The sun is rising and it is the color of scrambled eggs.
After Conrado De Quiros endorsed Noynoy Aquino for President, we sort of lost interest in reading and discussing his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
It was not because we disagreed with his choice for President, but rather, it was because we disagreed with the non-logic that supported his conclusion that Noynoy Aquino would be a better President than all other contenders.
In his column today titled Reading 101, De Quiros attempts to clarify his position vis-a-vis the dawning Yellow Administration.
Perhaps, more than rebutting a reader’s comment, the column points at the political forces that may be pulling Noynoy Aquino in different directions.
If I read it right, it seems that his tirade is directed against the combined forces of the Liberal Party, Hyatt 10, and The Firm — groups which also backed Aquino’s bid for the Presidency.
It seems Conrado is saying that Noynoy, in the coming days of his administration, will have a whole bunch of tough choices between following the voice of volunteers as well as the Spirit of EDSA 86 and following the dictates of people who deal in compromises.
A lesser leader will perhaps think that this situation may call for choosing one or the other. He may think that this is a moralist dichotomy between good and evil — a theme so heavily played out in Noynoy’s campaign. In reality, such dichotomies are merely instruments in pushing for an agenda.
A more politically astute mind would probably see it as a classical situation described by Machiavelli in The Prince. Roughly recounted here, in the coming days Noynoy will have to make a lot of decisions between serving the interests of the people who voted for him and serving the interest of the people whose finances as well as political connections helped him win the campaign.
Machiavelli describes Noynoy’s situation quite aptly:
THOSE who solely by good fortune become princes from being private citizens have little trouble in rising, but much in keeping atop; they have not any difficulties on the way up, because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit. Such are those to whom some state is given either for money or by the favour of him who bestows it; as happened to many in Greece, in the cities of Ionia and of the Hellespont, where princes were made by Darius, in order that they might hold the cities both for his security and his glory; as also were those emperors who, by the corruption of the soldiers, from being citizens came to empire. Such stand simply upon the goodwill and the fortune of him who has elevated them — two most inconstant and unstable things. Neither have they the knowledge requisite for the position; because, unless they are men of great worth and ability, it is not reasonable to expect that they should know how to command, having always lived in a private condition; besides, they cannot hold it because they have not forces which they can keep friendly and faithful.
In any case, it is a tough position to be in and, perhaps, only a real leader will be able to finesse the situation.
New Pinoy Politics 