Yesterday, “official” campaign period for national positions started and for those of you who thought it started in November, apparently, plastering your face on TV ads don’t count as campaigning. As long as they don’t say “Vote for President” right?
Anyway, it has started folks. If previous election periods are to be used as templates for this one, expect walls and every other surface plastered and plastered-over with campaign posters, streamers hanging and blocking traffic lights, and stickers on every possible crevice. Traffic problems will be made worse by candidates on the campaign trail and most of what you’ll see on the news will be of popularity surveys. And while all of that is happening, you’ll also see the dark side of politics where everybody is mudslinging and where somebody somewhere is out slinging bombs and bullets as well.
This morning, my friend Marlet sent me a jarring eye-opener of the current state in politics and elections in general, a video of an interview with an actress running for a councilor post in Quezon City. People who know me personally know that I am already jaded when it comes to anything remotely related to politics; even my father delights in hearing me ranting about multi-billion peso road projects (no, seriously, did they use hundred peso bills to line the roads? Or did they substitute gravel with 10 peso coins?). That said, I was surprised to find myself flabbergasted by the video. For you who haven’t seen it, here it is in all its YouTube glory:
I’m sure posts like this one have been made around the net by this time and I’m sure everybody who gets this kind of flak will have one thing or another to say about the “freedom of speech” netizens have. When you think about it, most netizens won’t have anything to say if fodder wasn’t handed to them on a silver platter. Did I mention that this candidate is topping the surveys in her district in QC? (If you’re against anti-pornography, does that mean you’re pro-pornography?)
Needless to say, I think people should really think about who they should vote for in the coming elections. Forget popularity, forget where that candidate came from. Remember that you’re voting for leaders who will ultimately make your laws, make your ordinances, sign your petitions, build your schools and hospitals, and decide where your taxes will go, among other things. For heaven’s sake, think.
Marlet’s parting shot was a video of Sarah Palin and considering the subject of this post, I think it’s apt.
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Sarah Palin Uses a Hand-O-Prompter | ||||
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