Civic and political indifference.pdf

extracted text: CIVIC AND POLITICAL INDIFFERENCE Although the average Filipino rejects political turncoatism as an act that runs against his concept of morality, he, however, does not reject it effectively. He still chooses to vote for the man most likely to win. And it has been proven time and again that a politician, even how famous he may be, is not likely to win if he runs for a high position as an independent candidate. Thus, the Filipino voter is virtually a prisoner of his own narrow political beliefs. On the one hand, he believes that switching parties is immoral. On the other hand, he condones the act on the ground that he wishes to identify himself with the winner. He is a baby as far as the relatively simple act of voting men to public office is concerned. Whe ther he will grow up this time or remain an infant is worth watching. There are good reasons why this particular be havior4 should be watched. The people themselves have been complaining that the same men get elected over and over again. They complain that one set of public officials is as good as another, that electing one party is as good as installing the other, meaning to say that neither has been decisive in giving relief to misery. We say people have no business complaining if they do not act effectively to change the situation they are in. — Apolonio Batalla, Manila Bulletin. 48 Panorama
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