Technology has been a significant player in the current Filipino culture. A lot of new technologies unfold before us everyday. It has virtually left no area untouched. Currently, however, one facet of culture which to date has not been affected by technology is our current election procedures--- sadly, one area where we can say technology is badly needed.
Perhaps in the advent of the twenty first century, we might see an influential and noteworthy technological change that will propel the way we elect our officials to new heights and standards. An online election registration perhaps? One day you might see politicians vying for your votes via internet ads. Hey, who knows, maybe we'll even venture into online election one day. Goodbye to long lines and bureaucratic red tape.... this probably would open election results to more risks to election frauds. Tsk. Tsk. I guess that’s the ups and downs of Filipino ingenuity.
2 comments:
The most that one could say perhaps is that, while the process of voting hasn't been upgraded directly by technology, technology has had some sort of effect on elections indirectly. For example, the increased availability of mobile phone coverage, sms, mms and similar services, coupled with the existence and increased affordability of camera phones capable of taking decent quality still images, as well as (not-so-decent, but an improving quality of) video, allow poll watchers to more effectively monitor the voting and tabulation process, as well as take photographic or video evidence of any impropriety. On the flip side, the same increased ease of communication can also help would-be poll cheaters, from the basic flying voter, to one who would churn out fake election returns. As with most things, technology can be used to work both good and evil.
So I guess whatever times we live in, the good and evil story thousands of centuries old still apply huh? It's not the machine but the people who use it, makes it good or evil. Hahaha, well if its election, filipinos are very flexible people. Paperless election or not, people will always find a way to cheat. The only way to combat it is to bring the regulation to the same playing field. E-government is the next step.
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