Of Billboards, Banners, and Propaganda

I am always amazed at the audacity of so many of our politicians when they put their mug shots on billboards, banners, and other types of paraphernalia, it is as if it is their own money they are using, it is as if they are donating the money themselves. It is free publicity, politicking at its worst.

A mere basketball board often lends itself to politics, when the name of the congressman or mayor is painted on it. Or the more sickening of them all is all that Gloria Arroyo Economic prosperity propaganda that our dear president seems to have signed off on. It’s like we’re living in a nation where we are constantly bombarded with advertisements, including those of politicians.

And guess what, the only reason they do it is that it actually works in most cases. Who are we to blame because of this? The voters, because they fall into the trap of believing that each and every project is a godsend from their representative, senator, or president? Or should we be looking at politicians themselves, who continue the propaganda, and abhor it when their opponents use it.

Often, many of the projects that politicians provide, are useless. And even though they are useless, they nonetheless, according to the thinking of so many of our dear politicians, need their own publicity, so that everyone will know, that this politician has given so much to the neighborhood, city, or country.

Why do I despise the use of this method of utilizing public funds in order to promote a politician into the awareness of the voting public? Because it is yet another sign of electioneering. Call it what you will, agree with me or not, but does not these things become a positive to those whose mug shots are on these propaganda materials?

It is the use of public funds, in order to trick the minds of the voting public that we are only receiving this because of the goodwill of our dear politician-leader.

In The U.S., rarely will I ever see such a blatant display of ego on the part of politicians. Yes, most politicians are egotists, but the ones that reside in The Philippines, goes to the extreme. Never will I see a big face on a big face of a project billboard.

And don’t ever believe a politicians with whatever kind of excuse he/she gives you as to why they “must” put their name and big photo on these billboards and banners, because it will never be true, unless their reason is that it is for pure publicity.

I say, if these politicians want to provide “information” for their constituents, they do so during election time, not when they are in office, using public funds to essentially fund a publicity drive.

The next time there is a project, a subtext with “A project of the (insert position here)” should suffice.

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