Crowd estimates rile you? It's your fault!

I do not know why there is such a fuss over crowd estimates at political rallies. Even elementary schoolchildren have been prodded by their teachers to protest the manner in which the media assigns numbers to these rallies.

First of all, estimates are what they are -- just estimates. They are mere approximations and not to be confused with precise representations. Second, even a fairly accurate estimate of a political rally necessitates taking with a grain of salt.

I find it odd that the very people who are questioning the “accuracy” of crowd estimates at political rallies are the same people who point out the fact that many of those in the rallies have been bused, fed and paid.

Why should it matter to critics if a crowd is, say, 100,000 if they know the 100,000 were hauled and ferried by every means of transport, lured to come and attend by promises of food, and the prospect of getting paid.

If you know the crowd came because of the various enticements mentioned, why should you care if the crowd is 100,000 or just 50? You should only be concerned if you knew for a fact that no enticements were involved. But is there ever a political rally that offers none?

Perhaps crowd estimates at political rallies should be left alone. Nobody believes them anyway. Even the enticements should matter less unless it is possible to overhaul the entire system at once. If one needs to be realistic and practical, start by ignoring the estimates.

What one should focus on instead is what the crowds -- 100,000 or 50 -- are being told at these political rallies, whether candidates are making realistic and practical promises or are just warming up the crowds that came there for something else in the first place.

I am sorry if I am a believer of the latter, a cynic when it comes to politics. Each and every political rally is a rah-rah event. There is no distinction between political parties. It is a feel-good gathering meant to fire up the adrenalin and nothing else.

If you are looking for solutions, go to the polls, not the rally. At political rallies, candidates promise anything from the moon to a meteorite flyby. They are not expected to make serious commitments.

And yet here you are, instead of paying attention to what the candidates did not say in frivolity, you are protesting the accuracy of crowd estimates. Jesus Christ, but you must be very off in your own little estimations.

Again, why bother about how big a political crowd is estimated to be when you believe deep in your heart that such a crowd got transported and enticed with food and cash. There is the answer for you, and if you missed it, then it is your fault.

As you yourself probably call it, Philippine politics is a circus. It is anything goes and every man according to his gimmick. So why not just join the fun instead of moping and protesting that everything is not what it ought to be.

Well, nothing is as it should be in Philippine politics. And that includes crowd estimates. Crowd estimates are something even official sources are sorry to make, because nobody believes them.

And yet you believe them enough to protest. What a miserable life you have if your day is made on the basis of how credible a crowd estimate at a political rally is. For while you mope, the politicians for whom the crowd gathers is having a field day paying lip service to everyone.