Lucid voters

By James Jimenez

IF you’ve spent any time at all on social media in the last two years, then you will know that the word “woke” is extremely damaged. In the beginning, “woke” simply described a person who had awakened from the sleep of the socially oblivious – someone who had become aware of the social inequities around them. And that was a good word to describe them. Unfortunately, with repeated misappropriation and constant use in arguments reductio ad absurdum, the word “woke” has now come to refer to a person ridiculously sensitive to offense, whether real or imagined. And since, I am not inclined to die on any linguistic hill, I will accept thar “woke” no longer means what it used to.

However, the idea of a person can be awakened from social obliviousness is still, for me, an attractive concept – one that I am not ready to give up on. I am simply going to find another word for it. Let’s try “lucid.”

A lucid person

Lucid means clear-headed, which amply describes someone who is able to see through the fog of normalized social injustice and systemic unfairness. “Lucid” captures the essence of someone who has moved from a state of ignorance or unawareness, to one of awareness, understanding, and engagement.

In usage, a “lucid person” would be a clear-headed person, but it could also be someone who has experienced a moment of realization or enlightenment regarding social, political, or cultural issues — someone who was once unaware or indifferent but has now become conscious, attentive, and engaged with the world around them.

A lucid voter

Taking off from that, a lucid voter is one who takes an active interest in civic life and the governance of their community, their city, and their country writ large. This type of voter embodies, to my mind, certain defining characteristics that the current political environment seems to have in short supply.

A lucid voter is informed. They go out of their way to understand the issues, policies, and candidates that shape their society. A lucid voter can understand why Members of the House of Representatives need to interpellate budget proponents, just as clearly as they understand what’s going on with Philhealth. Lucidity in a voter means they go beyond just reading and reacting to the headlines. Instead, they seek out multiple sources, examine the issues from various angles, and critically evaluate the narrative they are being presented with. In this way, they are able to make voting decisions based on facts rather that emotions arising from partisan loyalty.

Active participation or engagement is another defining characteristic of a lucid voter. Lucid voters are not content to simply wait around until the day they have to cast their voter; nor do they forget about politics and governance as soon as they slip the ballot into the counting machines. Lucid voters have an active civic life beyond simply making noise on social media, and they support the democratic process in various tangible ways, including volunteering for campaigns, attending political rallies, or becoming a part of local advocacy groups. For the lucid voter, actually voting is just one of the many ways to contribute to the community’s political and social fabric.

Discernment and resilience

A lucid voter is discerning, and not an easy target for misinformation and disinformation. They may falter from time to time, but they generally do not take information at face value and are healthily skeptical of sensationalism, propaganda, and hero-worship. They are vigilant about the sources they trust and make an effort to verify facts before forming an opinion They take responsibility for the information they share and don’t hide behind the delusional excuse of “I’m just telling you what I heard/read/saw/was told.”

Much as I have come to detest this word – people in power tend to abuse it when they want to make you feel better about suffering a calamity that they could have prevented but didn’t – I have to say that lucid voters are also resilient. They absorb the difficulties inherent in democracy and remain true to democracy’s principles nonetheless. Long lines at polling places annoy them, but are not enough to make them give up their right to vote; seeing corrupt politicians win elections again and again does not discourage from voting – the resilience of their commitment being rooted in a deep and abiding belief in the sovereignty of the people.

Principled and pro-active

Lucid voters are principled, holding firmly to a set of core values that guide their political choices. They vote in alignment with these principles and support candidates who mirror them. And yet, they are also pragmatic, recognizing that compromise and negotiation are inescapable facets of political life.

And finally, lucid voters are pro-active. They actively seek change, rather than sitting around with an open mouth waiting for the guava to fall. This stems from their belief in their own power and their understanding that their voice truly matters. ‘

As we rush headlong into the elections of 2025, and as the cacophony of voices trying to convince us to vote for them continues to grow, the question becomes – are you a lucid voter? Or are you still blissfully oblivious?