Is this democracy at last?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Mind-boggling. That is the term that comes to mind when one thinks about the way political developments are shaping up on our way to the May, 2007 elections.

We have had elections and elections that have been characterized with the usual bromide of guns, gold and goons, and perhaps that has come to be a given in our political exercises of the past. The coming one, aside from having the potential of also involving what is now familiarly known as the Three G's has also added another characteristic: confusion.

Look at the line-ups presented by the two major parties in the country. They are full of candidates coming from various groups or persuasions. Unlike the situation years and years ago when one only saw the names of members of one political party on the ticket, this time we have a "halo-halo", that typically Pinoy iced delicacy that combines various fruits, nuts, candied rootcrops and so many other ingredients.

Both line-ups of the two major parties have bets from the Lakas, the Nationalist People's Coalition, the Kampi, the Liberal Party (two wings), the Nacionalista Party, the LDP, the PMP the "Independents". And they even have to contrive new names for their groupings, in order not to hurt anybody's feelings. So they think up titles like the "Grand Coalition" and the "Genuine Opposition", names that may be changed again before the actual election.

But perhaps there is some good to be had from having such a heterogeneous mix of personalities in each ticket. A purely one-party line-up could be dangerous because, if they all win, they will likely band together and cover for each other's misdeeds. They would be bound by some kind of fraternal tie and act in ways that may even be perceived as ganging up on their own people.

Are there advantages, therefore, to the people from they way our politics is now shaping? With such diverse personalities, each working for his own chances, will the people benefit in the end?

Are we seeing a real democracy taking root in this way? Dear God in Heaven, let it be.*