Monday, March 22, 2010

Our Business-like Politics

I was doing my errands at home when i was taken aback with my little nieces (while playing the famous Plants versus Zombies in our sala) sang out their hearts with this not-so-impressive song on television: "Si Manny Villar, ang magtatapos nang ating kahirapan."

DAMN. How I've been irritated with the song for a gazillion times! ENOUGH. And i thought that life would be better if televisions automatically get "power off" when the filthy-rich, pro-poor Villar-Ad cues up. =)

But i have to face it: I was amazed at how the song captured Filipinos, most especially children like my nieces. Sadly, for me, it has turned the game of politics into an image that has most likely been taking the shape of business - and its all business.

I even found a picture of him on a seeming campaign material stuff, and yes - it really looks like a product label... and with this, you should agree:


Just as how products rise from a stage of introduction to maturity (that which is known as "the Product Life Cycle) some politicians, such as the latter, came up with a style and tactic like that of business. But is politics all that? Or if politics is all that, are we only choosing a presidential bet based on the pattern of business (that is when the most popular product rises above all else, and win the race in the market).

If there's one thing that needs to be changed in our political system, that is to make everything fair for every politico in terms of displaying themselves to the wide public. I still don't know how this could be possible, but the idea of limiting the airtime of these advertisements down could be of help to the system.

It seems that people (Filipinos, most especially) take too much action when being motivated. And when these financially advantaged politicos use their financial power to motivate people through the use of the powerful boob-tube, Filipinos are led to believe and highly encouraged. And this may lead to something more negative than expected.

Politics may be defined as "selling one's self to achieve a position", but can't we at least draw a line and not make politics a business?