ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
Would a more favorable Philippine’s result from the conflicts in Congress and the Senate? I am sure, that it will not! Thus, we pray and hope for reconciliation!
The conflict of the two houses had never been pronounced not as it is this late. We are seeing a volatile back and forth between the two, perhaps this is democracy at its best. Disagreements and voicing of opinions may somehow create a better democracy. As others may say, it is the beauty of democracy.
Increasingly strained relations between the two houses of Congress and the Senate can be interpreted as either a sign of democracy or a threat to it, depending on how democracy is defined and assessed.
A democratic system of governance is one that guarantees the involvement, representation, and accountability of the people. As a result of the checks and balances between the many organs of government and the diversity of views and interests among the populace, the phenomenon of deteriorating ties between the two houses of Congress and the Senate might be viewed as a hallmark of democracy. Legislators’ rivalry and conflicts may also promote public discussion and knowledge, as well as civic involvement and supervision.
In the United States, the main precursor of our democratic systems is polarized by the Republican and Democratic parties that dominates their Congress. The United Kingdom has their House of Lords and House of commons at time warring and in conflict.
One time, this writer was buying rice at the V and G Public Market when I overheard two ladies talking.
Lady 1: Mahal na gud an bugas, tag 61 per kilo na an tag 55 han una? (The Price of Rice has gone up this time, from the usual 55 pesos per kilo now its 61).
Lady 2: Amo sige la man pag inaway an aton mga kamagaraman! (True, it maybe because our legislators are busy fighting each other, they may have forgotten their duties!)
Without putting a blame on anyone, this writer hopes that the conflict can be resolved and mended, for a better governance and a better economy. The purported gains in numbers shown in the news that reports the percentage of growth the economy has, is not felt on the ground, the rice is endlessly getting out of reach for the constant increase of its price and the gasoline are also rising in the per liter buying prices.
Ultimately, the phenomena of worsening relations between the two houses of congress and senate are not a definitive mark of democracy, but rather a manifestation of the tensions and trade-offs that are inherent in any democratic system. How these phenomena affect the quality and prospects of democracy will depend on how the legislators and the people balance the competing values and goals of democracy, and how they resolve their differences and conflicts in a peaceful and constructive manner.
Would a more favorable Philippine’s result from the conflicts in Congress and the Senate? I am sure, that it will not! Thus, we pray and hope for reconciliation!
