HOTSPOT
Tonyo Cruz
The most pernicious use of gaslighting against Filipinos happens during the election season, and we could hear and read it again at this time.
I’m talking about the slogan “vote wisely,” as well as the other gaslighting terms “bobotante” and “enabler.”
I argue that these terms are a most vicious form of political victim-blaming. Those who profess the belief that voters should be held accountable for the acts of those who were elected, are either stupid or lacking courage.
For why should voters be blamed for the criminal or negligent acts of those in power? Public office is a public trust. Those who commit plunder, ineptitude, treason and other offenses should be held accountable for victimizing all the people, including those whose trust they betrayed.
Should we sue alongside the public officials, all those who voted for them, in plunder cases? No. The cases themselves are to be filed on behalf of the People of the Philippines, because plunder is an offense against all the people, regardless whether we voted or who we voted for.
In fact, it is immaterial whether we voted or did not vote, or have not been even born yet. Plunder is plunder, and it is a criminal offense against Filipinos today and against those who have yet to be born. Large-scale plunder affects not just the present, but also the future.
What is unwise about this seeming obsession about the “vote wisely” slogan is that it airbrushes and obfuscates the system and forces that despoil the electoral and political process. Nothing about guns, goons and gold. Nothing about traditional politics and political dynasties. Nothing about oligarchic and foreign influence in the elections. This airbrushing and obfuscation give us a hint on who usually promotes the “vote wisely” slogan: Traditional politicians themselves.
The “wise vote” is often described in narrow, victim-blaming terms devoid of historical, political and personal contexts. In fact, we could crystallize in one sentence: “vote for my candidate”.
It is actually that clear — or brazen — again in the run-up to the 2022, with bearers of the message “vote wisely” not giving voters a break from the divisive and dystopian politics. They continue such poisonous politics, and drill into people’s heads the canard that we are to blame for the mess authored by elected officials. The only solution or redemption is to vote for their candidate, the wise candidate.
On the other hand, we have yet to see political parties and coalitions come up with platforms, policy proposals or programs of government addressing the issues. Yes, there are noises about day-to-day political developments, but those are cheap substitutes to showing to the people they have what it takes to be leaders worthy of public trust. Without any program, the candidates appear nothing more than personalities. And we all know what that has brought us. The wise political candidate must offer solutions to the public.
The political parties and coalitions have also not shown the public any effort to present nominees and candidates for the 18,000 elective posts up for grabs in 2022. Yes, we’re electing that many officials in May 2022. Sure we could argue that any one could run for office, but if the debate is how to best achieve political change, then that obligation falls on political parties. The wise political party must have candidates for all those posts.
Equally cringe-worthy to “vote wisely” are the narratives that echo the “slice-and-dice” brand of politics perpetuated by traditional politicians. It is as if certain political groups wish to discard entire segments of the population based on who they voted for in the past elections. It is stupid on many levels. Stupid because you create more enemies than friends. Stupid because of the apparent inability of its political authors to find a new narrative, a new message or a new program capable of uniting people towards a new political goal.
I don’t entirely disagree belief that we need to be smarter voters and smarter citizens. Who does? But smarter should also mean knowing the system, history, context, classes, money, and forces at play during elections and that also collectively rig its outcome in favor of the usual suspects, the traditional politicians.
One good start is to stop the gaslighting. Because voters are not the problem. The system is. If you or your candidate is afraid to call out and seek to replace this system, then you’re part of the problem. And that’s not the voter’s fault.
Tonyo Cruz
The most pernicious use of gaslighting against Filipinos happens during the election season, and we could hear and read it again at this time.
I’m talking about the slogan “vote wisely,” as well as the other gaslighting terms “bobotante” and “enabler.”
I argue that these terms are a most vicious form of political victim-blaming. Those who profess the belief that voters should be held accountable for the acts of those who were elected, are either stupid or lacking courage.
For why should voters be blamed for the criminal or negligent acts of those in power? Public office is a public trust. Those who commit plunder, ineptitude, treason and other offenses should be held accountable for victimizing all the people, including those whose trust they betrayed.
Should we sue alongside the public officials, all those who voted for them, in plunder cases? No. The cases themselves are to be filed on behalf of the People of the Philippines, because plunder is an offense against all the people, regardless whether we voted or who we voted for.
In fact, it is immaterial whether we voted or did not vote, or have not been even born yet. Plunder is plunder, and it is a criminal offense against Filipinos today and against those who have yet to be born. Large-scale plunder affects not just the present, but also the future.
What is unwise about this seeming obsession about the “vote wisely” slogan is that it airbrushes and obfuscates the system and forces that despoil the electoral and political process. Nothing about guns, goons and gold. Nothing about traditional politics and political dynasties. Nothing about oligarchic and foreign influence in the elections. This airbrushing and obfuscation give us a hint on who usually promotes the “vote wisely” slogan: Traditional politicians themselves.
The “wise vote” is often described in narrow, victim-blaming terms devoid of historical, political and personal contexts. In fact, we could crystallize in one sentence: “vote for my candidate”.
It is actually that clear — or brazen — again in the run-up to the 2022, with bearers of the message “vote wisely” not giving voters a break from the divisive and dystopian politics. They continue such poisonous politics, and drill into people’s heads the canard that we are to blame for the mess authored by elected officials. The only solution or redemption is to vote for their candidate, the wise candidate.
On the other hand, we have yet to see political parties and coalitions come up with platforms, policy proposals or programs of government addressing the issues. Yes, there are noises about day-to-day political developments, but those are cheap substitutes to showing to the people they have what it takes to be leaders worthy of public trust. Without any program, the candidates appear nothing more than personalities. And we all know what that has brought us. The wise political candidate must offer solutions to the public.
The political parties and coalitions have also not shown the public any effort to present nominees and candidates for the 18,000 elective posts up for grabs in 2022. Yes, we’re electing that many officials in May 2022. Sure we could argue that any one could run for office, but if the debate is how to best achieve political change, then that obligation falls on political parties. The wise political party must have candidates for all those posts.
Equally cringe-worthy to “vote wisely” are the narratives that echo the “slice-and-dice” brand of politics perpetuated by traditional politicians. It is as if certain political groups wish to discard entire segments of the population based on who they voted for in the past elections. It is stupid on many levels. Stupid because you create more enemies than friends. Stupid because of the apparent inability of its political authors to find a new narrative, a new message or a new program capable of uniting people towards a new political goal.
I don’t entirely disagree belief that we need to be smarter voters and smarter citizens. Who does? But smarter should also mean knowing the system, history, context, classes, money, and forces at play during elections and that also collectively rig its outcome in favor of the usual suspects, the traditional politicians.
One good start is to stop the gaslighting. Because voters are not the problem. The system is. If you or your candidate is afraid to call out and seek to replace this system, then you’re part of the problem. And that’s not the voter’s fault.