By; DONALD SEVILLA
THE BARANGAY ELECTIONS: A STUDY IN IMPARTIAL OR PARTIAL BEHAVIOR?
Election fever is once again burning with the upcoming polls at the barangay level, the most basic of government units in our democratic framework. Supposedly a non-partisan electoral exercise, it never was, is and will be, typical of any major undertaking in our politically- charged society.
It is said it’s not what we know or can do but whom we know and what our patrons can do. Patronage is prevalent in our way of life that politics is no exemption.
Too much politics stalls progress and is seen as one of the factors that keeps nations from advancing and crossing over the poverty threshold. In more developed and advanced countries, elections are not as keenly awaited, unlike us where our world comes to a standstill and politics takes over come election season.
It is sad that some people vying for positions resort to any and or all means to win including assassinating opponents to erase the competition. Yet come to think of it, what is in it that our competitive spirit sometimes brings out the worst in us?
This leaves us dumbfounded for how can one go through such lengths in the desire to enter public service? Politics is dirty business yet many are bitten by the political bug and are hooked by it. Once in power, we cannot let go and try to keep it that way.
While our end goals may be noble, it is easy to lose our way. Many start off idealistic and full of hope but end up corrupted by a system filled with ironies.
Just looking at how the dynamics in the barangay level play out, we can clearly see that what was intended to be a non-partisan undertaking ends up to be the most partisan of all.
Local political kingpins and their interests compete with one another and the barangay polls become a proxy war, an extension of intense political rivalries amongst themselves. Like pawns in a chess game, the players position their minions to solidify their foothold on power.
Such is the significance of the barangay elections that we turn a blind eye to neutrality as we continue to feed our hypocrisy with noble narratives.
But what can we do when our system is structured in such a way that breeds contempt for non-partisanship and impartiality?
It takes a level of political maturity to rise above our usual selves and do away with things we are used to doing. It could be a generational thing that we may not see in our lifetime.
But the challenge is here and now as we are fully aware.The big question is, can we do it or are we willing?