Neocolonial identity and counter-consciousness (Routledge Revivals) by Renato Constantino

Author:Renato Constantino
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781138895478
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2017-09-28T18:30:00+00:00

Government Position Becomes a Sideline

The social factor that spurs the politician's intellectual degeneration is augmented by an economic factor. The politician's pay is meagre but his standard of living has to be high. One cannot attend baptisms and weddings and the myriad other social obligations without money. So the politician has to find a second job, if he does not have private means. But, actually, this second job becomes his major occupation and his government position only a valuable sideline productive of useful connections. The moment he secures a major private occupation which has power and influence specially in the field of finance, business, or trade, the politician who is now an employee no longer needs to study, to plan, or to evolve policy. By force of circumstance, the policy is there for him to implement and the study is made for him.

When the interests of these employers are advanced by the same governmental policies that are required for the general advancement of the country, the duality of allegiance of the politician (to his employer and to his country) is not a serious matter. For example, if a Congressman represents Filipino industrial interests, his stand on questions like industrialization, tariffs, etc., while primarily favouring those interests, will not be inimical to the nation as a whole for the simple reason that the prosperity of the nation at this time is intimately linked with the prosperity of the Filipino industrialist. When, however, the interests the politician represents are foreign interests, his dual allegiance will be resolved in favour of those interests and against his people, simply because what is good for those foreign interests seldom coincides with what is good for the country.

The politician is entitled to advisers and assistants in his own government office, especially if he is of congressional rank. But because of the nature of his job as an employment agency and because of the limited number of positions that are at his disposal, merit occupies a low priority in the selection of his staff. The first consideration is reward for the loyal and those who may be of help in future elections. In some cases, a salary pertaining to a technical position is divided among several political henchmen. Because of the utter lack of merit of his staff, the politician becomes merely a spokeman of the interests of his employers. His views on government policy are dictated by the needs of his employers. His stand on various questions has to be that which will be beneficial to these employers regardless of its effect on the country as a whole. Of course, he justifies his stand in terms of the public good. He becomes quite adept at equating his employer's interests with those of his people.

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