“One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.” — Robert Kennedy

In a country in search of new heroes, and in need of occasional paeans of praise from both friends and foes, it would seem that the more prominent survey groups must have limited and narrowed down their interviewees to Robert Kennedy’s one-fifth of the people who oppose everything all the time.

They do not find anything positive or praiseworthy in any administration, especially the Arroyo administration.

Per latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows net satisfaction rating of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at -31 percent which neither President Corazon Aquino nor President Fidel V.

Ramos nor ousted-President Joseph Estrada ever experienced such net dissatisfaction ratings below zero.

With her satisfaction ratings submerged in deep waters and stormy seas, it will be a super-human effort to reverse the trend in less than twelve months to the 2010 elections after which the critics will have a field day demanding an accounting of her reign.

On the other hand, how is it possible that one of the most hardworking and indefatigable Chief Executives with accountable accomplishments in infrastructure, education, microfinance, housing, poverty alleviation, and international relations, can be so unpopular and lacking in endearment satisfaction performance in the eyes of the people?

We opine that there is a large dosage of pre-conceived conclusions and prejudices, compounded by a lack of working rapport with mainstream media, that tend to highlight the peripheral issues, juicy scandals, and trivia while underestimating the economic gains made since 2001.

While admittedly we are not privy to the Machiavellian activities of her political operators, or the labyrinthine deals of her cronies and favorites, or the Byzantine intrigues within the Palace walls, the conspicuous achievements of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her administration are everywhere to validate. They are numerous, and identifiable by inspection whether they be the Nautical Highway, modernization of airports, farm-to-market roads, expressways, irrigation projects, low-cost housing, low interest rates, record-breaking gross international reserves (GIR), and healthy OFW remittances, and many more.

Are these not visible accomplishments to warrant and justify higher satisfaction ratings from the general public?

On the other hand, which world leader today would not grab the opportunity to be invited, tete-a-tete, by President Barack Obama to the White House?

Colonial-minded that we are, an official invitation to the White House for a Philippine President is a “must” that is even more important than an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

By the way, the United States, as a policy, grants not more than three or four state visits every year.

Quite recently, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was designated the resource speaker and spokesperson for southeast Asian countries for the 15th Summit Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement of 118 nations in Egypt.

Is this not an honor of sorts for the Philippines?

When all is said and done, there is a substantial degree of unfairness heaped on President Gloria Arroyo based generally on unsubstantiated allegations and innuendoes while generally ignoring her many obvious achievements.

Needless to say, there is perhaps more than meets the eye in her dismal satisfaction ratings, and other reasons that we are not privy to, and best left to her rivals detractors and critics to uncover.