Reasonably radical.

Acquiring a seat in the government gives one a special privilege to serve the people and the nation. And this privilege is like a gift you owe to people who have entrusted their welfare to your care. This gift consists of an honorable title prefixed to your name, subordinates, monetary resources, and most of all, the power to utilize this gift in the service of the people who believe in you. All of that in just one package.

Public service is simply sincerely doing your responsibilities as a public servant so why make a big deal out of it by displaying your name on every public facility you’ve put up? To me, it’s like a slap in the face. An insult. It’s as if you’re reminding us that we, the people who have placed you in power, owe these structures to you. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? You’ve been elected to public office. Therefore, isn’t it already given that you do public service?

I mean for once, get real! Never mind the righteousness crap above. No one in his right mind would ever want your name in ridiculously BOLD letters and not-so-appealing-to-the-eyes colors as decorations in his surroundings. Unless your name spells beauty and peace, then by all means, have the walls of our house inside and out.

(By the way, I’m pretty sure the inscription of your name also consumes a portion of the allotted budget.)

I would always find myself shaking my head in disillusionment whenever I see the sooo-overused phrase “Through the efforts of this BIG NAME et al.” on the roofs of waiting sheds. Well, guess what? You don’t need to make an effort. If you’re a true public servant and you mean your public service with all your genuine intentions, it should just come out naturally.

Instead of plastering your names on the roofs of covered courts, park benches, bridges, and other public facilities, why don’t we hire our local talents, in painting and other related craft, to exhibit their artistic abilities and decorate these structures? And have them sign their own masterpieces afterwards, that would be fantastic! It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their works. Who knows, they might even do the job for free.

And that’s just one of the many options of how we can continuously make our communities a better place to live in. Let others contribute. Don’t take on the entire workload. Make room for others to have their own unique share.

So come on, there’s no need for you to remind us (shamelessly) of your noble deeds. We, the people who voted for you are not stupid to NOT know who made all these projects possible. Heck, we voted for you. How could we ever be more stupid?

We don’t need big names. We need big dreams.