EDITORIAL - Vote-buying an offshoot of the real problem

A priest, who writes a column in a national daily, had this story about another priest asking a crowd at a political rally if they were forced to attend. "No!" they shouted. Were they hauled by bus? "No!" they screamed. Have they been paid? "Not yet!" they thundered.

Ah, vote-buying. In this country, there is no stopping vote-buying, not even with all the silly efforts of the Comelec to stop it. Those who genuinely want to stop vote-buying are too few to make a difference while those caught in its web are too numerous they think it is the norm.

And maybe that is precisely what it is -- the norm. Vote-buying is simply one of the many fruits borne by a tree rooted in a system that places too much reliance on political leaders for even the most ordinary challenges in life.

A system like this has a corruptive influence on both leaders and the led. It is entirely possible for anyone to enter Philippine politics an honest man. But what can, say, an honest town mayor with a monthly salary of only P20,000 do with the daily lines that form outside his home.

At six in the morning, people are already knocking on the mayor's door for a cup of rice, for the baby's milk, for Biogesic, for a basketball trophy, for lechon at a barrio fiesta, or to stand as ninong at a wedding. Our honest mayor will have to source these daily demands somewhere.

And if there is nothing wrong in making our mayor the supplier of these daily, seasonal or even frivolous needs, then what difference does it eventually make if, in time, he expresses his appreciation for your continued trust in his leadership with a little token during elections.

Vote-buying is bad? Why, there is no argument with that. It subverts the true will of the people. But then what really is the true will of the people? If we stop the hypocrisy and start asking the hard questions there at the lines to the mayor's house, maybe vote-buying will end.

Maybe we should ask the hungry man why he thinks the mayor should give him a cup of rice. Maybe we should ask the mother of the sick child why the mayor owes her medicine. Maybe we should ask why it is necessary for the mayor to stand as sponsor at a wedding.

These questions are almost endless. By the time you get to vote-buying, maybe you won't feel like asking anymore. For the only real issue here is our consuming dependence on politicians for almost anything. Therefore, ask not what politicians can do for you but ask... oh, you know.