By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
Give a beggar some food for the night and just for that night he will be OK. The day after however, he will be facing the same problem. Where to get the next meal.
Thus that familiar adage. Teach him how to fish instead and he will be fine all his life. He could even program the times he would have to go to fish to have something for upcoming meals. Everybody knows what we are talking about. Fishing can be any activity to earn or make something to satisfy mundane needs. Usually, economic, which includes basic needs to survive. Now, to take care also of the brain needing to cope with the times. Education is lumped into this or how to do Facebook, Twitter, etc. These used to be taken care of by the three Rs, reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. Now there are so much more which are considered basic.
Sadly, a great majority of our populace are only concerned about stomach needs. This means we are not too high above the animal level. Once their stomachs are full animals have no more problems. We humans are supposed to be different. When our stomachs are full, a lot more problems will result.
Now we have to worry about the right politicians to vote for. So many of us will choose those who can give us or our families a thousand or two pesos come the casting of votes. In the lowlands, politicians this time around should know how many voters are there in every household. The budget to buy their votes should now be changing hands. If there are five voters, the family could get P50K. Yes, the rate can go that high. They could then buy a tricycle for their livelihood.
Since there is no written contract, word of honor is relied on. But what if there would be a breach on the part of the voters? Vote buying is the way of gangsters. Thus, any act perceived to be unjust to any of the parties is usually settled the gangster way. It can lead to a brisk business for the local funeral parlors.
Other politicians will promise money or other material benefits in other ways. And voters would be hoodwinked into biting the bait. It is the same hotdog or “fishbowl” in a different packaging. It is the same meal offered a beggar to tide him over the need for supper.
With all the different come-ons from politicians this season, voters will get confused. This need not be. People should go for empowerment instead of just one meal. Choose any offer that empower people. The package that will make or enable them how to fish. If there is an offer of scholarship among your kids, go for it. Same thing with an offer to establish a cooperative business that will survive for years and years.
In short, go for the politicians who can offer some long-term empowerment for the family or the village. Short term benefits like how cold cash tantalizes the average voter should not sway your decision easily.**
