Dealing with the News

Tips on how we could address government news and actions less the emotional stress and baggage:

1. Controversial but not essential - for entertainment purposes only. And usually it is there to cover on something that people needs to be focused on. So better be on the lookout. Dont get yourself dragged into the mud pit. Not everything we see at the surface is what it really is. Originally, this is number 3 on the list but I thought this might be what's more important.

2. Good news - It is always great. And it's their job. Let's be thankful then move on with our lives. That's what our votes and taxes should worth anyway. But be cautioned that not all things that seemed to be good are really that good. The devil is always in the details.

3. Bad news - Criticize. Until they listen, improve, act and falls on number 2. Or if you dont care, move on. Let the critics do their work since what they want to happen is also for the most of us. And if the critics are up to no good, most of the time they wont succeed. People would realize it anyway. Same caution as number 2 but in reverse.

Putting Politics of Personality in Place

One reason why we can't move on as a country comes with our penchant for following the politics of personality. It's like tagging ourselves as a "Kapuso" or a "Kapamilya". Whether a TV show is trash or not is out of the question. If it's from the network you love, you'll defend it with your life.

Same in politics. We vote for our leaders. We are supposed to choose leaders based on platforms and ideals. But the reality is with the way we elect, there are no platforms needed. Only personalities. If the person has charisma and is likable, that person will be voted for. And once elected, without clear platforms, he'll do and say things that people will just believe on everything he says. They won't question his decisions and actions. It may have a negative impact, but people will put it aside by saying, "We're better off with this person compared to his predecessors or his possible next in line." And if someone criticizes that leader, you will be tagged as anti-government, anti-admin or a supporter of someone corrupt. Or that you are paid to do that. 

 

 

And even if it's the action of that person you are criticizing, you will still be tagged the same way when you are criticizing the person. This is where the problem becomes obvious. For many, they are not able to separate persons from actions. "No one's perfect", they say. True. Then if that's the case, how could you think that the person you are supporting can't make wrong decisions if you believe he's not perfect? Accountability. Have you heard of it? That's where leadership lies upon. If there's none, then there's no leadership. Let's start discussing the issues isolated from the personalities from now on. Make these things the talking points in choosing our next leaders.

PPPP - Putting politics of personality in place. Let's do it now.