Who and What is trapo?

I must have manners and ought to define what is trapo.

Ergo, here is a simple definition of the word "trapo" in Pihilippine politics.

Trapo (system): 1 traditional politics - a corrupt system of governance

2 A political culture or way of political thinking which emphasize personal relationships, family connections, and patronage systems ABOVE the rule of law.

Trapo (person): 1 traditional politician - a corrupt elected government official

2 Individual or group of individuals that support, and are influenced by traditional politics.

3 Individual or group of individuals whose way of thinking is based upon traditional politics.

What are their characteristics and tendencies?

Trapo Officials

- desire to keep their position or power even if it means circumventing or trampling constitutional limits

- use public position to acquire private gains

- utilize public funds to generate a good public image

- obtain public approval by claiming full credit to public works

- in general, do not adhere to the rule of law

- disregard the law to maintain a good public image

- are committed to the rule of law only if or when it is convenient or consistent with their whims (e.g., nonfeasance)

- lack the courage to challenge and always kowtows to public opinion to preserve political position

- with rare exemptions, usually call for and encourage extra-legal and extra-constitutional means of political action

Trapo Citizens

- question an individual's right to free speech and expression especially if it is critical of corrupt political practices

- use constitutionally protected means of political action and speech to create misinformation and false impression (e.g., journalistic sensationalism)

- threaten individuals with harm because of their opposing opinion

- always use personal arguments (e.g., ad hominem arguments) rather than rational arguments in debating political issues

- use uncorroborated facts and claims it as credible information

- are blind to the faults of officials even if it is based upon credible evidences (e.g., the Marcoses and their cronies in Leyte and Ilocos Sur)

- vote based upon bloodties and debt of gratitude regardless of questionable qualification, NOT ability, credible qualification, integrity, and character

- trade principles for favors

Trapo System

- is a patronage system not securely bound by regulating laws

- abounds with dynasties; politics is family business and profession

- encourages substantial public apathy towards political participation

- makes people rely on and surrender to political leaders the full responsibility of making policy; ergo, the public neither participate in the making of nor even try influencing official policy

- tramples the ideas of the many and support the ideas of the few in power

- enables incumbent politicians to think that they know the ultimate way of governance and only through their own policies will everything improve.

- is where legitimacy is based upon charisma, not the rule of law

- exists when elections are heavily influenced by personal and blood ties to candidates, NOT issues, past policies, and platforms of candidates

- triumphs when government positions are distributed based on personal relationships with influential officials, not on merit