It’s sad fact that nationalism is a rare-find in the halls of Malacañang Palace or in the Congress or Senate. We need more politicians the likes of Apolinario Mabini or Andres Bonifacio, not the Emilio Aguinaldos and Pedro Paternos we have today.

Yes, Democracy is just that: having the potential for good and evil. If one can remember, this was basis for the rise of Marxism, Fascism, and Communism–all of which saw Democracy and saw that it was not good.

That being said, I believe in Democracy. It’s not perfect, but nothing is as long as the concept is conceived or created by imperfect beings.

To answer your question “should the “idiots” of society be given a say”, I say “yes”. This is because, at least in a Democratic society, the rule of law is and should be absolute. As long as these “idiots” pay their taxes and/or are regarded as citizens, they should be vested with all the rights non-idiot citizens enjoy. This goes without saying that that’s the inherent flaw of Democracy.

Although, I do not agree with your allusion of the common-man being as indifferent and complacent as you you described it.

Filipinos are passionate about their politicians, but the problem here is that 1.) the public gets swayed easily by political propaganda 2.) the media has a huge influence on the result of any election (an example of this was when a Presidential Candidate was reported in a newspaper as a closet-homosexual and consequently this rumor disintergrated his campaign candidacy) 3.) the Catholic church and OTHER religious institutions do not hide their favored candidate(s) and actually, despite of laws against it, actively campaigns for them to their members 4.) people have short memories and would usually just assess a candidates legitimacy based on his/her performance during the election year and not actually take into account the very little they’ve done the majority of their term (and we all know that politicians go into overdrive 12 months before elections 5.) it’s almost impossible for a commoner to get into politics without selling out to special interest groups, etc. 6.) – 9999.) A lot more reasons.

It’s meh issue.

But that’s just one side of it. Those in authority, seeing that the masses, let’s say, have a dearth of the brains to vote wisely, also have every prospect to abuse that feebleness of the people. So it’s not just the masses who are at fault. The “credit” also goes to those in authority.

But you know, in a country like ours, the Philippines, where poverty seems to be like an unstoppable plague, I think that everyone who would have the opportunity to govern would all the same be corrupt. With poverty stained and still staining every settlement, every barangay, every city.. with money arduously gained.. to be in a position where one can earn millions in an instant.. Perhaps you get the point.

The Romans may well have at it correct when they denied the right to vote from those not educated enough to understand. Of course that included woman and I don’t include that in my statement.

Should the idiot of the masses, who only want to work as little as possible, sit and watch TV, drink beer and sleep around … should they have a say? That is the basis for democracy. That the fool that sits in the arena’s to watch sports and “stars” – the opium of the masses – is also the one that gets to vote.

Comparing the situation in war-torn, SECULAR nations to that of the Philippines isn’t really objective, I’ve got say.

But on the matter, yes, those places are way worse…

HOWEVER, the point (and what’s incredibly sad) is that in the Philippines, the masses themselves are the ones who perpetuate the corruption: by voting the same people in office to plunder our country even more. Filipino’s say they love their freedom and are willing to fight for it, and of course we do… really… but with all the bickering and the fighting and the previous two “Edsa Revolutions” and the total disregard of the RULE OF LAW (AKA the Philippine Constitution)… meh… IMO, the public need to grow some brains for once and not to vote just based on popularity… meh.