Monday, November 12, 2012

Is there such a thing as a good dynasty for the Philippine political system?

Is there such a thing as a good dynasty for the Philippine political system?
Let us be clear on this issue. The answer is a resounding NO! The other night during the law student debates featured on cable TV, one of the feature schools students who were tasked to win the debate no less from my alma mater pointed out using the Kennedy family in North America as the example. This got me thinking first about the Kennedy’s who reigned for close of over four decades. While America today only employs approximately 6% or political dynasties there was a need to identify this families performance. Should President John Fitzgerald survive the assassination in the 60’s considering the prolonged and unpopular war in Vietnam, would he and his family stay the popularity with the Americans. The war veterans today don’t seem to think so. For that matter, no war is popular for any veteran who suffers the mental anguish and worse death of soldiers who have been sacrificed. NO, there is no such thing as a good dynasty. It has to be an oxymoron.
In the Philippines it does not matter whether it is good or bad, it is simply against our constitution and unless this is re written and ratified by the people, any and all dynasties is a violation to date. Leaving this decision to the people to vote whoever they wish to place in power during any election is no excuse. The constitution is clear that this is a violation as said and I quote for the millionth time; On Article II Section 26 “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law”. The prohibition is direct and clear. Our politicians and the many government agencies simply rationalize to bring their relatives into political power. To guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service makes it definitive that no dynasty can exist much less perform good but only for the bad meaning a clear violation. The last portion “as may be defined by law” is a violation of our legislators the past twenty five years avoiding their responsibility only to allow their dynasties to establish themselves into power. The people are fooled into legalese to the present day with no less the independent commission the COMELEC who recently pronounced they are helpless on this issue to the detriment of the populace. Interestingly enough it has finally come to pass wherein media has joined the fray finally and prioritizes this issue forcing multiple dynasties to cringe. We have to date over 70% of our political leaders belonging to political dynasties. Many have mutated to the consequential oligarchies and should we allow these dynasties to proliferate and survive, we the people will suffer the collateral damage they will cause with their insatiable appetites characterized by oligarchies to war against each other. We are beginning to see some dynasties imploding amongst themselves, can you imagine what it would be like should they go to war against each other over turf. This will happen.

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