Page 3 - IFLS.IDEAS76

Basic HTML Version

2 I The Best Online Education System in the world
ELECTIONS IN SOCIETY-WHAT THEY ARE FOR
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
There have been times when I have personally felt that I am not getting enough from society. The leaders that
I expect would have the benefit of their constituents as primary considerations in their minds have other
things to think about. They think about how much they will get for a certain project or how long they will earn
dividends from pushing for specific legislations. Currently one of the hottest topics on debate is the “fat
bonuses” that the majority in the country’s law-making body received last Christmas. The main figure of the
controversy says those “bonuses” are earmarked for the specific lawmakers’ constituencies. Wow, wonderful!
But the garbage in my village continues to be uncollected, so that assurance seems not to be that assuring at
all.
With the elections fast approaching, one can not help but be overwhelmed by all the promises that the various
candidates have begun to give to society. There will be enough food for all. Jobs will increase. Children will
enjoy the best opportunities in society. Safety will be a priority. Income will be sufficient to cover all of our
daily needs. Great healthcare will be a right and not a privilege of the few. Whew! With all those promises and
more, we will start to live in a heavenly society after the elections.
Imagine. No worries about where to get the money for the next meal for our families. Our children will be
properly educated and be well-cared for. We’ll have a society that has more jobs than job seekers, and more
business opportunities than can be imagined. Society will be safer. Our rights will be protected at all times. We
should vote for all of the candidates, then. This is probably the only way we can finally have the life we seek
and deserve.
As voters, we have the power to choose who’ll govern us in society. If we choose sensibly and vote wisely, we
may still get the quality of life we seek and not the way of life we so desperately want out of. The leaders we
vote for will impose their will over ours for a certain number of years. If we allow the worst among them to get
into power, we only have ourselves to blame for the collective action we do in installing them. We have one
shot in a specific number of years to make our opinions count in society. Let us not waste that single
opportunity by allowing ourselves to be bought or manipulated. Let us make conscientious decisions that
reflect true wisdom in society living. Let us strive to build a society that reflects our collective wishes for a
better life and a better existence.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Do you believe that all elections that have happened in your own society have been fair? Why or why
not?
2.
What kind of society leaders should we vote into office? Be as specific as needed.
3.
How important are elections to the society we live in?
4.
How do elected leaders erode the concept of society? Elaborate on your answer/s.
5.
If you would run for office, what would be your top priority/ies?