Shut up!!! It’s silly and stupid!

ANAHEIM, California – Just a few minutes ago, I caught a bank commercial on television where a group of people were talking and eating in a restaurant and all of a sudden, one of then started choking on his food. One of the guys noted the obvious – that the guy is choking. Another said that there is a maneuver that would help the one choking and they discussed how it was supposed to be done as their friend helplessly choked. Then a guy from another table just stood up and administered the Heimlich maneuver, saving the guy’s life. Some people act quickly while others just talk.

That’s the story of our country. The country is choking on our misguided concept of democracy while our leaders debate to death. The best news I got from back home has got to be the story of that woman who passed a note to one of the most annoying members of our Congress to just shut up. That’s good advice. In fact, you can’t even say the advice was unsolicited. That congressman asked for it. Teddyboy Locsin is right when he insisted on describing the whole thing silly and stupid.

Viewed from across the wide Pacific Ocean, events back home should be distressing to expat Pinoys. But the folks here are no longer easily flustered by all the negative news from home. I am not sure if they are just used to all the craziness they hear about the homeland, are in state of denial or no longer care. No one seemed to sympathize with my concern when I told them about an alarming text message I received from someone back home whose number was not in my directory.

The cryptic message I got on my Globe roaming cell phone read: "RED ALERT has been raised by the secretariat (what secretariat?). GO NOW 2 syt wid as many pipol u can bring esp priests nd nuns! Pls. pass." Of course that got me worried. That sounds like someone’s attempting another EDSA type of event again and I am sick of EDSA type events. I emailed some people who assured me that nothing much is really happening… at least for now.

The impression all that divisiveness back home gives is simply, we have to be a basket case of sorts, not worthy of serious attention. I guess our politicians are no longer conscious of the damage they are causing to the nation with all their bickering. Al Gore, even if his case was legally arguable, gave way to George Bush, if only so that the Republic could avoid a constitutional crisis.

It is amazing that it has taken them more than two days to agree on the rules that would govern the canvassing of votes for president and vice president. Was all that debate necessary? What rules did they use when FVR and Erap were elected? Why should rules be changed with each election?

It is frustrating to see our politicians unable to take the high road of statesmanship with respect to our election results. No Pinoy politician ever loses an election. They are cheated. The way I see it, given our culture, cheating is part of the process and any politician who is cheated of victory does not deserve to win because he showed he is not adequately prepared for the challenge. Yet, most Pinoy politicians are crybabies. Unfortunately, this delay in the congressional canvassing could lead to a constitutional crisis if all the filibustering delays the official proclamation of a winner by June 30.

Besides, given the crisis condition of the country today, FPJ should be thankful he lost. He will have to be crazy to want to be in Malacañang. In fact, anyone will have to be crazy to want to be in Malacañang if their intentions are honorable. The fiscal deficit problem alone should give the Malacañang tenant sleepless nights. Could it be that all of them are so heroically self sacrificing that they want to carry the worst of our country’s problems on their backs? In our dreams, perhaps.

American Elections

It is very interesting to observe the American electoral season unveiling. As in the Philippines today, television plays a major role. But unlike back home, television coverage appears to be a lot more substantial. Issues are discussed by seemingly better informed commentators and incisive questions are asked. The political advertising on television is more informative even if others are obviously misleading. I haven’t seen either George Bush or John Kerry dance their version of otso otso here, nor are they expected to.

The political season is really heating up. The Iraq situation, specially with the growing number of casualties, is emerging as the principal issue on the national level. The tentativeness of the economic recovery is also weighing in. A CNN poll revealed that 70 percent of voters intend to vote in November. If that happens, that would set a new record of sorts. Americans are normally negligent of their duty to vote.

I am told that only half of qualified voters register to vote. And of those who register, only half actually vote. That means only a fourth of qualified voters take the trouble of voting. Election Day here is not a holiday. At most, workers are given some time off during the day to vote. It is no big deal. Americans seem confident that their system works and they can be negligent about their civic duty without any real danger.

That’s not really correct. Such an attitude allows special interest groups to gain control of the system, the way they did when George Bush took control of the White House four years ago. I find it appalling that some 65 million people voted by text messaging to "elect" Fantasia Barrino as the new American Idol last week and maybe just about the same number vote to elect the President of the United States, the most powerful man in the world.

Interestingly, there are also debates here on the appropriateness of new computerized voting systems. Some voting machines were "disenfranchised" by California’s State Secretary until such time as their manufacturer could respond to some concerns. But they are not so mortally afraid of technology here the way our folks are back home. They are able to announce who won an election in a matter of hours, compared to our matter of weeks or months.

I just think we are in a position to use technology to leap frog our way to the 21st century. But with our mindset, we are condemned to make do with the tricycle and the jeepney instead.

Got What She Wanted

Here’s Dr. Ernie E.

When Jim got home last night, his wife demanded that he take her out to some place expensive.

So he took her to the gas station.

(Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. )