Life After the Downfall

After the Marcoses fell, after Ninoy so valiantly sacrificed his own life, what has become of the Philippines?

Tough question eh?

To this day, the country still bears the Marcos baggage.




How can I be proud of a government that counts people as its biggest export?

A Deep Divide

In reading Jessica Zafra’s blog entry “A Condensed History of the Rich”, Zafra contends that the oligarchic tendency of the Philippine social structure as well as its penchant for bossism and nepotism ultimately contribute to the cycle of poverty. The end result is a wide and deep income inequality. That is to say, that those at the top earn disproportionately more compared to those at the bottom of the economic barrel. This inequality cycles itself therefore not allowing the country to prosper as a whole.

Got that?

This can certainly be seen in the case of many industrialized nations. For instance, look at the United States. A strong middle class brought about by the industrial revolution allowed the country to prosper. But this was not always the case. So-called robber barons of the late 1800’s dominated America’s industries. Then the income tax came about. The progressive income tax is seen as a leveler of inequality. Tax the rich more than the poor. After all, they can afford. Furthermore taxes such as the Inheritance or Estate Tax ensured that family wealth would not stay “in the family” for generations to come. In this way oligarchies were broken. New entrepreneurs were encouraged and the country benefited as a whole.

If income inequality is the root of the problem, then government has the power to fix it through a progressive income tax rather than the regressive consumption tax known as the VAT. It is unconscionable that the Philippine government tax the poor at the same rate as the rich.

How is this possible you ask?

Let’s say there is 1 peso a tax on sardines. Since the poor would essentially consume the same number of cans of sardines as the rich (theoretically), then the same tax rate of 1 peso per can of sardines would apply to both of them. Proportionately, the 1 peso tax would hurt the poor man more since…well…he’s poor.

Then why oh why is GMA proclaiming that the RP will be a first world nation within a generation? It’s an estimate that is premature and certainly unrealistic given the current situation. The GDP did grow 7 percent, yet most of the gains were garnered by the rich and the poor felt little. Trickle down economics has not worked. A lot of work needs to be done before anyone can proclaim the Philippines as first world. Open your eyes and see the poor in Baseco, Tondo, Payatas, and a myriad of other “informal settlements”. Look at those living beside the antiquated railway.

It’s time for a revolution. The patchwork solutions of former administrations have not worked. Wake up and smell the stench from the Pasig River running right through your backyard.

My Thoughts On Erap

To those of you who judge Estrada as just some petty politician who is out only for himself, I say "Don't judge a book by its cover." I have been lucky enough to have met the former President and can only judge him to be a well-meaning, sincere, and charming man. There's been a lot of ugly things written about him, and I hope that people look real hard at themselves and the other politicians who are guilty of the same sins.

Consider the fact that his former best friend, the admitted "jueteng lord", is now hailed as a national hero. Now that is perverse! His old enemies have now become allies, while allies have turned to enemies.Politics does indeed make for strange bedfellows.

I can't even imagine how his family feels right now.

After all the politicking is over, I will still remember the jovial man whom I met years ago when I was still a boy living in San Juan. That memory of Erap will be the one I hearken to whenever someone calls him a monster. I can only wish him the best.

Happy 4th.

So it's another Fourth of July. It's a day when we as Americans celebrate the founding of our country. The mightiest, greatest, most powerful nation to date. Well,... someone had to replace Rome. They don't call us a Superpower for nothin'. Eh?

I think we as Americans are misjudged by other countries. My old Civics Professor, Dr. Preston, had us write an essay entitled "What is an American?" That just stumped me. Is an American the typical stereotype of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant? Well, not anymore. There are no distinct physical features of what constitutes an American. Simply go to New York, Chicago, LA, San Francisco and even the farthest reaches of the country and you will find Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans etc.--by definition ALL are Americans.

In the end I wrote about the ideals of being an American which are espoused in our Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

I don't think any other country in the world guarantees the pursuit of happiness. They even mention it twice in the same paragraph. Since it is guaranteed, I encourage everyone to actively pursue his own happiness...well, What are you waiting for? Men died so you can pursue it! GO!

I'll leave y'all with an anecdote from a very old,wise Black man. (I think it was Richard Pryor...It could have been Uncle Ben...)

He once said, "There's No other country in the World where a poor Black Boy can grow up and become a Rich, White Man...

and that boy was Michael Jackson."

God Bless America.

Serenity Now

I haven't been very productive when my school work lately. Frankly, I'm not really into kids and busy work concerning the little brats is just not my cup of tea. I'm taking a course which the University requires in order to graduate so that we can be "well-rounded." I think it's just so they can suck more money out of us. The class is called Early Childhood Literacy and it requires one to review children's literature. You guessed it...Mother Goose and Jack and Jill, CS Lewis and JK Rowling. I do admit that the illustrations are awesome...but children's books are just not for me. I'd rather read Dostoevsky (which puts me to sleep). I need a place to work that'll make me concentrate on school. So tomorrow, I'm off to the library. Nothing keeps me on track with scholarly work than the library, where you are FORCED to be quiet.

On an unrelated note, I joined twitter and I love it. I learned about it, surprisingly enough, through CNN who keep track Fred Thompson's whereabouts through twitter (apparently he's in London smoking a cigar). For those of you who think you've seen him before...you might have...on a show called Law and Order. Pretty cool for a Republican. When will Hillary get her twitter account eh? or at least a TV show...

Your Tax Pesos At Work

What does Ruffa Guttierez Bektas have in common with a TRAPO (Traditional Politician)?

1. They're both money hungry

2. They're both attention Whores.

3. They waste your tax money.

4. Did I mention money hungry?

Well. Apparently Ruffa has some pull and got three PNP officers to guard her and her bling blinged-out Mom Annabelle. I would be outraged if I was paying taxes in the Philippines. Ruffa's not even a government official, jueteng witness, not even a Metro Aide! Now does this mean that the government will provide protection for ALL battered women who feel threatened? Now...Why didn't Plinky Recto get the same protection against her husband?!?!

Bah! Whatever happened to restraint? Whatever happened to keeping family problems within the family? This could have been handled in a much more dignified manner. I'm not absolving Yilmas at all. Spousal Abuse is WRONG! I think Ruffa knew what she was getting into. She shouldn't have chosen the gilded cage. Always remember people...YOU are responsible for your own actions.

PS. Dolly Anne is just doing her job. She's a gossip monger and she's doing what she does best. It's not personal. It's business...Ciao!

Politics

After watching the very recent Republican debate for the Party nomination, I can't help but contrast the candidates between the candidates of both parties. shouldn't the nominees be a reflection of America as a whole with diverse candidates? I think so. You decide which political party is a TRUE reflection of America:
(I'll just list the candidates who DO stand a chance of winning.)

the Republicans:

Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of the City of New York. "America's Mayor"


John McCain, Senator from the Great State of Arizona. Served in Vietnam War and was captured and tortured. ( He can't use his right hand due to the burns)



Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts. A Mormon. He used to be a Liberal, but is now a Conservative. Massachusetts is the ONLY State in the US that allows Gay Marriage. Yet, he claims he had nothing to do with it.


the Democrats:

John Edwards, former Senator of North Carolina. Former Attorney, and Hot Daddy, millionaire


Barak Obama, Senator Of Illinois, Mother was White and Father was Black. Law Degree from Harvard. Former Editor Harvard Law Review


Hillary Clinton, former First Lady, Senator of New York, more chica than Laura Bush can ever be...

There you have it. The Republicans have 3 White men. While the Democrats have an African American, A Woman, and a White man...hmmmm...which party is a better reflection of the diversity of America....Haller?!?!

P.S. Lookie Lookie! Marc Jacobs for Hillary! You know who I'm voting for...