Elections promote division

Churchill Aguilar

IF there is one bitter truth I learned in my line of work, it’s the sad fact that elections, be it national or local, divide the community for good (for most part for bad, really).

As a democratic country, the elections are what define us as a free country. Everyone, the moment we reach legal age, is given the power to run for office or at least choose who should lead us. With our votes, we get to participate on how the government should be run. But are we really free to choose?

When we say we are free to choose, it has to mean that we make our choice without fear of the consequences. That we are not making choices under duress. That whoever we choose, should not be taken against us after election. And most importantly it should not be a reason for us to be discriminated from a chance to work in a government office when the one sitting was not the one we voted for.

You see, in the world of ideas, such system of representative democracy is perfect, but then again that is because we did not take into account the emotions of the ones running who take everything personal after elections.

In reality, most civilians, especially in remote areas where the LGU is the biggest employer, they vote for those who can give them jobs.

And politicians are only as good as if they can give their supporters work after election, whether or not these supporters are skilled or are qualified for any position. While that is not much of a problem (after all, leaders are supposed to provide jobs) the devil lies on the other side of the story, and that is, that if the one you voted for did not win, that means you will have zero chance of being hired in the LGU even if you are the most skillful person in your locality.

With such culture, families dictate who their members should vote. They make a solid stand, otherwise they will not be put in the priority list of job applicants after election. Those who do not make their choice public before the elections for whatever reason are most likely to be labeled as supporter of the enemy after election.  Thus, every household gamble their chance of a possible work in the next three years by declaring their political color publicly. That is no doubt a choice under pressure.  So are we really free?

The civil service has no control over hiring of “job orders,” constituting the most number of employees. And so the power remains at the hands of the elected officials and this is where power corrupts.

This is what lawmakers (senators and congressmen) should be focusing in aid of legislation and not their budget for covered courts and road constructions. They are lawmakers, not executive officers. They are supposed to safeguard the welfare of the voters and preserve the sanctity of every vote. Because until we are not protected by a law on how we won’t get discriminated after elections, then we will never really be free to choose.