The Fallout: Post-Election Observations and Comments

As these elections wind down and the last 20% of the votes are struggling to be transmitted, I can't help but reflect on what Citizen Nines blogged earlier.

As more and more local winners are announced, and as the Senate lineup solidifies, I'm left wondering what's going on.

I understand that "change" was our battle cry. But it was supposed to be "change" in the sense of replacing old, broken systems with new, working ones. It was supposed to be "change" in the sense of leaving behind a bad dream and waking up to a better tomorrow. It was supposed to be change towards something better, not towards something worse.

What happened?

Instead of injecting fresh blood into the Senate, we just cycled back old, deoxygenated blood back in. Instead of doing away with trapos on the local level, we elect more and more artistas into public office.

Heck, instead of voting for Mar Roxas, we apparently voted for Jojo Binay, Trapo Extraordinaire.

(*crosses fingers and hopes that the remaining votes say otherwise*)

That's the situation. Obviously, despite the step forward in electing Noynoy, we've fouled up yet again and taken three steps back in voting for celebrities.

But all is not lost.

Where people see "trapos," I see neophytes. Where people see "artistas," I see "people with an image to consider."

Where people see disappointment for the next 3-6 years, I see opportunity.

Here's what I propose. I propose that you put their mandate to good use. Call them. Prod them. Pressure them. Let them know that regardless of their stardom, as long as they are in public office, you are as good as their directors and producers - meaning YOU call the shots. And you tell them, as one of the 13M strong who voted for Noynoy and one of the remaining 20+M who didn't vote for Noynoy, but who have accepted them as their PResident-elect, your call is for them to support his initiatives. Remind them that this is not about toeing some party line or keeping some political relationship - this is about the survival of our country. And they'd better get it right the first time.

As such, this will be the last blog entry here for some time. Might dust it off 3 years from now - who knows? - but for now, let me just say:

So much for the easy part. Now the hard part begins.