Voting well (II)

Many a tome has been written about democracy and many a discourse has been propounded extolling democratic government, that one could literally spend a lifetime studying the matter and never exhaust the material. Yet I dare say that few can sum up its essence in a manner pithier than that employed by one Abraham Lincoln who, in an address that was reportedly over in less than three minutes - delivered 150 years ago at Gettysburg - talked about a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

But such a government is not simply handed to us on the so-called silver platter, we do not simply wait for it to drop into our laps like the proverbial fruit following the laws of gravity; we have to make it happen. The importance of an election within a democratic framework of government cannot therefore be gainsaid.  In the same way that taxes are the lifeblood of government, elections are the life-force of a democracy.  Viewed from a socio-religious perspective, the relationship of elections to a democracy is akin to that of a soul to the human body ­— the former can exist on its own but the latter is totally dependent on the former for its survival.

Pioneered by the Greeks in the 5th century BC, the concept of democracy is taken from the word demokratia which means “rule of the people”. It was a novel idea at that time as most civilizations were used to a monarchical form of government where kings and queens derived their absolute authority to govern their subjects from a divine or heavenly mandate.  The thought of the people ruling themselves — participating equally in the creation and enforcement of laws — was not an easy concept to accept from both a philosophical and practical perspective.

In the early days, the Greek city states were able to practice a “pure” form of democracy because the number of “voters” then was relatively small.  Whenever an important issue needed to be taken up, a city or town hall meeting could be immediately convened and the matter decided upon by the attendees. Obviously, as populations grew by leaps and bounds, it became cumbersome and impracticable to hold such assemblies. This led to the birth of representative democracy where the people would elect those who were meant to speak for them, where the majority’s choice determined who were meant to act for them.

The idea, stripped down to its simplest form, was that while exigent realities make it impossible for everyone’s opinion to be heard on a matter, or for every vote to be considered on an issue, the democratic principle was still upheld because the people’s representatives got to be heard on matters and got to act on issues. If the people elect a delegate precisely because he or she epitomises the ideals the voters most wanted to be represented, or had committed to causes they most wanted advanced – then it was as if they too were there, in the august halls of government, being heard and able to act.

This is the beauty of an election. We get to choose who speaks for us. And it is a right that we ought not to take lightly for we will give these people our voice and, in a way, we will be responsible for what they say and how they choose to say it. I am reminded of what actor Bradley Whitford said in a commencement speech made nearly 10 years ago: “Make no mistake about it — if you choose not to participate at the ballot box...you no longer live in a democracy. You have sentenced yourself to a civic gulag dictated by the whims of those who chose to participate.”

This brings me to our own patriotic duty come Monday, the 13th. Reports indicate that the number of registered voters has passed the 52-million mark. Of this extraordinary number, how many will actually step up, cast their votes and be counted? Of those who do, how many will actually have done so only after deliberate consideration of the merits of the candidates they chose?

Trooping down to the precincts on Election Day is only half the task, the more important part really is to vote well; to pull away from the politics of personalities and popularity, and to veer towards voting for values and vision. That is the real challenge for today and one we must meet if we mean to keep the gains we’ve made.

Over the years, much ado has been made over the need for people to exercise their right to choose, yet perhaps not enough emphasis has been made in encouraging them to vote well. In this regard, a PPCRV bumper sticker strikes a chord:  “Voting ain’t just simply shading, it’s nation building.”

Am I casting my vote, this remarkable blessing of democracy that I am given personally, for the person who best represents my values AND who is best qualified to defend them? Am I acting in consonance with my hopes and dreams for my country, my children and my children’s children in electing this particular candidate? These are the questions I hope every voter can answer in the affirmative come Monday.

Please remember, when you vote, you are doing your part in what we prayed for in ordaining and promulgating our Constitution 26 years ago – “a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.”

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In memoriam: Birth anniversary remembrances to Eleanor “Granny” Gonzales who celebrates her special day today in heaven. She continues to be missed by family and friends.

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“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

                                                           — Abraham Lincoln

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