The five bishops’ call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down is old stuff. It’s an irresponsible, emotional, simplistic, armchair method of finding fault, not finding a solution. How many presidents have we already kicked in the butt? How many more leaders, from the military’s Fidel Ramos to the mother Cory Aquino to the folk hero Joseph Estrada—leaders who promised to stop graft and corruption but failed to deliver. Now, we want Gloria in Excelsis Deo?

All right, so we get rid of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo now. What next, bishops? Checkmate and King Corruption is dead? No, your reverends, but only political chaos and an ensuing stampede for power. Should the present economic crisis lead to widespread civil disobedience and then to street anarchy, the five bishops are only to blame for the bloody mess.

However, if the good bishops sincerely want radical change, if they really want to uproot corruption, why are they barking up a single leader? They should bark up the more than 200 members of the House of Representatives. The clergymen can capture the people’s imagination if they toll the bells for a referendum on the abolition of the House, the breeding place of every graft and corruption imaginable: from selfish lobbyists to vested interests; from secret deals to no deals unless...; from abuse to misuse of power; from pork to perks. By taking out more than 200 white fat-bellied elephants, our fledgling country will save millions that can otherwise build needed schools, hospitals, roads and affordable homes for the poor.

One governor for every province, one mayor for each town and city and one chairman for every village are more than enough caregivers to oversee and address these units’ respective problems. These officials are more accessible and therefore more transparently accountable, compared to congressmen who live it up in swanky metro villages while their constituents languish in the remotest ends and regions of our nation. No need for Rep. Manhik Manaog who has outlived his usefulness. Lawmaking goes to the Senate of 24 (or more members if need be). Congressmen who think they are worth their salt may run for the Senate. The bottom line is: Even without more than 230 overpaid congressmen, our government can still operate politically, economically and above all, democratically.

POMPEYO S. PEDROCHE, 294 Lake Ave., Colonia, New Jersey, USA 07067