Why are the good not elected to public office?

I am one of those whom Dr. Jose Rizal called the hope of the motherland. I voted in the last elections. I pay my taxes. I read the newspapers and constantly update myself on what’s happening in our society.

But it seems that no matter how hard I try to do good things on my own and live up to my obligations as a citizen of this country, others are quick to elect a convicted plunderer. Others easily forget the sins of former officials who rose to power through poll cheating. Some are easily deceived by the promises of matinee idols and heartthrobs-turned-politicians.

Sometimes, it would be easy to be apathetic to what’s happening around me. It’s easy to switch channels and feel nothing about news reports on a child who had been raped and about a rape-joke video on YouTube. It’s easier to pretend that I am not affected by the inequality, injustice and ignorance of my fellowmen. But it tears me up inside whenever I see children walking home from school barefoot, their notebooks and books wrapped in plastic bags and then, when I turn on the TV, I see senators and representatives arguing out of pride and ego, and over the pork barrel.

What is wrong with the people my countrymen elect? Why are those who have so much to give the country the ones who do not get elected to public office?

—ALFRED JOHN G. TAYONA, student,

University of the Philippines Open University,

[email protected]