Voting For Elections: Should We Bother Or Not?

Photo courtesy of dinno 19 (Flickr.com)

It seems that most Filipinos nowadays have lost their enthusiasm when it comes to voting for elections. The average Filipino would ask: “Would it make a difference?” And we can’t blame them; most Filipinos have connected the country’s deteriorating political system to their increasing domestic problems. Most Filipinos have conceived the idea that the political system is the key factor that affects the quality of our living; as a result, Filipinos have become accustomed, passive and indifferent.

But voting for elections does make a difference, and we should realize that. Even if the government extorts from us in legal and illegal ways (and it will never change), wouldn’t it make a difference if the elected official is a “lesser evil”? Let’s face it: corruption is already a natural phenomenon in Philippine politics; it’s already there. Yet even if we cannot remove it, we can lessen it. And how do we lessen it? Pick the “lesser evil” politician. Pick the less corrupt. Pick the less tainted. And we can do that by voting for elections. 

While it may occur in other parts of the country that people have a “good candidate” to vote for, our town is different: there’s no good choice. The fat candidate (in terms of his physique and money) comes from a family facing numerous charges, and this candidate is alleged to be always absent in his office. The candidate making a “comeback” was at a time associated with the fat candidate, and now he’s running against him (that’s how quick politicians change sides). Another candidate is seeking re-election, and the only thing that I can remember during his previous term is the misplaced archway that his administration built to serve as the boundary of our town with the next town. A dispute ensued, and the other town won, resulting in the demolition of the archway. It was a waste of money and effort. 

You might be thinking: “Even if we choose the ‘lesser evil’, it still wouldn’t improve our political situation. The government is still corrupt; national and local programs are still poorly implemented; law is not fully enforced. Yes it’s true, but by exercising our right to vote, we can manage to decrease the magnitude of all this. It’s better than doing nothing about it, right? If your house is on fire, wouldn’t it be better that you died trying to escape, rather than locking yourself in despair? 

Despite these circumstances, I believe that choosing the lesser detriment is every Filipino’s responsibility, and he can fulfill his responsibility by voting for elections. Our single vote can make a difference, and it takes only one vote to determine the outcome of the election. My advice for the average Filipino is this: stop thinking that the political system is the main reason why your life is miserable. It’s time to break the cycle. Don’t get accustomed to our present political situation if you want it to change for the better. It’s time to be active, and it’s time to get involved.