In the Philippines, we always get the phrase "Eh wala namang ginagawa 'yung gobyerno e!", "Wala namang ginawa 'yang mga yan kundi mangurakot!" or any other permutation of those statements. Well, after knowing about the Rational Choice Theory, I have convinced myself that this may be true. We have a set of governments since time immemorial who care about themselves first before anyone else. You could go and talk to me all day that President so-and-so did this for the country - well, they might have, but I think I could convince you that there was an air of self-interest in it.We, the youth, are idealistic. We should be - we are the agents of change and we should not lose this initiative and power to make the world a better place for everyone. But it is starting to look like we are making a Christmas list for Santa instead of actually doing something to change it ourselves. Most people want the government to build schools, to build hospitals, to provide jobs for everyone. And if the government fails to meet our expectations, we go out in the streets or wherever to change the people in power. All we do is complain, complain, complain. We dream of a government who truly cares about the people, and in the process, we forget that it is just that - a dream.
We cannot have a big government - it would just end up as one long red tape where everything is subject to restriction and laws. And to add insult to injury, laws in our country are implemented selectively. So let's get rid of the freakin' law instead. Calling for law enforcement? Go, dream about it. You would just create more complications.
Let me put it this way. If cheating in class is illegal and we would enforce it, the admin would spend more of its resources to have spies and D.O's all over. The students would then look for and find better ways to beat this system. Our tuition fees would then be spent on competent D.O's and surveillance cams than spending for competent academe. And I'm sure the cheating wouldn't stop.
Now, let's make cheating legal. We would cheat at first, sure, but would soon find out that we would really get nothing from it because we now know that we are shooting ourselves in the foot if we do. And we would understand that those who keep on cheating would not succeed in life. So might as well study for real. And what's up with our money then? It is spent on training current profs and hiring more good ones. And that's a more efficient way of doing things.
The same goes for governments. We should let the people do what they want to do and keep intervention to the minimum - when one's freedom infringes on others'. In the long run, we would have a more efficient society with a more responsible citizenry. On the flip side, let's stop expecting all these social services from the government. They are not our nannies. So let's cease being kids and be responsible enough to work our asses off ourselves and know what is right or wrong.
To end this, let me quote P.J. O'Rourke: "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences."
Picture from John Pritchett
