tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post117066834693595153..comments2023-10-20T21:46:49.945+08:00Comments on Philippine Commentary: Boycott the Elections? Don't Be Silly, RandyDeany Bocobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443168826029321831noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170918591275356472007-02-08T15:09:00.000+08:002007-02-08T15:09:00.000+08:00"Higher forms of democracy must be constantly foug..."Higher forms of democracy must be constantly fought for so that mankind may achieve the new freedom which a higher stage of development makes possible. Democracy therefore, is by its very nature subversive of the status quo. Change is its lifeblood & dissent the inevitable precursor of every change. Dissent is thus coterminous with democratic life. The right to dissent is implicit in the democratic ideal of freedom of expression & of action. When that right is abridged, circumscribed, or denied, democracy becomes an idle word, a farcical form disguising an authoritarian content."<BR/>-Renato Constantino-<BR/><BR/>I could remember the first time the "Hello Garci" tapes were<BR/>exposed again I talked with my old professor and he told me to<BR/>let congress do its job because we are in a democracy. To let<BR/>"The rule of law" have its way, to give democracy a chance and<BR/>have our constitution work for us.<BR/><BR/>After the call for investigation was voted out by the majority<BR/>in congress, as well as the two impeachment complaint my<BR/>professor told me to wait and have us vote for incorruptible<BR/>congressmen and let the people decide for the next congressman<BR/>who would vote against GMA and for the full investigation of the<BR/>"Hello Garci Tapes".<BR/><BR/>When the majority in congress voted for charter-change I dont<BR/>know what my professor still thinks if he wants to still keep<BR/>them in office and wait until the next election. Arguably this<BR/>is what it means to be in a democracy, perhaps some have it good<BR/>and some have it bad. Perhaps indeed this is what keeps America<BR/>in the brink of impeaching Bush but that is understandably<BR/>giving the benefit of the doubt to the credibility of elections<BR/>in the U.S.<BR/><BR/><BR/>*"Democracy's greatest virtue is the humility to admit that it is<BR/>imperfect and flawed. But its greatest strength is<BR/>corrigibility, the potential to improve and correct itself<BR/>itself, step by step, without forcing the people against their<BR/>will, to adopt things, even if it is "good" in some metaphysical<BR/>sense. This it does by regular democratic elections. It is the<BR/>only mechanism we have to replace leaders and conditions without<BR/>overthrowing the system everytime we don't like the results<BR/>produced." - Now this is where I think the contention lies, what<BR/>I am actually against is the kind of election we have in our<BR/>country. Where democracy only works for those who could afford<BR/>it and there can never be equal opportunities for candidates who<BR/>are poor. I have no qualms whatsoever in a democracy being a<BR/>tool in changing the government "peacefully" but putting into<BR/>context the political spectrum our country is in, where voting<BR/>is a privilege and even sometimes only practiced at the end of a<BR/>barrel of a gun.<BR/><BR/>Time and again we have experienced massive<BR/>cheating, electioneering and even murder at that and we brush it<BR/>aside stating that it is because we live in a democracy that's<BR/>why. Some people win some and some people loose some thats how<BR/>its works, is that it? Furthermore who says we should never<BR/>overthrow this system? Who ever believes that by giving GMA a<BR/>"credible" election she deserves the graceful exit by being<BR/>impeached? And in the most extreme point of view do you think<BR/>she would ever allow that?<BR/><BR/>*"I think the premise of a boycott is that we intend to replace<BR/>the system anyway by getting rid of it. But I don't think<BR/>getting rid of regular democratic elections is a real option for<BR/>us unless we want to install another dictatorship, possibly with<BR/>a philosopher king or God himself as its head." - Perhaps the<BR/>absence of a credible leader speaks of the need to vouch for a<BR/>"peaceful" election because we cannot overthrow the government<BR/>without having somebody to replace it. Other than that i think<BR/>that the filipino's love for entertainment further sterngthens<BR/>the need for an election. A conversation with a colleague<BR/>yesterday stated that even with a credible election there will<BR/>still be massive vote buying and cheating involved. I equally<BR/>agreed with him that the problem doesnt just lie in whose<BR/>handling the elections rather the behavior of the voters<BR/>involved in the election (poverty, ignorance, iliteracy) having<BR/>the behavior of the candidates being entertainers as a given<BR/>(but thats giving them much credit) as secondary.<BR/><BR/>Therefore in the final analysis permit me to state the rationale<BR/>behind "constructive boycotting". These are the given:<BR/><BR/>1. We can never oust or impeach GMA without the support of the<BR/>masses, also because majority in congress supports her.<BR/><BR/>2. We can never oust or impeach the members of comelec without<BR/>the support of the masses, also because the government won't<BR/>allow it or even have them placed under investigation.<BR/><BR/>3. We can never oust or impeach members of congress without the<BR/>support of the masses, also because a number of people believe<BR/>that the only way to change them is either through a<BR/>"democratic" election.<BR/><BR/>4. The candidates running for election as well as the election<BR/>per se is won by face value rather than credible political<BR/>merits.<BR/><BR/>5. The masses are either poverty stricken or else associating<BR/>the rise of the peso to the government of GMA.<BR/><BR/>6. The middle class are either too busy or going out of the<BR/>country and live their own lives because there are more masses<BR/>that could be tricked into voting anyway than them.<BR/><BR/>7. The elite would rather keep the status quo for this is what<BR/>have always worked for them, supporting candidates for their own<BR/>ends, though a handful might help the good candidates still they<BR/>would never go against the government.<BR/><BR/>8. The broad left either has none or little of "winnable"<BR/>candidates.<BR/><BR/>9. The broad left being composed of the armed and the legal<BR/>struggles is still licking up its wounds from its past mistakes<BR/>aside from being literally murdered indiscriminately by either<BR/>the government or by themselves.<BR/><BR/>10. It should never be contested that the camp of Erap is<BR/>consistently rising and is becoming a formidable opponent of the<BR/>administration but raking up divisiveness especially from the<BR/>middle class and the elite.<BR/><BR/>Therefore having stated the above statements what does that<BR/>leave us? Are we to work and help "The Government" reach its<BR/>end by having us participate in "The Governments' election"?<BR/>Is boycotting an election, become a transgression worthy of the<BR/>term defeatism?<BR/><BR/>The problem here is in the numbers, of how many are going to win<BR/>or will be able to win in an election under GMA's regime. It<BR/>has been proven before that under her supervision even the most<BR/>formidable force under the banner of FPJ can never assume<BR/>leadership. That even in the halls of congress we can never<BR/>demand to open election returns. That with the boldness of cold<BR/>blodded murderers from the government they would never permit<BR/>such to even come into mind.<BR/><BR/>"Constructive boycotting" doesn't mean that one becomes<BR/>apathetic, it is one becoming able to voice out the wrongs of<BR/>the current regime and not having to be used as a tool for<BR/>further misgivings.<BR/><BR/>"Constructive boycotting" while being conscious of the status<BR/>quo aims to change it by being able to point out the<BR/>corruptibility of institutions such as comelec and becoming a<BR/>watchdog while not being tied to the governments leash.<BR/>"Constructive Boycotting" is a process in a democracy that<BR/>understands and utilizes the sphere of dissent to eventually<BR/>change the strata of our voting population.<BR/><BR/>It is when we understand that their law doesn't work for us<BR/>anymore. That an election doesn't work for us and their model<BR/>of democracy has failed us time and again. It is that the real<BR/>rule of law could only be applied if we rise up and go against a<BR/>system that fosters such. That we have the courage to say no<BR/>because the ballot boxes to be used are still the ones used for<BR/>cheating. That we have the courage to say no because the ones<BR/>overseeing the elctions are the ones who cheated us of our<BR/>"democratically voted" leaders. That we have the courage to say<BR/>no because the regime we are under is still the one curtailing<BR/>our democracy.<BR/><BR/>Ergo the solution to a fraudulent election is to never partake<BR/>of such. To eventually show the people that the ones' voted<BR/>into office are the ones voted by the Government. To show that<BR/>the people who are to be bought and tricked into partaking of<BR/>such elections deserve the leaders they have. That is when the<BR/>good people are really doing something, chiding them of their<BR/>mistakes and counseling them in the end.<BR/><BR/>It is never tolerating another's mistake just so the other would<BR/>continue to live their lives. Perhaps this is what Rizal really<BR/>meant when he didn't blew up the house in El Fili. Perhaps from<BR/>this we will be able to chaff out the wheat from the grain.<BR/><BR/>For "constructive boycotting" never meant leaving another for<BR/>naught, it is showing them what is ought and giving them the<BR/>choice of action.<BR/><BR/>thanks for enlightening me more <BR/>Mabuhay ka!Emmanuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730734797936605305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170847424692538202007-02-07T19:23:00.000+08:002007-02-07T19:23:00.000+08:00Floyd,Again thanks for a well thought out comment ...Floyd,<BR/>Again thanks for a well thought out comment and discussion. There is nothing tricky about the argument that when good people do nothing evil triumphs. It's just like when there is no good bacteria in your stomach, it will surely ache form the evil bacteria that is left. <BR/><BR/>I think the premise of a boycott is that we intend to replace the system anyway by getting rid of it. But I don't think getting rid of regular democratic elections is a real option for us unless we want to install another dictatorship, possibly with a philospher king or God himself as its head. <BR/><BR/>The other way of approaching it is to accept that human societies will always be imperfect, unequal, or even, unjust to some degree. But we have only the method of "successive approximations to the ideal" to rely upon. <BR/><BR/>To make this as clear as possible, look at the problem of ignorance that science faces: we shall never know everything there is to know about the universe, indeed the more we know, the more we know how much we do not know! But is this a reason to give up on scientific exploration and discovery? Of course not. It is the same with societies and politics. <BR/><BR/>Democracy's greatest virtue is the humility to admit that it is imperfect and flawed. But its greatest strength is corrigibility, the potential to improve and correct itself itself, step by step, without forcing the people against their will, to adopt things, even if it is "good" in some metaphysical sense. This it does by regular democratic elections. It is the only mechanism we have to replace leaders and conditions without overthrowing the system everytime we don't like the results produced.<BR/><BR/>To me Gloria's greatest crime is not "being illegitimate" or even "cheating the elections" but her violation of national security laws in wiretapping herself and Garcillano and prostituting the Philippine Military intelligence services to partisan political purposes.<BR/><BR/>But because so many Filipinos don't care about national security for some reason, and don't value our soldiers and military as the foundation of our freedom and democracy, we have not approached the removal of the President for those crimes. I think she is guilty of violating the anti wire tapping law! For that alone she should be impeached and convicted. <BR/><BR/>That is the only way I am willing to get rid of her before 2010. To do that we HAVE to elect enough senators and congressmen to accomplish it. We must try against all odds to succeed. Defeatism and assuming the elections will again be cheated is not an option. <BR/><BR/>We have to make the proper impeachment and conviction of a sitting President work, so that the Future can avoid having to do it again. <BR/><BR/>Regarding "guarantee of results", remember the slogan, "all men are created equal"? Yet, why ARE there rich and poor in democracies, even the oldest ones? It is because liberty is also a condition that breeds inequality, since some people are smarter, harder working, wiser, or just plain luckier than others. Thus "equality" is only with regards to "opportunity" and not the actual results. This is what is meant by democracy not being a guarantee of results. Democracy is no guarantee that we shall all be equally happy, or rich or powerful. <BR/><BR/>We must make our own fortunes, even in a democracy. It is totalitarianism that makes the false promise that all will be equal in the results because the results are decreed by fiat. It is of course a proven fiction that any society can do that.<BR/><BR/>The solution to a fraudulent election is still the Rule of Law. As citizens we must punish the wicked and reward the good by upholding the Rule of Law, not chucking it out the window or saying it is hopeless and therefore we should not even try. <BR/><BR/>The difference between free men and slaves is in never giving up until the Right has triumphed, but not through evil. Here is my favorite quotation of all time, from the great American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass:<BR/><BR/><B>"Your forefathers were men of peace; but they preferred revolution to peaceful submission to bondage. They were quiet men but they did not shrink from agitating against oppression. They showed forebearance but they knew its limits. They believed in order but not the order of tyranny. With them nothing was "settled" that was not right. With them, justice, liberty and humanity were "final" -- but not slavery and oppression. You may well cherish the memory of such men, for they seized upon eternal principles, and set a glorious example in their defense. Mark them."</B> It is my credo.Deany Bocobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443168826029321831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170824285798194222007-02-07T12:58:00.000+08:002007-02-07T12:58:00.000+08:00Thank you very much Dean for the comment ^_^ anywa...Thank you very much Dean for the comment ^_^ anyway heres my rebuttal if you may.<BR/><BR/>*all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing - Now by saying this your argument became very tricky. Do you mean that by participating in a "fraud" election we become the good people doing something for evil not to triumph? Or do you mean that even before a "fraud election" becomes manifest we will be able to clean it up and make it more credible, thus making us good people? To expound further doesn't it merit that calling the Comelec a "Commission riddled with fraud" as exampled in the last elections make my arguments valid? Perhaps the difference lies in your approach as to how you define evil. Perhaps voting and practicing the right to vote is not evil per se but the process of how our votes are counted and made accountable is what becomes evil in the end. Other than that do you mean that by doing nothing--which is boycotting the elections, we would help this illegitimate government make an election under its regime legitimate?<BR/><BR/>*Then there is this thought: all the surveys point to the Opposition taking over the Senate and ushering in a "Hanging Senate" where there will be at least 16 members ready to convict the President at impeachment. It's much harder to cheat the Senate vote, and even harder because of what happened in 2004. - I have yet to understand a survey in the Philippines that presents the desired results as produced by the study. Lest we forget in the 2004 elections it was FPJ who was leading the surveys and yet GMA was the one who won it. Surveys as in the case of the Philippines are either used to complement a candidate or show the truth in society. But surveys can never read ballots and award a candidate its seat in government, especially when the ones counting it are the ones who counted GMA's in congress.<BR/><BR/>*But the point of this post is that it is unprincipled to boycott an election just because we don't think we will like the result - Let me ask a question why do you think we ever vote? Isn't it because we believe that our votes will be counted? That our names registered in Comelec will be found in the right precincts and ballots? That the candidate we choose will win an election? When does it become unprincipled to choose to go against a system that doesn't safeguard these rights? When does it become unprincipled to believe and think that before we ever get to vote we must clean our Comelec and put to justice our president?<BR/><BR/>*Democracy is about freedom and opportunity, not a guarantee of results - Now there was a saying that behind every right there exists a duty. In a democracy indeed we have a right to our freedom and free opportunities yet we should protect it so we will find the results it guarantees. I don't know what you mean by saying that Democracy being not a guarantee of results. Are you saying that just because we are able to practice our freedom to vote and our opportunity to choose our leaders we are to be equally happy even if we know for a fact that the ones handling our democracy (which is our government and Comelec) are those who manipulates them for their own ends?<BR/><BR/>I hope that this would shed light further to what I am trying to touch upon. <BR/><BR/>Mabuhay ka!Emmanuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730734797936605305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170763082973415992007-02-06T19:58:00.000+08:002007-02-06T19:58:00.000+08:00Thanks for your thoughtful comments Floyd. I gues...Thanks for your thoughtful comments Floyd. I guess the impt point is something you already touched on, that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. <BR/><BR/>Then there is this thought: all the surveys point to the Opposition taking over the Senate and ushering in a "Hanging Senate" where there will be at least 16 members ready to convict the President at impeachment. It's much harder to cheat the Senate vote, and even harder because of what happened in 2004. <BR/><BR/>But the point of this post is that it is unprincipled to boycott an election just because we don't think we will like the result. <BR/><BR/>Democracy is about freedom and opportunity, not a guarantee of results.Deany Bocobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443168826029321831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170732248705444432007-02-06T11:24:00.000+08:002007-02-06T11:24:00.000+08:00I sent a txt message to my friends and told them t...I sent a txt message to my friends and told them that im not going to vote.<BR/>because of the following reasons:<BR/><BR/>1. The people who are going to supervise it are the same people who orchestrated GMA's way to presidency last 2004.<BR/><BR/>2. The elections are going to be held under the GMA government.<BR/><BR/>For one I refuse to recognize this government, other than that I honestly think that nothing good will come out of the current Comelec as it is today. So why bother voting when the next thing you know your ballots are going to be used to count the asshole of a candidate you sincerely detest?<BR/><BR/>The reply to my message was devastating, the people I thought to be intellectuals and thinkers insisted that people who don't vote like me are anarchist and that they support the will of the people to hold a "democratic" election.<BR/><BR/>I doubt they never heard about passive resistance as it was done in India at the time of Gandhi or better yet they might have known about it yet decided to place their faith upon an illegitimate government as well as a corruptible Comelec.<BR/><BR/>For this It was also timely for me that I am reading about Ninoy Aquino. How he was able to win in an election held under the most auspicious eyes of that scumbag Marcos.<BR/><BR/>I understand that he won second in his senatorial run against his formidable opponents. I must admit I don't know if at that time Comelec was as crooked as it is today or filipinos could be bought as they are today.<BR/><BR/>I also don't know if their epiphany for Ninoy was because of his incorrigible faith in the filipinos good will. I read that even in his final moments he still valiantly believe that the filipinos are worth dying for. Either way I still think that he was legitimately voted into office but majority of the senators who won (actually he was the only one who won from the opposition) were for Marcos.<BR/><BR/>So why do you think Ninoy won? I think he was made to win by Marcos because it was the only way to satiate the desire for debate in the halls of the senate or else the venue would be nothing more than an echoing YES hall.<BR/><BR/>I am not saying that he was never popular as he was then, I believe that his victory was also because of his effective information campaign, nonetheless he was the only one who won from the opposition, doesn't that ring a bell?<BR/><BR/>Assuming that indeed the people experienced the massive cheating in the elections and THEY DID vote for the right leaders, what was it that they did after? Was it worse than the "Hello Garci" scandal?<BR/><BR/>It is here that we will find credence as to my actions and my decision not to vote. Ninoy stood alone in the senate a lone sheep amongst wolves. He talks and delivers speeches vehemently against Marcos and people loved him because he stood as somebody who passionately believes in the power of the filipinos to think for themselves, but forward it to thirty years or more and you find filipinos trying to stomach another subtle dictatorship such as GMA's.<BR/><BR/>The truth is people change and their ways for struggle does too. If we can't even vouch for a fair and honest election, then why the hell vote?!! If we can't fight against the illegitimate government and a Comelec that houses Garci and Abalos then why the hell vote and hope that these people will give you your due?<BR/><BR/>I never lost faith in my countrymen and just like Ninoy I firmly believe that there will be a better future for our country. BUT I WILL NEVER TOLERATE THAT MY COUNTRYMEN BE TRICKED INTO PARTICIPATING IN FRAUD RIDDLED ELECTIONS!<BR/><BR/>A professor of mine told me that the reason bad leaders get voted into office is because of the lack of good people voting. And he bluntly told me that I was one of them, he followed it by saying that this country would be no better off with people like me and he'd rather migrate to another country because of my beliefs.<BR/><BR/>How about he tells that to people going out of the country and NOT EVEN TRYING TO SACRIFICE AND CHANGE ANYTHING, INSTEAD BE USED BY THE ILLEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS OWN ENDS?<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it is true that if I never vote then the wrong kind of leaders will be voted into office, but that is only because people like my professor never does anything to go against the corrupt officials in Comelec and the regime.<BR/><BR/>It was also from him that I first heard of that adage where he says that "The people gets the government they deserve". If what he says is true then HE deserves this kind of government and NOT ME!<BR/><BR/>Ergo I choose not to vote. I choose not to be used by the government. And if they believe that by forfeiting my right to vote I would also forfeit my right to complain from the government then so be it. If they brand me as an anarchist then I brand the government as a manipulative asshole who tries to stage a democratic front not even worthy of a second rate television drama.<BR/><BR/>Other than that if you still firmly believe that we're still a democratic country then maybe its time that you read about Ninoy and learn the lessons of our history from his eyes. Or else be one of those tricked into believing that just because we were able to exercise democracy, we are definitely free.Emmanuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730734797936605305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170728942163326792007-02-06T10:29:00.000+08:002007-02-06T10:29:00.000+08:00Yeah, well, I miss the 20th Century too...but even...Yeah, well, I miss the 20th Century too...but even the Chinese communists will probably leave them behind Manolo. Too materialistic is that culture, and too gregarious the Chinese people, to become another Cuba. Prosperity, my hoped for glue of the world.Deany Bocobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443168826029321831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170718161343480902007-02-06T07:29:00.000+08:002007-02-06T07:29:00.000+08:00I doubt she's been hacked. Looks like her admin is...I doubt she's been hacked. Looks like her admin is trying to change the template or redo her database (again!). She really should move to the New Blogger! Am sure they'll be back up soon. Not to worry. Hope your blogging about Dolorino...Deany Bocobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443168826029321831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14974164.post-1170712895616263932007-02-06T06:01:00.000+08:002007-02-06T06:01:00.000+08:00Dean,Ellen's blog is totally empty at 22h52 my tim...Dean,<BR/><BR/>Ellen's blog is totally empty at 22h52 my time.<BR/><BR/>I suspect her blog's been hacked.<BR/><BR/>Hope she's alright.HILLBLOGGERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977843513566589811noreply@blogger.com