Politics and economics (4)

As shown by the title, this is the fourth straight time I am writing on the topic.

The relationship of politics and economics is so strong and varied that I can continue to write about it and not run short of views on it.

In this article, I want to relate politics with poverty.

As the candidates go around campaigning they will easily observe the poverty of families, particularly in vote-rich areas such as in places where there are informal settlers (they are no longer termed squatters).

This alone should make them think about how they can help the poor.

Certainly giving them money on election day is not the way to bring them out of poverty.

They should closely observe each barangay they visit. They should go around and not confine themselves in one place to deliver speeches.

They may use a combination of a quick walking tour of the barangay and then talk in an assembly of voters so they can explain what they will do when elected.

They can take mental notes of the resources in the barangay and how underutilized they are. They can also observe some important factors constraining economic growth in the barangay.

Here is a tip: the best way to solve the poverty problem is by making people more economically productive.

In this walk-around they will be able to determine how voters in the barangay and their families can be made more productive.

The resources will vary. It could include labor, land, waterways, seacoast, and technologies that can be improved.

These will create strong impressions on the candidates which they can use when elected. They can check these observations with statistics in the planning office of the local government units they will work in.

The campaign should therefore, be viewed as an essential preparatory step towards effectively addressing the poverty problem.

The ability of elective officials to understand the poverty problem determines the effectiveness of their solutions to it. They will not be able to deliver on their promises if they are unable to “take a handle” on this problem.