Parliamentary-Federal Scored

Against parliamentary-federalist system

INQ7.net

OKAY, since Congress and our own dear President insist on opening the can of worms known as the Parliamentary-Federalism versus Presidential-Centralized Government debate, I have been forced to read as much as I can about both sides, if only to feed my hunger for information, and to make sure, as a socially aware Filipino citizen, I can make an informed decision on the matter. After a rather lengthy debate with friends about it last night, here are the reasons why I'm against a change in our current system:

Parliamentary vs. Presidential -- I am against the parliamentary system because of its basic premise, which, when taken to its core essence and stripped of all rhetoric and nonsense says this: that the masses are stupid. Which we definitely are not. Sure, we've had lousy presidents, but, really, do we have much choice? I am against any system that seeks to take from the masses the power of directly choosing their own leader. We are not sheep. And we don't need a damn shepherd.

Federalism vs. Centralized Government -- This one's more complicated. My argument is threefold. The first one is socio-philosophical. The second one is socioeconomic. The last one is of feasibility and logistics. So I use bullet points:

• Federalism assumes two conditions: the "existence of a body of countries so closely connected by locality, by history, by race, or the like, as to be capable to bearing, in the eyes of their inhabitants, an impress of common nationality"; and "the desire for national unity and the determination to maintain the independence of each man's separate State."

We have the first condition (excluding locality). As my friend pointed out, we are differentiated ethno-linguistically (Tagalog, Cebuano, Moro, etc.)

However, we'll have a bit of a problem on the second point, or rather, the first part of the second point concerning "the desire for national unity." This is a terribly complicated debate but, in my perspective, I'm afraid of the consequences of strengthening ethno-linguistic pride at the cost of a national identity. As it is, we already have Muslim Mindanao entertaining the idea of becoming its own country. Our national identity, as it is, is really, really shaky at this point (I don't even really know what it means). So, I'm afraid of the political consequences of deliberately and literally tearing this country apart.

• Second, if the other regions have already branded Manila as "imperial," a federal system would only make matters worse. It is easier for a rich man to become richer. I'd say it would be the same for states. Given its huge advantage against the other regions in terms of the number of industries, businesses and other moneymaking ventures in this current system, a federal one would only give it license to keep more of the money it makes (in terms of taxes) for itself. It would only further solidify its current-role of dictating to the smaller regions what to do and how to run the country.

• Third, let us assume that my first two arguments are incorrect. How are we going to split up this country? Geographically? It won't work. Because it would be an artificial construct and would run counter to what is said to be the first condition for a federalist system (refer to above). Some groups, though they share a common history and belief system do not share a common locality. Ethno-linguistically? It still won't work, because to take this route you'd have to spend a huge, mind-boggling sum of money to displace a lot of people so that they may live with "their own kind."

Anyway, whatever decision a random committee would make concerning state separation will be an artificial construct (as opposed to one naturally created by history) and they're bound to make a mistake. As I see it, it is simply just not feasible.

One last thing -- at the very most, parliamentary-federalism would be a risky endeavor with no real and absolute benefits. If we do make a change towards it, it would be like a blackjack player saying, "Hit me" when he already has a 17 on his hand. Which is a gamble that may work really, really wonderfully or fail really, really miserably. I, for one, am not willing to take that chance.

VON RYAN CUERPO, 28 Makiling St., MMV, Burgos, Montalban, Rizal