Politics and humanity

Cong Corrales

“Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful… and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” –George Orwell

SOMETIMES I forget that there are people who would sacrifice their own humanity to pursue their political ambitions, no matter the cost. Yes, like you, I have this naivé streak sometimes.

When Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano’s bumbling spokesperson Alexander Dacer announced to reporters that his principal is still pushing through with his candidacy despite being rushed to an emergency room and subsequently admitted to that same hospital’s intensive care unit, I couldn’t help but think Dongkoy’s children would forego their patriarch’s health with their blind and selfish ambition to perpetuate themselves in power.

Actually, Mr. Spooksperson, the question with him being admitted in CUMC’s ICU is not whether he will still push through with his candidacy or not. The question is whether City Hall rent-seekers still have the confidence to bankroll his campaign. Will they gamble their millions knowing that their bet is nowhere near healthy?

I was wracking my brains for the reason behind hizzoner’s campaign to take back City Hall. I still couldn’t understand why he/she/it (if I may borrow Tito Butch Bagabuyo’s special pronoun for hizzoner) would risk his/her/its health to run for mayor in a city he/she/it has long abandoned. Is it for the power to approve new contracts, and for other “fringe” benefits he/she/it could get his/her/its hands on?

That’s when I came across a seminal study on political recruitment by Joseph A. Schlesinger who posited that man’s political motives and desires are molded by the availability of political “opportunities,” and that such opportunities are structurally determined.”

What Schlesinger wrote somehow answered my question. Like a hungry detergent (read: Pacman), until there are still “opportunities,” these politicos will plod on like mindless zombies just to stay in power. The study, however, brought forth a new string of questions in my mind.

If Schlesinger is to be believed then at what cost does a politician pursue the availability of such political opportunities? Will the politician go to such lengths like creating such opportunity to perpetuate themselves in power? When does it stop? Do you stop pursuing such opportunities when you realize that your political ambition is alienating you from your own humanity?

He’s 74 years old, for chrissakes! Would you and your ilk really let him plod through the rigors of a full-blown campaign just so you can perpetuate yourselves in power?

If there’s one message the informal surveys and polls in the local quadmedia it is that Cagayan de Oro has had enough of hizzoner.

Have a heart. If you don’t have one, do it out of genuine respect for an old man who should be enjoying the fruit of his “labor” in his twilight years.