MOVING ON AND MOVING FORWARD
BY:DONALD SEVILLA
With the elections over, people are expected to move on and start anew. With a fresh mandate from the electorate, winners are feeling euphoric and losers may feel down and out on their luck.
Yet, the recent polls had us questioning a lot of things. For instance, why were votes cast in certain localities more than the number of registered voters? Why did the running tally for votes counted in the evening of election day change the following morning as though it were adjusted?
Many local candidates who thought they won by a margin woke up losing the following day. If indeed there was a double counting of votes what were its ramifications?
While the elections were perceived as generally peaceful and orderly, was it devoid of suspicions of fraud and manipulation?
Acceptance of a loss or defeat in a fair fight is gentlemanly and noble. But to concede defeat in a contest under doubtful circumstances without reservation is another story.
The victors can always label losers as sore and claim a moral high ground but it is not necessarily so.
We respect the victorious who are magnanimous in their success but we also respect the right to grievance of those who have been unjustly deprived.
When there is a perceived lack of transparency and bias by those conducting tbe polls, this is where problems arise.
When the public is not totally satisfied with answers to lingering questions, the integrity of the polls can be compromised.
Where before we can state firmly; ” Vox populi, vox dei” can we say the same now?
Certainly the voice of a corrupted people is not the voice of God.