchy does thia through several means: First, the name alone, because of its name in history, commands respect. Second, the renown or fame enables the people to remember them during the crucial time, voting. Third, organization allows the family to bring the vote to the place where it counts. This automatically does not mean vote buying, but the organizing of resources to bring the vote, which include rallies, organizing ward leaders and people on the ground and may now include vote buying. Fifth, resources or money.
This is how elections are won.
What we have here are not political dynasties but an oligarchy and plutocracy that perpetuated political dynasties. And this is going to continue.
Most political parties are coalitions of new politicians and political families. Nearly all political parties have the same platform - good government, they only differ in the branding. Most often you can identify them as Pro-Aquino, Pro-Arroyo, Anti-Aquino but not Pro- Arroyo, and it goes on and on. The demarcation only happens when they choose sides, before and after elections. The only parties that seem to be getting elected come from the Left, even there you see a divide, again due to affiliation to political personalities and families.
Oligarchs and oligarchy are not inherently bad, perhaps a bit flawed democratically, as kleptocrats and kleptocracy. Certainly not as frightening as an autocracy or a theocracy.
And this election is probably no different from the past in terms of choices and outcomes. And given that this is a mid-term election - it would be a sitzkrieg rather than a blitzkrieg.
Although, There is some hope - progress and political promises. Progress … Economic progress empowers new players and may in time change the political landscape or at least dilute the strength of the political families. Unlike their feudal counterparts - political families and new politicians must play to the crowd - us. And perhaps we can extract promises and make them accountable. Promises like the passage of the freedom of information act and the abolition of the pork barrel in whatever name it goes under today. If we cannot dislodge them from their perch we might as well as make them accountable.
And except for a revolution or even a war there is no other way to go about this, except by increments - elections and changes in the law. It is not going to be easy. But the Future is something worth fighting for.
Philippine Elections 2013: Oligarchs and the Future
Several weeks ago,I was watching one of the political debates on tv when the issue of political dynasty was talked about and it was astutely pointed out that by definition what we have in the Philippines is not a dynasty, because it was not given to another member of the family to another, rather it won it through an election. True.
Strictly speaking what we have here are oligarchs. This was what the Apo, or Ferdinand Marvos Sr. called his enemies then. But in reality nearly all political families in the Philippines are oligarchs. Some descended from the Kabesas during the Spanish colonial time to and some descended from the revolutionaries of the Katipunan.
Of course from time to time the political class gets infused with new people, new politicians. People who have distinguished themselves and won public office by the strength of their character and deeds or by their renown. Some have been able to build and hold unto to their power by tagging in family members into the political arena. Then again this all done through elections.
The oligarchy does thia through several means: First, the name alone, because of its name in history, commands respect. Second, the renown or fame enables the people to remember them during the crucial time, voting. Third, organization allows the family to bring the vote to the place where it counts. This automatically does not mean vote buying, but the organizing of resources to bring the vote, which include rallies, organizing ward leaders and people on the ground and may now include vote buying. Fifth, resources or money.
This is how elections are won.
What we have here are not political dynasties but an oligarchy and plutocracy that perpetuated political dynasties. And this is going to continue.
Most political parties are coalitions of new politicians and political families. Nearly all political parties have the same platform - good government, they only differ in the branding. Most often you can identify them as Pro-Aquino, Pro-Arroyo, Anti-Aquino but not Pro- Arroyo, and it goes on and on. The demarcation only happens when they choose sides, before and after elections. The only parties that seem to be getting elected come from the Left, even there you see a divide, again due to affiliation to political personalities and families.
Oligarchs and oligarchy are not inherently bad, perhaps a bit flawed democratically, as kleptocrats and kleptocracy. Certainly not as frightening as an autocracy or a theocracy.
And this election is probably no different from the past in terms of choices and outcomes. And given that this is a mid-term election - it would be a sitzkrieg rather than a blitzkrieg.
Although, There is some hope - progress and political promises. Progress … Economic progress empowers new players and may in time change the political landscape or at least dilute the strength of the political families. Unlike their feudal counterparts - political families and new politicians must play to the crowd - us. And perhaps we can extract promises and make them accountable. Promises like the passage of the freedom of information act and the abolition of the pork barrel in whatever name it goes under today. If we cannot dislodge them from their perch we might as well as make them accountable.
And except for a revolution or even a war there is no other way to go about this, except by increments - elections and changes in the law. It is not going to be easy. But the Future is something worth fighting for.