“Friends” and politics

So elections are coming up here and political talks have been increasingly good conversation starters and an increasingly good way to start a fight XD

This idea came about yesterday when I was talking to a high school “Friend” Who I recently started talking to again. So just a quick background, we were friends in high school up until my 3rd year in college, but since I was being given a mini-thesis every semester, I couldn’t make time for her and thus, she declared our friendship, over. I did try when I was free, but unlike her who only had 4 classes a week, my classes ran from Monday to Saturday so you can see why I barely had time. Plus my schedule was usually from 7 am till 9 pm and those were not by choice. It was a matter of staff availability plus all the free time I had was spent on the research papers assigned to me. 

So It has been 5 years of no contact and when my board results came out and I posted that I passed, that was when she started talking to me again. For what reason, I’m not so sure, nor do I bother asking anymore. 

On one occasion, she asked who I would vote for in the incoming elections and I told her I wasn’t planning to vote because I am apolitical. With that, her lecture began and I’ve had that lecture before. I understand the consequences of what my political stand is but she should understand my reasons too. 

1. Nobody seems like a suitable candidate for me, and I don’t think there will be one. Not in this country who bases on popularity and how well they can get the votes of the “poor”/low-income households. I say this because That economic group is easily swayed with needs. If they choose to focus on the middle-class people, though, that would be a game-changer. 

No, I’m not anti-poor, but if you look at it, a majority of actual taxpayers come from middle-class families, whereas low-income families barely pay their taxes unless they worked, but that only covers a minimal part of it. There’s also the fact that if you focus too much on these “poor” people, you teach them to be overly reliant on provisions given by the government. How many people from this economic group actually pay for their cedula? That's one form of tax but you won't see them lining up for it unless their job requires them too.

I mean, it’s good that the government prioritizes those in need but then the middle class can also fall into need yet because of the logic that they can actually afford their needs, it’s often a basis for not being qualified for grants and provisions and it’s pretty stupid. Are the middle-class, not part of the population now? Or are they really just focusing on those people they can buy votes from? There is no progression and no sustainability when focusing on this economic group unless you give them jobs or scholarships. That would be a better kind of help that would also help the country too, not just a one-time thing of relief goods and financial aid during a crisis. 

1. There’s news of the recent hacking of the ballot-counting machines. It scares me because if I choose to vote, what are the chances that they would use my ballot count to cheat their wanted candidate into position? If I don’t vote though, I’d also be at fault because it may contribute to the country’s worsening conditions. I understand this well enough but then what would you prefer? Have your vote cheated or contributing to the downfall?

2. There are not enough actual professionals in our government. I envy countries like Canada and Japan whose government Agencies are headed by actual professionals who are active in their professions still. While here, you just get people based on how popular they are. Yes, that’s how democracy works, and it’s good that this generation is actually doing their research on their candidates now, but on this point, I’m not focusing on presidential nominees but the staff that needs to head the different government agencies. Will the presidential candidate even assign active professionals? It seems this country only knows lawyers as the only professionals qualified to run the country. Will they finally allow doctors in practice to head the Department of health? Or actual Scientists to head the Department of Science and Technology? Unless they make this happen, I still have no intentions of joining any political affairs.

After I elaborated on my points, my friend just left me on seen and she really hasn’t answered me since. I do love this country but how the old-fashioned government handles it is something I’m not amused with.

I apologize for this rant but I got irritated that she would get mad at me (again) just because of how different my views are now. I had sent her more points on this but I don’t want to make an extremely long rant so this is enough for now.