I am a Responsible Voter by Leomar M. Basister (April, 2004)

A responsible voter looks at the welfare and betterment of all. He knows every piece of information about his candidate. He decides not only once but more as he can. Decision takes a special time for him to consider who is going to be the one might lead to progress of all.

I think this time we are responsible enough to vote. Another mistake now is out ruin tomorrow. For almost a year our economy worsened. No progress was visible. Let us wake up this time because we are in the worst condition. No more time to be wasted. Everyone must join and unite this coming election. The history of our heroes in EDSA must guide our thought and open our eyes to the truth. Try to think what is the fruit of that vote you are going to cast. Do not think of yourself think of the generation next, in which your own children are members. Would you allow them to be left hungry while these candidates today who shall be the leaders tomorrow will live in their palace swarmed with sycophants and women?

If this saddest thing happens because of your vote, then your children will accuse you of being accomplished of these crook leaders. The elected officers are not at all leaders. They are representatives of the people who put them in power. It is the nature of democracy. There are no leaders. There are only representatives of the people. Therefore if the representatives are evil, it can be claimed that people whom they represented are actually evils.

I am a responsible voter. This means that I can see things beyond the surface. I can read beyond pages. I can understand every word of the candidates. I can see every piece at the back of the honey-flavored words of the candidates.

I am a responsible voter. I can convince my fellow men to think first before accepting the money from the candidates. I have the will to fight the evil disguise to wear a barong Tagalog and on stage reciting a prayer more than priest can do. I am a responsible voter, the friend of everyone and the enemy of the rogues.

If this society is blinded by the whims of materialism, I am not. I don’t allow myself to be used as mechanism of the shallow minded politicians. My vote is my participation to attainment of our national goal. I must take care of it. It is all that I have as an ordinary citizen who is trying to change the face of this unshaven society