Editing Openai/69506a45-4fb4-8000-a3c2-ac90a29b94e3 (section)

==== 3. Then Why Do Elites Still Win? ====

Because constitutions don’t enforce themselves.

Three key problems:

===== 1. No Anti-Dynasty Enabling Law =====

The Constitution intended to block dynasties —
but Congress (run by dynasties) never passed the law.

That’s not a constitutional flaw; that’s elite sabotage.

===== 2. Protective, Not Empowering =====

The Constitution:
* Protects people from abuse
* But does not give them strong collective tools to enforce change

Compare:
* Germany: strong unions embedded in law
* Nordics: institutionalized class compromise

The PH Constitution assumes good faith democracy, which elites exploited.

===== 3. Courts Can Be Conservative =====

Courts often:
* Interpret social justice clauses narrowly
* Prioritize “economic freedom” when cases are ambiguous

So pro-people intent gets diluted legally.