I have no qualms with the established laws nor the opinions rendered by the courts; however, I do have some nagging thoughts about the need for some of them – especially this time of year where everyone seems to be digging into the law books to find loopholes that could be used to disqualify potential candidate. People are practicing democracy.
Democracy is defined as “the free and equal right of every person to participate in a system of government [a system of government based on the principle of majority decision-making], often practiced by electing representatives of the people by the people.” This, I think, is an extremely wonderful and notable idea – conjured up hundreds of years ago but has varied interpretations today; and Palau has its own.Recently, four incumbent members of the Olbiil Er a Kelulau (OEK) were disqualified from running for office again. An amendment to the Palau Constitution has served to provide reason for the disqualification of the four.What irks me is this, what if a majority of Ngaraard voters – 75% of the voters – decide to re-elect Speaker Bells as a write-in candidate to the House of Delegates on Election Day? What would be the opinion of the courts? Would the courts nullify Bells’ sure win? If so, what about the people’s freedom to choose whom they want to represent them in the government? Where would the principle of “majority rule” be?As far as I am concerned, there should be no limit to any elected representative posts in the government.Then again, there is this whole concept of the write-in candidates. Surangel Whipps, Jr. has initiated a trend that could dismantle the Office of the Election Commission and save the government some money – no names would be printed on the ballots except lines in the next 2012 General Election.In 2012 General Election, all of the candidates could possibly run as write-in candidates. Campaigns would still reign; all the petitions and filings would be eliminated. The Election Commission could basically just issue college ruled notebooks sheets for citizens to write in the name of their candidates. Who needs mass printouts of ballots?I have compiled a list of the people that I will vote for this year – 13 Senators, 1 delegate, and a presidential team. Soon after the election, if my choices get the majority votes, I would then worry about the “sole judges” in the OEK – a minority group powerful enough to eliminate a choice of the majority. It is then that everyone runs to a courtroom to seek the opinion of a judge. The majority sits and waits. I hope and vote that this society is not a demo of crazies.
