Mabini Hall - Access to Justice

Elections are a popularity contest. Voters vote for people they know. That is but normal; human nature it is. We relate to those we see personally or through media. Why root for a stranger? We go for those who provide us with our needs even if they are deemed corrupt. It doesn’t matter the color of the snake as long as it is our snake.

In a democracy where the one with the most numbers gets to wield political power, our tendency to go for the familiar and avoid the unknown accounts for our electoral set up. This is true everywhere else in the world with a similar system. Why then the peculiar failures of governance in RP?

A typical day for any politician will include visits to constituencies for fiestas, coronation, awarding, or any conceivable affair. Of course, he has to bring goodies, the paternalistic factor our sociologists have described aptly. He will have to meet with key supporters and report to his kingpin on the developments. His loyalty is expected to be rock solid and in no way should he be fraternalizing with the enemy. Lost in all these activities is the issue of merit. What has he done for the people?

Talking about money, even the highest paid politician cannot afford the unending stream of dole outs from every sector. Either he has to have extra legal source or be in some legitimate business. The former is easier to do and is sadly expected. The latter requires a unique individual who can juggle both business and politics without crossing the line of indiscretion and yet maintain the ideals of both professions.

It is a challenge already for a business to stay afloat in a competitive world. What more a business that subsidizes a community? Is this corporate social responsibility at its best and worst form? Well and good if the business thrives. Soon, the business may not have the funds for expansion or investment. When a crisis hits, the sustainability of the whole structure will seriously be jeopardized. What happens then to the do-gooder? He may have to resort to other means mentioned above.

In a country with very short term memories, a good executive is judged by the number of his visible projects – the pedestrian overpass, the basketball gym and all the other infrastructure that billboard can announce. There is not much work done on systems and processes that will eventually provide a solid platform for development.
As a result of the bad management and the emphasis on the grand, the workforce is not administered well. Government employees tow the line and behave like functionaries without a concern for objectives or goals but are intent on watching out for their interest with minimum effort. Think of the common line in response to a telephone inquiry that goes, “Inday Mae, punta nalang kayo dito sa opisina para makuha yung form” as if fax machines never existed. Or, “Ma’am Lynn, puede ba ninyong balikan bukas?” as if the taxpayer lived across the street and not from another city who have nothing else better to do.

Turning now to policies especially legislative agenda, people don’t really care about the laws that legislators pass. This sadly translates to fellow legislators no longer interested in their own and their colleagues’ work. I mean, why bother when it is not what wins the votes?

And so the cruel cycle continues, politicians pandering to the very public. Surely the moral justification is that ‘public office is a public trust’ and how else to win the trust if you do not do become one with the public.

Worst when mixed with self-interest and wallowing in vices when politicians in position choose to build their war chest to retain their status, to fight off wannabees, or to aim for higher office. In a purer sense, what choice is their when everywhere they turn they see mouths to feed and hands to keep full and that is the way they can serve the people.

As another elections come along, it may be that this is not the only way to serve the people. Perhaps it is the only way and that is the tragedy that befalls our very public servants.