What I Think... A Little Food for your Thoughts...

What I Think…

I used to live in a small town in a small province, in a small island called the Philippines. But what specific town that is? You don’t really have to know. I know for a fact though, that whatever I am about to write, doesn’t only apply to that small town, but to every small town in every small province in that small island in that small country, and, in any other country that practices democracy.

In every couple of years or so, the people of a certain democratic country get the chance to vote for a group of people to lead them to their so called “progress”. But is that really the intention, to lead us into progress? I don’t know. Nobody really knows, except for the pathetic aspirants who try their best to look good in front of the public. I mean, no offense to all those who run for a good cause and a good platform, but then, we wouldn’t really know who those are, now, would we? So generally speaking, whoever takes this note against me is guilty as hell, no questions asked.

As a growing young adult, I used to dream about becoming a politician myself, wanting to try and change the world one day at a time, that was until I saw all the mess our current politicians are making, they have unconsciously thrown themselves in a tangled web made up of their own egos and ambitions. It’s really amusing, how someone can show such ardent desire to serve; May it be a small town or a whole country, but make a hapless spectacle of themselves. I used to dream big and imagine myself making a difference here and there, and honestly, when I saw how they all just mess up and put the blame on each other, my sense of confidence in my journey to becoming one, increasingly deflated. And in a matter of months, I wanted to be anything, but that.

It’s really sad and depressing, how a dream can be taken away from you just by looking at how they fail in being good at it, but come to think of it, I realized where I was wrong. The more that I saw what they are doing not only to my own small town, but whatever the hell they were doing to my whole country, it is downright unacceptable, and that’s what motivated me to write this note. I don’t care if it reaches only one person, or the whole world, but if it reaches that one person, then I know, I could make a difference from there on. Like a domino effect, if you want to call it that.

Just the other day, I was talking to one of the wisest persons I know, my mom. She may be just a typical 40 something yr. old woman trying to get by every day, you may think that she’s one of those, who doesn’t really care what happens around her just as long as she gets to put food on the table, but no, you’re wrong. She is one dignified, intelligent and well respected person, who doesn’t care what other people think of her because she speaks her mind, and by doing so she succeeds into getting her point across, whatever argument, discussion or everyday conversation she has, and that’s what makes her phenomenal.

Anyway, she was telling me about this public discussion that the local authorities of that small town had, and they were debating on whatever was best for our community. Basically, there was the administration and the opposition, sitting in that long table, looking down at the public who had come to watch them debate over their own opinions on the subject matter, talking about what their ‘best interest’ is for the community. Where by saying ‘best interest’ what they really mean is 'my own interest’.

I couldn’t find a word that would best describe this attitude in a subtle way, but can I say, selfish; Inconsiderate; Egocentric; Self- centered? Yeah I think I could. Because that’s what they really are, they are not concerned about whatever the hell happens to the community, what they care about solely, is what they could acquire and obtain once they get a hold of the benefits the people asked for. They try and seize no matter how much of these benefits and take advantage of it so they could carry out the various schemes and aims that they have. Is it for the people’s best interest? I don’t think so. Is it for the good of the community? No sir, it is definitely not.

But what I really don’t understand is how these politicians manage to manipulate the awareness of people and turn into something completely diverse. I was part of the people that stood in the crowd during campaign periods, and maybe I wasn’t eligible to vote then, but my discernment of the matter is enough to lay out my opinion in this issue.

Call me crazy but I don’t think that these politicians are entirely to blame into this whole concern. First and foremost, they aren’t the ones who placed themselves in that position. It was us, who gave them that privilege. If it wasn’t for the vote of the people, they wouldn’t be there.

What appeal do these politicians have that charmed the people into voting them, only to regret it few months after their appointment? Isn’t it confusing and at the same time completely outrageous? I mean is there anything we people can decide on and be actually happy with it? We place these insatiable politicians in office and we turn into this bitter and complaint driven whiny hoi polloi. If we actually want something good to come from our own decisions, it is not supposed to reach this extent where they are already seated in the office and basically they can do whatever they want to do, they are the ones leading us now, aren’t they? So what they decide on, that’s what we endure.

So technically, we set them in those positions, let them establish their very own little empires, and we allow them to manipulate us into believing that they are placing their ‘wondrous’ and ‘valuable’ plans and platforms in motion, which really sounded good to our ears, words that are wonderfully strewn together to create this colossal visionary, which would only turn out to be an abyss of empty promises and sky high ambitions, something that is highly achievable, except it wouldn’t be, since as promising as it may sound, it is just an accessory of these so called ‘leaders’ in their campaign speeches in order to capture the minds and hearts of people, people who are actually thick enough to fall for their flowery spiels. Ergo, we become sore f***in losers in the end.

So yeah, with that being said, I admit that I partly blame the people for being naïve and gullible. We go into these campaigns and let the ‘potential leaders’ lure us into this fantasy, where, as if they would be able to relieve us of our economic problems and turn our municipality into an award winning boom town. I cannot fathom how incredibly easy people can be; every day we go through the same routine, every day we experience the same hardships and difficulties, if not the same probably harder, can we ask them for help, I’ll bet you, 1 out of 10 times that you go ask them for their help, they are going to tell you, that they don’t have enough fund to provide you with the assistance you need, if you ask them personally, not as a commoner to an official, but as a person to a friend, and they would tell you that they have their own problems to think about. How impudent is that? But do we learn from our mistakes? No. Come campaign period, and that same politician you went to, approaches you and gives you a little ‘som’thin, som’thin’, a little ‘token of help’, and you graciously accept it and promise them your vote on the elections, oh come on! Can you get more pathetic than that? Some may call it practicality, I call it stupidity. You just sold your vote for that little ‘som’thin som’thin’ they offered you, tell me, would that little ‘token’ of theirs last you a whole years worth of food on the table? Would that be able to help you alleviate your family from the adversity you suffer every day? NO. You just sold your vote and your dignity for something that is not even worth it. Want to try regret? Too late buddy, you made your bed now you have to lie on it.

When are we ever going to learn?

Now that they have the power to manipulate every procedure, every movement in our small government, ask your selves these questions.

Where do we stand? Can we voice out our opinion while they debate on what brand new product our town should splurge in? Do we get a say in that concern? When our community needs funds for development, do they ask us our opinion? Do they tell us, how much they are trying to take on loan for a certain project? Do they inform us what the progress of a certain project is? Do they commit to the promises they guaranteed us in their campaigns? Were they able to carry those promises out? At the end of their terms, were they really able to satisfy our needs, considering they pledged to help us just as so that we would be assisted in every possible way that they can? We are given the sanction to listen to their deliberation of something that we, should decide on. We are the ones who are supposed to make the most out of these benefits, but are we given the liberty to do so? Are we given the right to suggest our own resolutions? And if anything, do you really think they take us seriously?

Think about it, we are supposed to place exemplary leaders into office to lead us into advancement and development of our community, we are given the right to choose who most are worthy and deserving of that position, but are we doing our part? Are we giving ourselves and our community a chance to move forward into that progress? Let’s ask ourselves, did we do the right thing?

Because if we would carefully think about the questions I just mentioned, it would lessen the possibility of us being on the losing end of the deal.

If we would willingly answer these questions with honesty; and if we have the determination of lifting our community from the dump that it’s buried in, then I am sure that our perception and preferences would be set straight, ergo, would result to the community that we are most especially thrilled to be part of.

Politics is an art, it’s a craft for the well learned and wisdom filled individuals. The only thing that would distort the true essence of it is indifference. Allow the worthy and proficiently skilled goal driven virtuosos to achieve what they have spent their lives learning. Give them the chance to show us their distinct capabilities into guiding us into a remarkable future and a gateway to our political sovereignty.

Do not be blinded by any amount of money or promises that are as empty as our pockets. Do not practice colonial mentality and decide using your closed minds. Use the intelligence that God gave us into putting the right pieces of the puzzle into its rightful places. Be open minded and look at the bigger picture. Intelligence is not a privilege, it is a gift. Therefore, we should bask into carrying out the goodness of it by making the appropriate choices and right decisions. Our judgment and resolution is what would determine our chance into that gateway.

Are you ready to make your town a better place? I hope so.

May it be the smallest town in a country, or the biggest country in the map? It doesn’t make a difference. If you are ready to do your part, then start doing it now.

If I succeeded reaching out to you by this discourse, then share this to others, who you believe would come through and would make the right thing. After all, that is the basis of this notes appeal.

Bored and Extremely Insightful (for now),
Jelena Magallon