understanding poverty

Noted sociologist and writer Randolph "Randy"David in one of his essays compiled in the book, "Nation, Self and Citizenship", argued that in the current Philippine system, the poor have their political rights and freedoms. But because of their economic vulnerability, the poor majority is unable to meaningfully use these rights. David claims that the poor use their rights to secure short- term economic benefits (jobs at the City Hall, dole- outs, recommendations, etc.)rather than use it to shape basic economic policy.

Today, he said the delicate social order that the elite had defended fiercely from the time of independence is gradually falling apart. The poor now, refuse to continue shouldering the burdens of a stunted economy (it's the job of the government and it's officials, stupid!). These refusal is being expressed in political terms. The past two elections saw that the poor is now slowly realizing their true potential if done in a united voice by way of the power of the ballot.

However, some smart politicians are using the poor's disenfranchisement to boost their political ambitions, David said. If only the politicization of the poor can be properly harnessed to produce lasting social change and economic growth, he added, the Philippines would have moved forward already.

Unfortunately, nobody not even the poor themselves have bonded together to utilize their political might to change the status quo.David's thesis is closer to truth than most of our politicians and analyst's would want to admit.