Very few people in Madison know that I worked for more than 20 years in the Philippine legislature and almost a year as a Congressional Fellow in the U.S. Congress representing the Philippines which was then under the new administration of President Corazon Aquino. I wasn't a legislator, no, but I was in the public relations and communications area that gave me enough exposure to what's going on inside a law-making institution. That said, my past career was in the world of politics, where the majority of the power rested in the hands of the haves, the "have-mores," and the "have-mosts." The power was truly shared by the highly educated and the moneyed. Of course, having someone in the legislature protected certain corporate empires too.
The minority voices were extremely few, and many of them were have-nots who lacked "connections" with the real decision makers in government. While they made the media happy with their speeches on the floor of every congressional session, the truth was, nothing substantially and significantly concrete ever happened as far as programs for their constituencies were concerned. Last time I checked, the gains of the People Power in 1986 had been depleted long time ago.
I was glad my world changed after I had moved to Wisconsin. I now work for the community and I'm not subservient to anyone but my readers and supporters. But because I'm in the communications field, I couldn't help but notice how politics is played here, and how similar it is to where I came from. Politicians can attack their opponents below the belt, and people can and do insult and make fun of President Bush anytime, even on national TV.
I can attest to the fact that politics can truly make some people become chameleons. Some politicians use different messages depending on their audience; some use "foreign" phrases to play to the crowd; some even pretend they came from their ranks, using words such as "I'm just like you," "I know how it is to be in your place," "We're in this together!"
You know what? Before you cast your vote to someone you perceive as "like you," for instance, KNOW the person's record first. Analyze past actions and pronouncements. Don't be deceived by a smile and a check for your organization's scholarship fund. If it's a "one-time only " generosity for the cameras, then I'm sure the person's buying your vote. I heard that some candidates are trying to sell themselves as "moderate conservatives" or "liberal conservatives." Who are they kidding? Check their unwavering positions on important issues such as employment, housing, immigration, access to services, the war in Iraq, etc.
Regardless of race, voters should be wary of chameleons in politics. Trust me, I could see through their changing colors |
