Philippine society is a real class act. Its top \u201cthought leaders\u201d are, yet again<\/em>, buzzing around yet another flypaper \u201cissue\u201d around \u2014 get this \u2014 institutionalised corruption at such scale as to result in massive public suffering and tragedy<\/em>.<\/p>\n What an outrage, right? But then this is, what, the Nth such outrage fad over the last several Philippine presidencies since that \u201crevolution\u201d in 1986 that \u201crestored\u201d Philippine \u201cdemocracy\u201d. Even a cheap street poll will reveal what many Filipinos already know about circuses like these. Nothing of consequence will come out of it<\/em>.<\/p>\n Even this early, one can easily see that the roadmap ahead is already locked into the standard traditional<\/em> pathway Filipino-style \u201cjustice\u201d normally<\/em> takes. A made-up trial (by publicity) followed by a fair pwede-na-yan<\/em> resolution that ensures all the top crooks and oligarchs across the political spectrum that are likely members of the same tony golf and country clubs across the country continue to enjoy the status quo.<\/p>\n Indeed, in a democracy, the government, its politicians, and its bureaucrats all reflect the character and quality of the people who participate in it. How do Filipinos participate in their \u201cdemocracy\u201d? By being \u201cvoters\u201d is the prevailing thinking. And not much more than that<\/em>. In short, Filipinos miss the important point of democratic governance \u2014 holding leaders and one\u2019s self to account.<\/p>\n Down to the micro level, Filipinos are a profoundly corrupt people<\/em>. At an early age, Filipino children are taught by their parents to be cheats and liars. Small surprise then that, at the macro level that our chi chi \u201cthought leaders engage in political \u201cdebate\u201d, lots of shrill indignation is expressed over cheating and lying at the executive levels of Philippine society.<\/p>\n As any IT pro would recommend, try turning the contraption off, count to ten, then turn it on again. How does one reset such a deeply messed-up society such as that of the Philippines\u2019 following that tried-and-tested approach? As this most recent \u201canti-corruption\u201d circus is showing, the boot disk needs to be changed from Windows to Linux. A convoluted operating system cannot be repaired. Things need to be simplified and bloat removed for true reform to take root.<\/p>\n
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