This was an excellent write up of a speech\/lecture? Prof Randy David gave. It’s an interesting read!!!<\/p>\n
Quest for political stability
\nDavid observes that Filipinos are \u201csick and tired\u201d of politics. In other societies, people are not overburdened with politics. And normally citizens think only about it during elections. The fact the politics consumes much of our national imaginary has both good and bad effects, he says. It is good in that citizens are kept informed. It is bad in that the constant politicking leaves little room to do much of anything else. It is time spent away from thinking about ways to improve education and health, growing businesses and the arts.
\nHe says in the region the Philippines has had the longest experience with elections and yet we cannot seem to get it right. Elections are a good way of making the transition from a \u2018traditional\u2019 to a \u2018modern\u2019 society.
\nHere he gives quick yet unerring definitions of these broad concepts. A \u2018traditional\u2019 society is one of hierarchies. One might also call them \u2018feudal\u2019, ties and associations based on families. He also calls this society \u2018limited-access\u2019 in that only certain people enjoy monopolies of power and influence. A \u2018modern\u2019 society is \u2018open-access\u2019 and allows associations not based on familial or personal ties but through functions. They are \u2018functionally differentiated\u2019, allowing for clear divisions between politics and business, politics and religion, politics and other public realms. One might argue that a modern society is also more democratic.
\nDavid then makes an astonishing claim, one that many of us will probably instantly recognize but which we have not yet articulated, most of all to ourselves. I know I was struck by it. David claims we cannot seem to make that transition from being a \u2018traditional\u2019 (i.e. hierarchical, monopolistic) society to a \u2018modern\u2019 (i.e. truly democratic) society. We are stuck somewhere in the middle, exhibiting characteristics of either model. And here is where David makes a crucial point. He asks, why is it important to modernize?
\nvia \u201cA Message of Modern Politics\u201d by Randy David | Filipino Voices<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This was an excellent write up of a speech\/lecture? Prof Randy David gave. It’s an interesting read!!! Quest for political stability David observes that Filipinos are \u201csick and tired\u201d of politics. In other societies, people are not overburdened with politics. And normally citizens think only about it during elections. The fact the politics consumes much … <\/p>\n