17 years later and nothing has changed

 

Malignant Sickness

    The three philosophers Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau agree that men are naturally free, equal, and independent. They believe that we are born free. But in what context are we really free? It is freedom that we can act freely to whatever way we choose. It is freedom that we are all equal and not enslaved by a single person or a group of people. It is freedom that we can speak freely and be able to express ourselves. We are free because we have the right to free will.
    

    In a practical sense, are we really free? Maybe not. A lot of babies nowadays are born with debts tied to their names. They inherit the long list of unpaid sums their parents weren’t able to pay because of the worsening condition of our society. There’s even a joke saying, ‘nasa tiyan palang ay may utang na’. Even worse, it is a continuous chain passed from generations to generations. Freedom isn’t free. It’s no joke after all.
    

    The philosophers also state that we aim for the preservation of our lives. Yes, it is true that we live and spend our lifetime to ensure our survival. Like Darwin puts it, ‘survival of the fittest’.
    

    But are we really aiming for the preservation of our lives? In today’s context, one might think twice. Can you imagine working really hard and exhausting yourself with that over time for hard cash? And to top it all, your earned money won’t even suffice your personal needs. I may be too radical but it’s just like killing yourself slowly. No wonder a lot of people are going abroad to the land of milk and honey in search for greener pastures. They may also be working really hard there and experiencing emotional distraught being away from their homeland but it’s worth it. They earn what they deserve. Nationalism may be questioned, but it is in the heart and we carry it wherever we go.
     

    What I cannot believe is that our government is discouraging such diasporas and finding ways to lessen these occurrences. Isn’t it to find a living a right of everybody? The government must first improve the condition of this country before imposing such laws.
     

    There is a need to share consent to have a legitimate government, according to Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
     

    This is exemplified by the system of elections in our society. We as citizens have the right to vote for the leaders that we think are worthy of leading us to the betterment of our nation. But it is undeniable that fraudulent acts may interfere. The thirst for power is ever burning in the minds of corrupt individuals, they tend to do everything just to gain control. ‘The end justifies the means’, the end being power for self-interest and the means being the use of unjust and deceiving deeds.
     

    Lastly, according to the three philosophers, the social contract remedies the problems in the state of nature. 

     In our contemporary setting, is it really so? Or is it for the benefit of the few in authority? Let our present condition speak for itself.

-xcr 2008