[old.wp] Election = Action?

[OLD POST] Date: 02.08.2010 | Navigate to the original post here.

commentarium –  02.07.10

National elections are approaching again. Different channels have allotted a segment especially for the election in their own news programs. Numerous political commercials flood the air waves and even the internet, each bearing a particular politician’s tag line and platform. Controversies arise, praises publicized, conflicts developed and alliances formed—these things no longer surprise the people.

Last year, the loathsome “Maguindanao massacre” commanded long air times. According to reports, many journalists, reporters, and others in the same field, were among the victims. This hyped up the media. Events that were to commemorate their colleagues’ deaths were commenced. The news claimed that the crime is election related, as many who know the publicized story would agree. Political killings happen not only in the south but also in the north. It seems customary for some personalities to take out any threat to the offices they hold not through a boosting of credibility and integrity in their service, but by killings.

While some negative things happen in light of the election, some positive things do happen, too. Last year’s Christmas season saw the greetings of many a politician in the television.  In one of the cities of this nation, I’ve witnessed the sudden appearance of boards that are meant to give directions for drivers during the month of December. More recently, traffic lights, which have been inactive since before those currently in power took their respective offices, are now functioning the way they should. There are three lights: green, yellow and red, which actually light up now. While such projects benefit the public, the timing is in question. These politicians have a three year term, but it is only now, three months before the election month, that such projects are undertaken. Again, one can’t help but see the connection of these events to the upcoming elections.

Election has spurred different politicians to kill those who may pose a threat to the offices they hold. Projects that benefit the general public abound as election is only months away.

Indeed, election calls politicians to action, whether for the betterment of their subordinates or for their own personal agendas. [ juRo™ ]