My Two Cents

A few observations of some public officials here in NZ.

1. The prime minister doesn’t have a dish washer at home. In fact, last year lang daw siya nagkaroon ng microwave oven sa bahay.
2. The police officers who accompanied the prime minister in a motorcade were being charged for over speeding for driving over the speed limit.
3. A minister of parliament riding a bicycle on her way to work.
4. A minister of parliament riding a skate board on his way to the parliament building.
5. A minister of parliament resigns from her post for being caught drink driving.
6. The prime minister without any body guards goes to the supermarket where Jean works, tapos kinamayan pa siya.
7. A former minister gets imprisoned for using public money to pay for her children's private education.

Hanga ako sa mga officials dito. Their dedication to the office, simplicity in lifestyle, moral and social integrity (most of them) are well above board. Those who violate and abuse their positions are meted punishments just like anyone else. In effect, graft and corruption is low. Public officials are looked up as role models. What’s good about this is that there is no added stress to the ordinary people on the streets because they don’t feel abused by those in power.

When a society is divided between a ruling class and the masses, and the ruling class is perceived as corrupt, abusive and dishonest, disharmony and friction among the people proliferate. Everyone tends to be distrustful of one another. Respect for authority and the law wanes. Governing the masses becomes more difficult and eventually could become impossible, but with an iron fist.

This dysfunctional relationship between classes causes a gradual accumulating strain on the people. Some termed it as a “social volcano”, because of the swelling pressure. Each person has ways of relieving the pressure. Some do it by taking the path of “if you can’t beat them, join them”. It’s sad to think that a lot of good people slowly gets suckered into being corrupt themselves. Some, with resignation gives up hope and leaves the country to find refuge somewhere else. But for those who stay put, if things don’t change for the better, the collective pressure could mount at levels beyond containment. That’s when the volcano could erupt. I dread to see that day.

Any eruption can be prevented by reducing the tension between social classes. The ruling class and the institutions that they use to rule can start by regaining at least some of the respect of the masses and the middle working class. The masses are not hard to please anyway. All they want is a fair deal in life. Ang hanap lang naman nila patas na labanan. Walang lamangan, mahirap o mayaman, mahina o makapangyarihan. And they are waiting. NOW!