by Hermilia C. Banayat-Nas
(11th entry)
Campaign period. Motorcade. Traffic. 90 days. Circus in town.
Creative juices would be squeezed dry starting today, the beginning of the campaign period for national elective positions and party-list representatives. Newspapers would be a bit heavier and thicker because of paid advertisements. TV commercials would be longer to accommodate product commercials and political campaign commercials. Jingles would be played over the radio and through very loud speakers.
If it were four years ago, it would be tempting to turn to the internet for politics-free entertainment. But, this is the 2010 elections we are talking about. The first automated elections in the Philippines. The elections that would involve multimedia.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?), while there are caps over all other kinds of paid political advertisements, there is no limit in using the internet to articulate political agenda. Which may have been good if not for traditional politicians. Yes, the internet as a source of information for all empowers every one because knowledge is power. But sometimes even the brightest of us cannot successfully nitpick truth from lies or promises from words of honor. And all that information over the internet makes it harder for the "common" internet user to distinguish the better candidate. Impressive graphics and entertaining video jingles might determine who gets the votes this time.
Should we regulate? Before policymakers jump before the horse and decide on how they could regulate political campaigns over the internet, they must ask if it is really prudent to regulate internet use now. While it is desirable to spare the internet user from the scary and comical campaign jingles, by regulating something over the internet we might be giving something/s up in return.
Enter: lawyers.
1 comment:
regulation is good as long as the law that gives such regulations are clear and also has a clear cut objective why the regulation has to be made. in terms of campaigning, freedom of speech reigns. even negative campaigning is good for the people so we can really critically look at our candidates.
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