Politics of personalities

Political parties today play a significantly diminished role and have considerably less prestige because of our unhealthy politics of personalities.

The dominance of personalities over platform has allowed parties to contend in the political arena with vague policies or zero stand on pressing national issues.

First, the country is faced with the challenges of a changing global environment where capacity for innovation will decide our national survival. Second, our public school system's perennial problem of shortages - of classrooms, teachers, textbooks and other facilities - is accentuated by a sore lack of vision for our country's education. Third, conventional work schedules and wage structures no longer apply in our drastically changed labor market. Morever, we have almost half a million graduates every year: what is their future in the job market?

These are but some key questions which political parties must face up to in the May 2007 elections. They should come down to earth and confront the real problems of the country, rather than preparing for an election simply for the sake of power. They should address the substantive issues that will determine our success or failure as a nation.

Our politics of personalities and the lack of a genuine party system have stunted our progress to political maturity and hindered our economic development as well.

Only by focusing more on programs and platform rather than personalities and popularity are we ever going to break this vicious cycle of bad politics and bad government.