The person is important in a feudal society.

In fact, there are suspicions among academics in America that the person is more important in advanced countries, too. “Time and time again, voters in the US showed no evidence of clear ideological thinking,” says a paper from three professors of three universities.

More intriguing was this: “We are investigating the theory that people form candidate preferences and thereafter change… political attitudes and beliefs so they become more consistent with their candidate choice... We have found evidence of rationalization in… party identification, and stances on abortion and other national policy issues.” Jon A. Krosnick, Professor of Communication, Political Science, and Psychology, Stanford University.

Even well-developed countries display widespread rationalization of choice of candidate.

“Time and time again, voters in the US showed no evidence of clear ideological thinking,” says a paper from three professors of three universities.

“Voters form candidate preferences and thereafter change related political attitudes and beliefs so they become more consistent with their candidate choice,” writes Jon A. Krosnick, Professor of Communication, Political Science, and Psychology, Stanford University.

“We have found evidence of pervasive rationalization... We have found evidence of rationalization in ideological self-identifications, party identification, and stances on abortion and other national policy issues.”

It’s nothing new.

We do this frequently. Even on big decisions. We buy a BMW or a Volvo or a sports car... and then rationalize the purchase by citing performance and safety.

The Philippines is a nation unable to wrench itself from the mire and muck of a medieval system. You can hear the decay in the walls, like the loud, incessant hiss of indefatigable termites. The solutions are writ, the required moves are known to all. The absent ingredient is the righteous leader, or, to use a difficult word, a benevolent dictator. With a firm hand and an honorable heart, a good lord, a national mabait na amo, will be able to require commitment from the people -- that they pay taxes dutifully, accept necessary difficulties.

The mabait na amo will also fulfill the contract: provide, protect, care for, educate their children, insure their future. 

With the right motives, a good leader can call up collective compliance, and bring about a change in our society that is as sweeping, as effective, and as permanent as a bloody revolution.