Vote Buying and People Attitude In It
Vote buying is very rampant in our country. People are always reminded before and during election time not to receive money from candidates because definitely if they won, they would become grafters and get their expenses back from the coffers of their offices.
The people did not listen to church, civic groups, and cause-oriented groups in reminding them not to sell their votes. They continue to receive money during election time. They reason out that they money used by the politicians to buy votes came also from them in the form of taxes so they have reason to get them back. They added that they only receive the money and vote candidates according to their conscience. At least they have conscience as they they justified their actions.
This attitude made the politicians become more corrupt because they spent millions of pesos during election time and if they just recover their money from their salaries if they won, definitely they cannot recover their election expenses. The politicians tried all sorts of getting kickback moneys from projects which they approved. Money spent for social services projects are adversely affected because they are over priced or utilized substandard materials.
I remember that when I was still a student in 1986 and it was also the year of People Power that kicked Marcos from power I and other student activists vigorously campaigned against vote buying and violence during election time. Today, 32 years after I observe people have not changed much.Vote buying is as rampant as before and maybe worsen because the prices of vote buying have risen. Middle class in subdivision housing is also joining the bandwagon which before frowned on vote buying.
Politicians also justify their bad strategy of vote buying that if they would not do it, others would do and they would lost in the election. Beside they said, if they would not go corrupt where did they get the money for unending solicitations coming from different people ranging from medicines, coffin, fiesta, donations and others. Their solutions to all these demand for money is to ask for kickback money.
Next year is election. This makes me think deeply: Are we still going to campaign against vote buying or instead we campaign to politicians--how much money will you give thus the voting populace could choose for the highest bidders? People did not change. Politicians corrupted the people. Time did not change the attitude of the people. Who will change then? Is it right to say that because we cannot change the situation then we surrender into it and join the corrupt system?
I remember the story of a foolish man who digs a mountain because it covers his house. He could not get fresh air and could not see the beautiful sights because of the mountain. He decided to dig it. People saw him and ask him how he could succeed. He said, "This mountain will not grow. For every soil I get it will decrease its size. If I can't do it my children will continue my digging". His resolute attitude paid off. God saw and pity him and removed the mountain.
So, with out problem of vote buying just continue your campaign against it. People may wake up soon and realize their wrong attitude. God will definitely help those who help themselves.
