Erico Joseph T. Canete
“LOVE FOR POWER VERSUS THE POWER OF LOVE”
The title of this article is borrowed from British Prime Minister William Gladstone who, among the many, made a dichotomy between these opposites. Obviously, these realities cannot-be and not be at the same time, manner and respect. For if so, it would violate the Principle of Non-Contradiction; one of the three principles which serve as foundations of knowledge.
Let’s apply this to the present political scenario in our country today.
Election is over. The people had made their decisions manifesting their democratic right by deciding and casting votes as to who would man the bridle of governance. Yet, let’s look back at the reality relative to the seed of motive planted into the inner most consciousness of our politicians. Was it love for power or power of love that drove them to be in the position they desired? Selfishness or selflessness?
The love for power with devious means to achieve an end is selfish. It represents moral bankruptcy. This is reflected through using dreary political machinations like sophism, fallacy, lies, squealing, bringing the faults of the opponent in public, using guns, goons and gold, among others. Vote buying has been secularized into our vernacular “inangayan” (money given to voters as pocket money or share of the voter or voter’s per diem). Inangayan is used as euphemism for vote buying; justifying it as both morally and legally sound. The moral permissiveness of the majority about this matter doesn’t justify this devious act.
Obviously, one cannot lead the people to the existential end of society – the common good – if governed by this selfish and self consuming desire for power hiding in the shadow of public service.
Using the power of love is a virtue. It is a power for moral action which leads the politician to act with ease and order in the light of what is right or wrong and good or evil at the start of his quest for a public position, the campaign proper, election proper, and to the assumption of power and incumbency. This is a virtue that stands in the middle (“in medio stat virtus”), an auxiliary in examining the purity of ones’ intention from the race to service. The power of love clears the cobwebs that haunt the means and end. This is an epitome in concretizing the motto, “Public service above self”.
Under DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2022-029, all incumbent mayors of local government units (LGU) are reminded, even before the 2022 election, to organize Local Governance Transition Team for an effective turnover of responsibilities. We hope that, with the power of love, the outgoing transition team would pave the way to an honest reconciliation with the incoming transition team in the reporting of LGU assets, records, and other documents for a transparent and effective governance to the new set of elected officials.
As an author puts it, “We look forward to the time when the power of love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.”
With the fresh mandate given and entrusted by the people to the new set of public servants, may they give justice to this trust valuing the dictum, “Vox Populi, Vox Dei”. May the voice of the people be the voice of God for our leaders to see God’s image in all constituents and to serve HIM through them.