Understanding Philippine politics
Having lived in the United States for many, many years, I have come to lived with the two-party political system they have here. For the last hundred or so years, there have only been two major political parties here.
The Republicans and the Democrats.
To give you a fast-track American political history, it’s pretty easy how they became known as Republican and Democrats.
First, there used to be what they call themselves as Federalists. They were the ones in power with the money representing big businesses. Now you know who runs Wall Street big businesses.
Then, you have the anti-Federalists who represented the working class and the farmers. Over the years, they would eventually evolve simply as Republicans (Federalists) and Democrats (Anti-Federalists).
So during the campaign and election, they’re pretty organized. True, they have Independents called obnoxious losers. But because our electoral system here is pretty much a winner-take-all kind of thing, it is tough if you join the race as an Independent. Now you know why I continue to blog.
Worse, even if you win as an Independent, it would be difficult for you to gain significant ground in the Senate or Congress if you don’t align yourself with any of the parties. And once your identified with a party, that’s like a tattoo.
Which brings me to the Philippine political and electoral landscape called Dancing with the stars. Like the United States political and electoral landscape, the Philippines is actually the easiest to understand.
The Philippines on its face is a multi-party system.
It’s a front.
We are actually a two-party system. The winning party and the losing party. Which one is the winning party? Simple. Find out which party lost so many politicians who either either jump shipped or sold their souls to the other party.
As I said, in the United States it’s winner-take all. In the Philippines? Sometimes, the loser takes it all.
I want change!
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Hi Reynz, in your opinion, which systems is more applicable given the Philippine setting of politics – is it the presidential or parliamentary form of government?
reynz, hinamon ka ata ng question for politikos a..
i want to know the barrio’s stand as well. ako, gusto ko ng presidential.
@tyrone and promking,
para pala ako nitong si Richard Gutierrez when he ran for Senator of sumemplang sa question na to hahaha
ok, i’ll write something up. pero to, sasabihin ko na ang gist nang write up ko: the bottom line of changing our system of governance eh kung maso-solve nito ang ating economic and political crises that has already enveloped us mula pa noon.
[...] (This entry is also posted in Barrio Siete.) [...]
natutuwa naman ako sa picture na to ni glo at ni obama…
Glo: were very happy to meet you in person mr.Obama,
your so handsome in person.
Obama:(anu kala neto pangit ako pag di ako person?)
ehem, ikaw din naman ms.Glo.
Glo: ahihihih, i dont know that you also very bolero.
Obama: naniwala naman este cute ka din in person Glo
(di lang ako sure kung anu chura mo kung dika naging person)
Glo: ahahahahhihihihi im very much flattered mr.Obama.
Obama:(daling mabola)uuuuuy tatawa yan, flattered sya.
Glo: ahahahahhihihihi
Obama:(ayaw ng tumigil ng litsi kakatawa kita na ngala-ngala)
Glo: ahahahahahihihihi
(teka, mali yata pagka portray ko? nagkapalit sila ng dialect?)