This commentary was originally published at Philippine Online Chronicle‘s Blog Watch special section on the upcoming 2010 national elections.

I take offense when some individuals insist that the Filipino people deserve the corrupt government and the inept public officials they elect. In light of the recent calamities that struck the nation, some people have the gall to gag people from blaming their government. It is insulting. Nakakaawa na nga ang sitwasyon ng masa, sinisisi pa sila. Pinning the blame on the people is the kind of mentality that lets crooks in government get away with corruption and ineptitude. In other words, it’s a scapegoat. It’s unfortunate that some people buy it and promote it without shame.

Truly, the Filipino people do not deserve being bled dry by their inutile government. The Filipino people do not deserve being denied of adequate social services. True, it is the people who elect the politicians. But the claim on the direct relationship totally disregards the prevailing conditions of the democratic system in the Philippines, and in many places in the world for that matter.

All along, it’s akin to providing a sick man with heart disease only establishments in a fastfood-exclusive food court to choose from for his meals. (Reminds me of a government hospital along East Avenue). He cannot be faulted for choosing a Big Mac or a two piece ChickenJoy meal–the system denies him any alternative, else he induce famish upon himself. It may answer his immediate needs from hunger, but the fact is, any choice he makes in the food court will eventually harm him, some faster and more harmful than others, and will even profit and make money from his plight. What can he do? These choices, and the entire food court establishment is maintained by well-oiled machineries of propaganda and intense commercial advertising campaigns which make the establishment and the choices look very appealing–enough to induce one to consume and feel fulfillment from the consumptions, without providing the consumer, or in this case the sick man, with the space to realize the long-term effects.

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