The problem with elitist politics and elitist politicians

GOING by the public reaction on the proposal by some lawmakers, especially by some of our senators, to “defund” the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the overwhelming consensus, Sen. Win Gatchalian, is that you and your kind should stop this idle nonsense.

Pardon the harsh word, Sen. Dick Gordon, but this is the demand of the “people,” the “masses” who have long been suffering from CPP-NPA deception, abuses and violence for decades now and who, for the first time have now “tasted” (ngayon lang nakatikim) government attention thru the holistic service approach by the task force under its ‘Barangay Development Project’ (BDP).

And yes, Sen. Nancy Binay, while it is true that on the surface, the BDP merely “duplicates” some of the services provided by other government departments and agencies, the fact of the matter is that these services—potable water supply, school buildings, paved roads, electricity, etc., etc., — hardly reached these far-flung, isolated communities and which is also why, despite Congress’ generosity, they remain backward, the residents resigned to their miserable condition running into generations and thus, receptive to communist agitation and recruitment to its ranks.

In other words, Sen. Nancy’s opinion is based on a slanted view of what actually is happening on the ground. Elitist.

You see, dear readers, the problem with our “representative democracy” that we aped from the United States is that it is of the “elite variety” where only the moneyed and the most influential get to represent everybody’s interest, including that of the poor, suffering, majority.

In short, we have a political system where the “haves” also gets to represent the interests of the “have nots.” We not only have a “material divide” in our society but also, a “mental divide.”

And this “mental divide” can be seen in the attitude of some of our senators who want to defund the task force on the sole basis of their “wounded pride”—and damn the very real consequences on the lives and future of those who would actually get “whacked” should they get what they want, the poor.

Now, I know that Sen. Win is a well-meaning and hardworking lawmaker. Unfortunately, his thinking, like some of his colleagues, is also clouded by his elitist upbringing.

This is demonstrated by his sweeping statement on Labor Day that the Senate and the “taumbayan” have “lost their trust” on Gen. Parlade.

Heck, if only Sen. Win would mobilize his own staff to monitor the “taumbayan’s” trust between him and Gen. Jun, he would be in for a rude surprise.

Mas marami po, Mr. Senator, ang naniniwala kay Gen. Jun at sa ating AFP, partikular sa mga malalayong probinsiya at komunidad na “nailigtas” nila sa terorismo at pang-aabuso ng CPP-NPA, hane?

Mas marami sa mahihirap nating kababayan ang naniniwala sa kanila dahil ang ating mga sundalo, “nakakasalamuha” nila, nakakasama nilang kumain sa kanilang mga komunidad mismo sa mga kabundukan. Eh, kayo ba, aber?

As a “re-electionist” like Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Frank Drilon (who would be running for congressman in Iloilo), I wonder how Sen. Win and others like him would confront the “taumbayan” when asked why they conspired to defund the NTC-ELCAC whose projects made a difference in their poor, miserable lives?

While it is also true that our lawmakers have the “power of the purse,” to the people belongs the power to place or remove them from office come 2022. That would be democracy at work. Abangan!