of infomercials

It's funny I'm only able to really write about infomercials now. Maybe it's because I'm a little tired of the pseudo-campaign noise coming from my TV. Or maybe it's because of the news coverage with Senator Defensor-Santiago actively opposing these ventures. Or maybe it's because of my lessons in sensory psychology (hint: not-so-subliminal messages).

One thing is for sure though: those infomercials have to go, at least till the campaign season officially kicks off. These infomercials are still considered as media exposure. And we all know what media exposure can do for viewers and voters.

Originally, I wasn't planning to attend a forum being conducted by Senator Defensor-Santiago all about the infomercials issue. But well, my friends ended up going and I figured I may as well go and see what was going on. Now that was the first time in my 3 years in De La Salle University that I saw our auditorium packed with students attending a political/sociocivic event.

A good thing I attended the forum; I learned about the legal side of the infomercial controversy. Apparently it is not only unconstitutional for these presidentiables to be prematurely airing these infomercials, but it can also be illegal. The unconstitutionality stems from the inequality of exposure that comes with the lengthy running of these infomercials; only the very wealthy can afford to pay for months upon months of airing 30-second infomercials. Thus, less affluent candidates who cannot shell out millions for this kind of endorsement end up losing out on the exposure factor they may need to garner votes.

The illegal side of the issue is thornier however. According to Senator Defensor-Santiago, if a candidate's friends or patrons are the ones funding these infomercials, this can still be construed as an election violation and a breach of the anti-graft law that states that public officials should not receive substantial gifts or favors from other parties. And if a candidate is funding these infomercials out of his or her pocket, well that might be a matter worthy of investigation especially if this candidate is only supposed to be receiving a modest amount as his or her salary as an elected official.

All the loopholes in the laws about elections as well as in our Constitution have put us in this mess. Since no one seems to be eager to do something about those pitfalls, the only solution left seems to be that of critical choice: realizing that some of our wannabe leaders may have things they need to clear up before we can fully trust them with public office, and from there having the voters make informed choices.