EDITORIAL – Politics is its own ugliness

Garbage collection in Cebu City is one of the vital services that has suffered as a result of the political wranglings at the city council, which has refused to approve a supplemental budget from which funding for the collection is supposed to be derived. For now, stench from the piles of uncollected garbage is all that the city residents may have to bear.

But unless a breakthrough in the stalemate happens soon, the stench may prove to be the least of city residents' worries. Garbage, in that it is refuse, is essentially dirty. It is full of germs. It is the breeding ground for diseases. If diseases break out as a consequence of the political stalemate, there will be hell to pay. And it will not distinguish political colors.

This ugly situation is the starkest manifestation of the ugliness of politics, when political interests are given more priority that those of the public for whom politicians are sworn to serve. And things are bound to get even worse, because the calibre of politicians has steadily been declining at a rate that approximates the steady rise in hypocritical thinking.

There is so much hypocrisy now going around in political circles that it is increasingly getting more difficult to find a truly honest politician. Just take a look at the "daang matuwid" slogan that is supposed to embody a political philosophy of doing what is good, honest and true. But guess who are the greatest violators of the "daang matuwid" philosophy? Why the political party of the "daang matuwid" itself.

From the spate of recent political reports can be gathered a looming situation where certain areas are to be declared free zones because the "daang matuwid" party has decided not to support its own members but others from different political aggrupations. And why has it come to this? Because the party members are perceived to be weak and it is in the political interest of the "daang matuwid" party to sidle up to stronger politicians, and never mind if they are outsiders.

This is the reality of politics as it has steadily become and the hypocrisy with which it is chosen to be practiced. But good if the political battles result only in the failure of political ambitions of politicians. The problem is, political battles result in developments that are often not in tune with the aspirations of the people.

All too often, the people end up being had, their legs pulled. They succumb to the sweet talking. Or, if they do not, they still succumb to the fact that there is often no viable choices. The truly deserving leaders are not seeking public office, knowing it will only frustrate their good intentions and sully their reputations. It is not always true the people deserve who they elect. Sometimes it is because they have to elect only from the available choices.