the childish political opposition block

im getting tired of the political opposition. i hate it that they, who call themselves leaders and enlightened ones, are such primadonnas about everything. see, its the president whose trying to reach out to them to hear what they have to say and yet they are going to snub the council of state meeting on the 24th of january all because they "do not want to be used in photo-ops".

i guess they would rather take to the streets and cry their lungs out and get wet from water cannons rather than sit down in a diplomatic way and talk their differences with the administration out. it is becoming more and more apparent that they will only do something if they will be the the ones to call the shots.

take deposed president joseph estrada, who is not invited to the council of state meeting if i may clear, for example. he earlier said he will only attend the council if he were the one to preside. who the hell does he think he is?! he's being prosecuted for a capital offense (plunder) for crying out loud!

i also find it childish that the opposition block at the house of represenatatives' usual move to crucial meetings is to boycott them. do they actually think that by not appearing, the issues hounding the whole country will be resolved? what did they do at the height of the impeachment proceedings last year? they walked out of plenary and even threw documents in the air as they laughed heartily like it was all some joke. how do they expect the public to respect them much less follow the laws they pass if they themselves do not exude respectability?

over the weekend, the lakas ruling party held a national directorate meeting, where crucial steps for charter change were discussed. former president ramos, even if he is urging PGMA to resign next year and does not necessarily agree with all the things discussed, was there to hear it out. you may argue that he ought to be there for he is chairman emeritus of lakas. but you would have to give it to him for being a gentleman and facing those who oppose his proposals head on.

the senators also snubbed the lakas meeting last satuday. they gave up their chance to contest speaker jose de venecia's and the administration lawmakers at the house of representatives' proposals. then come monday, they cry out that they dont agree with the proposal of scrapping the senate if the charter is revised? where were they on saturday anyway?

when the proposed changes to the constitution are presented in a plebescite, possibly in the middle of the year, i hear there will be a question there that will ask the public if we agree that politicians who turn their back on their politcal party ought to be sanctioned. my answer to that is an outright YES. why? because, during the campaign period, the public heard them speak their minds out and their stand at that time was what won them a seat in government. now if i, as a voter, cannot rely on my candidate to stay put and defend what i believe in, then my vote will have been put to waste.

i, with my little understanding of the charter change intiative, at the moment agree with the proposal to change the form of government. and since the only way to do that is to make necessary changes in the 1987 constitution, i have a tendency to agree. we have been using the bicameral system, which we have found difficult when looking to enact laws. the presidential form of government meantime continues to leave the potentials of the other regions of this archipelago as last priority. if the opposition argues that we do not need to change the form of government- then why in the world cant we make the present system work?

with a federal form of government officials say it is hoped that we can do away with the manila-centric mentality and pave the way for our other cities and provinces to prosper. its sounds good to me. they say the only way to do that is by giving the local government leaders a direct hand at making reforms in their areas of reponsibility. i tend to agree.

however im caught undecided whether or not to support the WHOLE charter change intiative now that i have heard senator joker arroyo's side. he argues that the people will lose a direct hand in chosing the leader of the land- in the case of the federal form of government, the prime minister. the PM will be chosen by a select few. i have yet to find out who they will be.

it is not right that the media simply give tidbits about the pros and cons of the charter change initiative. beacause we ourselves do not always understand it all. this should be a matter made fully clear because number one its no laughing matter, changing the constitution and the form of government; two- it is going to cost millions in taxpayer money and three- it will affect the entire Philippines!

now if i, who am learned and even in the business of delivering the news am left confused with this whole mess, then what more the common filipino? i want to understand where this nation is heading and with the opposition not cooperating, they are only making matters worse! what we need is for these opposition people to grow up, face the music and tell us their side in full detail so that we can chose for ourselves which side to take. otherwise i am left to believe that the only reason they, except senator joker arroyo, are opposing the move is simply for the sake of opposing.