We can now hear more people talking about platforms. Unfortunately, it’s quite obvious most people still can’t differentiate between a real platform and the usual motherhood statement. When a candidate says he plans to fight corruption or implement reforms on education many would simply accept it as a platform statement. The fact is our candidates are merely mouthing off platitudes.
What’s really troubling is that a number of supposedly enlightened personalities are also guilty of the same stupidity. Perhaps, they’re just taking the position that such pandering statements already constitute a platform because saying otherwise would only expose their candidates’ vacuity. One of them even insists that the so-called “social contract” of Senator Noynoy Aquino is a platform.
Contrary to what these pseudo-enlightened people are saying, a platform is supposed to be made up of specific plans. Analyzing the type of political discussions we currently have, it’s easy to conclude that there is hardly any specificity. Our candidates are basically saying the same general statements, a fact highlighted at a recent forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
(excerpt from a gmanews.tv report; bold highlight mine)
Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Tuesday cried foul over a perceived bias against him by the moderator of a forum hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI). “Napaghahalataan yata masyado, manong Tony (It’s becoming too obvious, brother Tony),” Aquino told moderator Tony Lopez after he was bypassed in the sequence of questioning. Aquino was referring to what he felt was Lopez’s preference for his closest rival Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party. Lopez, for his part, apologized and quipped: “Ah sorry, kasi bawat tanong pare-pareho lang kayo ng sagot (Oh, I’m sorry, that’s because for each question you all give the same answer).”
This lack of specificity does not help the voter make out exactly who among the candidates has the better solution to a particular problem. The following sentence from an article featured in The Economist should give us an idea why this is not a good thing.
On campaign platforms, policy is nearly absent, though the country’s problems are clear.
While it is good more people are now aware that the word “platform” exists, it would be better if they actually know what it refers to.
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