Who should be ruling our country?

I'm not a patriot, and who in this time is? But this does not mean that I have no concern for my country. Is it wrong if I say that the problem of this country is it's people? Because I think it is.

Ever heard of anyone saying- love the country, nevermind the citizens? Well if you haven't, then I'm saying it now so listen to me.

Heroes who has lived decades ago- we believe has died and suffered for the freedom of the country and for the sake of its people. Now I am here to detest this people whom they say that this heroes died for. This people that I'm talking about is US. Yes, truly I am not exempting myself for if I do such a thing I would be a hypocrite.

The problem in this country is not the government but the people. The Philippines is said to be a country of democracy, it is a country where its the citizens voice rules over everything. And yet, we blame the officials for what has become of us. Who placed them in their positions in the first place?! And don't give me that crap that they cheated their way to position, for all of us knows for a fact that every one of them has cheated and used money one way or the other- its all just a battle of who has the most money and whose the smarter one who knows how to use it.

I'm only a teenager, a freshman college student and have yet to face the real world and its complexities, but already I think the problem here is that the people has stopped using their brains.

When election comes, they vote for:

1. The one who is most likely to win
Why: Because they think that if they vote the one who is more unlikely to win is that they would only be wasting their ONE vote. But has it crossed their minds that thousands of people are thinking of the same thing, that their one vote does not matter and if only they used it, things would've been different.

2.The one who gives them money
Why: Because to be able to vote for the person you want in position can't be served on the table and feed your family nor can it buy you a case of beer or a stick of cigarette. And so I wonder, does a few minutes of bliss worth the fact that you've let an unworthy person have in his hands the future of all you've been working for?

3. The most popular one
Why: I've always wondered how did elections became a popularity contest. For some reason, people tend to believe that the most popular one is the best one and is the one fit for the job. In my own opinion, most of these people are popular because they've chosen to make use of their name and faces as public figures and used commercial ads and posters to make themselves familiar in a way where people would actually be contented of voting them for good sound of their name and forget to question what they've done and what they can do.

In my opinion they should impose a law where only college or at least highschool graduates could run for office. The legislative office should be more strict and I really believe that college graduates and not high school drop outs should be imposing the laws of the country. I do not mean to discriminate, but we are talking about laws and we are talking about governing a whole country. How in God's name are you going to rule over people who has more brains than you are?

I'm aware to the fact that diplomas are not the only way to measure one's capacity and knowledge but still, to have a diploma means to have the proper training on how to you use what you know. I mean, if a person is really determined to run for a position then go study! Have what it takes, have what is needed.

Our problem in this country, is that citizens are not using their brains by electing the people who doesn't have a brain.

Corruption CAN NEVER be eliminated, but at least have the decency to do something in your turn of service- and I think that is the difference between an educated official from a ... Not so educated one.