In and out of the political pit

They agree on one thing: That the last election in the fourth district brought about politics at it’s pits.

Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim, the loser, said: “Unfortunately, this election is no different from the previous elections – it was defined by money, dirty tactics, armed intimidation, black propaganda, and fraudulent acts. It is worse only in its unprecedented scale.”

Joe de Venecia, the victor, said: “For the first time in our political history, we have seen the worst in politics, shameful and shameless black propaganda employed by the enemies of an orderly society … destructive and poisonous politics.”

Both are right. And both are guilty.

Had the election result shown a neck-and-neck race, the brawl and brouhaha would surely have hit beyond boiling point. If not for the overwhelming difference in the votes – 116,634 for De Venecia against only 52,010 for Lim – the brawl and brouhaha would certainly have turned even nastier by now. For all the dirt and dishonesty in the election, we can at least say no dagdag-bawas went on in the fourth district. Vote shaving and vote padding cannot possibly go that far.

In fairness to Lim, despite the very bitchy tone of his farewell press statement, he at least, was gentleman enough to concede. As for De Venecia, the true-blue politico that he is, at least offered reconciliation to his enemies and called for unity.

So now enough with the bickering, please. And we make that call everywhere else in Pangasinan, particularly in areas where, as of press time, official results remain in question and proclamations are still on hold.

Let’s get on with the more important matter at hand, which is steering the district and the rest of the province forward.

As the nation waits and watches the senatorial tally, we can get the local governments moving and working again.

And at the top of the agenda should be some real poverty alleviation efforts – including an improved agricultural sector, more job opportunities, an institutionalized health and social welfare system where benefits do not hinge on the whim of the politicians, and quality public education for our young.

If life were truly better for the majority, only then can we begin to hope for a “mature” electorate, as Archbishop Oscar Cruz puts it, who will not be tempted into vote-selling and politicians, in turn, will no longer be compelled to go vote-buying. And maybe, hopefully, the next election in 2010 will see us crawling out of the dark political pit we’ve fallen into.

 

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