Here's a little story that came my way today. As the effects of the El Niño are still being experienced across the Visayas the government has 'swung' into action in our neck of the woods. Viz, the baranguay has granted relief to the 'neediest'. Wow, some might say, that's good. Except the relief amounted to 6kg of rice. Now one of my staff members, a worthy female soul of some 60 years, not a professional or an OFW in her family might qualify I thought. She's just a jobbing fish seller, lives hand to mouth most days and is an occasional home help around Cernunos Towers. Apparently not, Wala, de nada, nowt. I asked her why, and she says it's probably because she didn't vote for the encumbents. A neighbour of hers apparently benefitted though. That neighbour did vote for them. That neighbour found the rice too bad to cook, so she gave it to another neighbour even more destitute than her. That neighbour found the rice too bad to cook too, so she fed it to her chickens. My home help mused that she was glad the baranguay didn't give her any rice, as she would be sure they were trying to poison her. Anyone come across this sort of 'favouritism' before? C
I have never personally had this type of favoritism as I do not vote not being a citizen. However I heard by rumor (so is it true) that people who do not vote for the winner or areas where the incumbent did not have a lot of support would have their water turned off. Just rumor. Anyone inclined to support this rumor with facts?
Never came across loss of utilities and such but have to Admit, the local bureaucrats are not too swift on offering any help to those that need it if they did not support but I would ask this question, How would they know who voted for whom? I mean 5 voters in one house and only the head of the House did not support the other 4 did but as we can remember from school, lets make them all pay if I can't get the truth
As goes for the rice I remember when sendong hit and the 2012 quake a lot of the politicians were only giving nfa rice and this stuff does stink! There was also the aid from foreign country's which some of was canned meat liked spam etc,it would go into the municiple as canned meat and magically come out as sardines! Even a local school around here was a center for dropping off goods for relief and the convoys which left were plastered with certain people's names like they were the ones giving.
Thanx all...it seems to be quite rife. I'm not going to name names as I haven't a clue who reads what here and whether there is likely to be any come back. But I have definitely witnessed 'witch hunts' when one party clears their rivals out come election time. Folks being posted far from their regular jobs making it impossible for them to hold down their jobs, demotions, and just plain sackings in favour of that particular party's 'own' people. No doubt when the boot is on the other foot it is just as bad. I asked Mrs C about how they find out who voted for who. The explanation caused more confusion for me than it cleared up, but apparently they can by checking voter numbers and registrations against their canvassed/bought promises. Lol, I'll ask again tomorrow to see if I can get a clearer explanation, must be the rum. Hic! Either way, if the new President is pledging a fight against corruption, he could make a reasonable start with the practices listed in all the above. C
They have the government they deserve. I bet there are very few complaints of the unfairness of the system from those that voted for those that won.
Interesting idea. Taken one step farther, everyone has the government they deserve. I tend to think it's more about an equilibrium that is reached. An example of an equilibrium being distorted is when a country like the USA exerts force and distorts the equilibrium (I don't mean that in a bad way) in a place like Afghanistan. The problem is equilibrium will always return unless this a fundamental change in the country. Even in the worst countries there is an equilibrium.
