EDITORIAL - No dynasty where democracy is for everyone

Political dynasties are found only in countries with absolute rulers. In countries with absolute leaders, power is handed down from generation to generation, until they are toppled by another set of absolute rulers who start their own dynasties.

 By contrast, democracies choose their leaders by way of free and open elections. These leaders serve for a limited number of terms, and their exercise of power is balanced by co-equal branches of government.

Democratic leaders can be removed by any number of pre-determined ways, unlike dynasties where absolute rulers perpetuate themselves and brook no dissent, their word being both the last and the law.

Those who cry about dynasties in the Philippines either do not know the dynamics of politics in democracies, or are being mentally dishonest and are omitting so much from the whole equation.

For one, it is wrong and unfair to accuse people of the same name as being dynastic in their politics. These people did not grab power but were duly elected in free and open elections. They did not put themselves in office. The people put them there.

It is also wrong and unfair to say that political clans, with so much wealth, power and influence in their hands, leave neither room nor chance for others to run. Elections are free and open for anyone to participate, just as it is free for anyone to opt out.

No doors are slammed on anyone. It is just that not everyone with matching, or greater wealth, power and influence wants to run and be political leaders. Do you really think the Aquino political clan would be any match against the Sys, the Ayalas, and the Gokongweis?

We only have people with the same names as the Aquinos and Cojuangcos lording it over the political scene because they are the only ones who want to lord it over the political scene. The Sys, the Ayalas, the Gokongweis and so many others prefer to wield power behind the scenes.

Besides, there is no way to ban the Aquinos and others of one name from politics without being undemocratic. So, for as long as we stay a democracy let it be a free for all democracy. The sun should shine for everyone here, even for the so-called nuisance personalities.