TWO PENNIES WORTH...
OK. I lied. This will be my second political post for the week. Sent to me by a lovely lady named Maryanne Moll. It ain't Shakespeare but I just gotta put this out there to balance out all the anti-administration rhetoric infecting the media and blogosphere. I hope this can possibly put things in perspective for all the misled folks who fell for the opposition's propaganda machine. Nothing like the point of view of an outsider to set things straight.UNITE AND FOLLOW YOUR PRESIDENT
First posted 04:10am (Mla time) Mar 02, 2006
INQ7.net
I HOPE you don't mind -- I am a foreigner (an American).
I understand the frustrations felt by a people who treasure their freedom over the recent events. But those who influence the "masa"[masses] have not acted responsibly in the use of their freedom, as granted within the confines of your Constitution.
The reality is, former president Corazon Aquino and her family are taking revenge against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the government crackdown on Hacienda Luisita, which has ill treated life-long employees there.
Former president Fidel Ramos must protect his flanks from prying eyes investigating the PEA-Amari real estate deal made during his presidency as well as an irrigation project in Northern Luzon.
Former president Joseph Estrada continues to provide needed support to his cronies who want their power returned so he can return to power and avoid the conclusion of his trial on charges of corruption.
The senators know the days of the Senate would be numbered if a parliamentary government is installed, so they are doing all they can to delay the change in government for selfish reasons.
The communists, well, they are communists, so of course they want Arroyo and any other democratically elected officials out of business.
Political losers, all of them, because they will always claim cheating regardless of whatever country they are living in.
Your Big Brother, the United States, is not happy that Arroyo has prudently recognized the need to forge healthy trade and security relations with the next world superpower, China. So perhaps Washington is not sitting innocently by?
The Catholic Church insists on no family planning, just growing poor and hungry illiterate families. Why? You go figure.
The above are the principal problems. How to solve them? The means by which Arroyo has shown her forthright determination through tough management and action is the only way to go. It of course would be easier for her to have patronized and placated all the above who are now so determined be rid of her. But I, for one, cannot admonish a leader who has decided to forgo popularity to wrestle down those elements who profit by the country's and peoples' ills and be done with them once and for all.
The financial markets' positive progress tells the real story, and we who are overseas recognize this reality. The military also appreciates the President's resolute determination, because it strives on the basis of Honor, Service and Country, which she has shown to respect.
You, the media should be ashamed for not taking the lead in putting Country first and your opinions second, for it is not the freedom of speech that is being frustrated, it is the irresponsible use of freedom by you, the media, that eventually destroys the freedoms we have all enjoyed.
For once, stop tearing down that which you build because it (the government) utters the wrong answer to your wants, and build on the basis of the laws that have been passed on by your forefathers and which were designed to provide change in an orderly and time given manner. This is called "an election."
Arroyo has made the hard choices. Don't you wonder why? Certainly not for political gain, as they are all the tough choices for the right reasons and they are not popular.
So again, the solution is ever so simple: Unite and follow your President, for she is willing to make the personal sacrifice so that the Philippines may once again become the Pearl of the Pacific and recognize that with few exceptions, those fighting the President are doing so for totally selfish reasons.
MICHAEL VON LANGE SR. (via e-mail)
posted by carlosceldran @ 10:10 AM
34 Comments:
Mr. Michael Von Lange Sr. is free to have his own opinions but his arguments are not very convincing and I put in doubt his political knowledge of the Philippines.
I heard better arguments why people should support GMA.
For sure we should NOT support her because she is honest or because she didn’t cheat in the last elections or because she is not power hungry or because she is unselfish or because she cares for us….
Come on Carlos, you are too smart to believe in fairy tales. Not many politicians are as idealistic as Mr. Von Lange Sr. wants us to believe.
Yes, we should support her because there is no other credible alternative to her. All the other trapos are worse than GMA. If GMA resigns we are heading for more chaos. At least GMA knows what she is doing, she is a strong leader and resolute.
I am sorry to post this comment anonymously. I hope you understand that in the actual political situation it might be “unhealthy” to say such things. If you know my identity I do hope you will not publish it. Thank you.
It's cool to post anonymously. No worries. I won't publish your identity. I have no idea who you are at all. :o) And as I said, I'm just putting this here to balance out the propaganda. I know it's a fairy tale. But I need to be a pollyanna right now. I walk around a crappy reality everyday and to actually think positively about the government is probably a subconscious survival tactic on my part.
hmm... i'm an american too, born and raised, but i disagree completely. i've relocated here, and, well, hate to disappoint y'all, but i go to the rallies.
you say i've fallen for the opposition's propaganda machine?
i think you've fallen harder for GMA's well-funded, extremely powerful propaganda machine that has been in operation since day 1. as have many others.
so much for the point of view of an outsider, eh?
=P
I think those who support GMA are fully aware of her flaws. We just realize the alternatives are much, much worse. We also hate the erosion of the system and the destruction of what People Power once stood for.
Let me throw back a question to you: when the U.S. Supreme Court decided the 2004 election in Bush's favor, why didn't you stand out in the streets and seek his overthrow - if an unclouded election is so important to a leader's legitimacy?
Sorry, correction: 2000 election. Carry on.
Amen.
Wow, getting advice from a foreigner (overseas, no less) about local matters he does not have a stake in and whose reality does not encompass:
1) GMA’s appointments of political ally Cong. Benjamin Abalos as COMELEC Chairman, then her appointing Virgilio Garciliano and Manuel Barcelona as COMELEC commissioners despite widespread criticisms against the former’s already then notoriety for dagdag-bawas and the latter for being a GMA campaign contributor. This despite the already poor image of the COMELEC prior to the 2004 elections.
2) the issuance of millions of free valid-for-1-year PHILHEALTH cards (to court voters) by misappropriating P530M from the OWWA funds, just prior to the elections thus stopping medical reimbursements to OWWA members (there is a Resolution evidencing the funds transfer).
3) The issuance of EO 464 to effectively prevent gov’t employees from testifying before any investigative body, contrary to the Constitution;
4) Marine officers who have testified on massive vote-buying during the 2004 elections have since been court martialed (for violating EO 464) while those implicated in election anomalies (namely, Gen Gabriel Habacon, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Brig Gen. Nelson Allaga, Gen Arturo Lomibao and Col Nehemias Pajarito have been promoted to SouthCom Commander, Phil. Army Commanding Officer, Marine Commandant, PNP Chief and Brig Gen, respectively)
5) the unauthorized drawing of P1.4B from MVUC funds of the DPWH for campaign billboards and other election paraphernalia (a COMELEC case has been filed against GMA)
6) Of P35B of the recovered Marcos wealth which the National Treasury had as of January 2004, only P5B is left (after only 2 years) amidst reports of disbursements for non-CARP purposes. By law, these Marcos funds can only be used solely for CARP.
7) the lack of an agricultural program to protect locally-produced goods and subsidize local farmers, while at the same time allowing, if not authorizing, the misappropriation of:
a. the P728-million fertilizer fund eventually disbursed to GMA allies;
b. P1.1B from the DA eventually disbursed to GMA allies;
c. P541M of the Marcos wealth for the Natl Irrigation Authority, still unaccounted for as the DA cannot provide an audit;
d. Another P544M of the Marcos wealth for seed assistance, still unaccounted for as the DA cannot provide a list of the beneficiaries.
(There are Release Orders evidencing these fund transfers);
Meanwhile, agricultural lots are turning into subdivisions and farm workers are continuing to migrate to cities thus increasing the need for urban housing and jobs and further importation of agricultural products.
8) The apparent lack of merit (and obvious self-protection) in the appointments of, among others,:
a. Her personal lawyer, Avelino Cruz, as National Defense Sec.;
b. Gen. Eduardo Ermita as Executive Sec;
c. Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane as DPWH Sec.
d. Gen. Leandro Mendoza as DOTC Sec.
e. Gen. Angelo Reyes as DENR Sec, from being DND then DILG Sec.
f. Gen. Thelmo Cunanan as SSS Chairman;
g. former Cebu provincial board member Winston Garcia as GSIS head, who has continued to stay despite charges of mismanagement, abuse of discretion, incompetence and corruption. Cebu is the province where GMA got the highest votes.
h. Election campaign mercenary Ronaldo Puno as DILG Sec.
9) having herself admitted that there exists a “culture of corruption” in this country, there has been no program, let alone, any effort to ensure that laws are strictly and equally enforced. In its yearly Corruption Index, Transparency International ranks the Philippines from 2001-2005 (GMA’s regime) as 66th, 78th, 97th, 102ndth, then 124th, respectively, no. 1 being the least corrupt. We’re clearly going the wrong way.
10) The government’s aggressively pimping Filipinos to work abroad to make sacrifices for their country yet whose conditions are not well looked after by lobbying governments to provide equal protection for them (while spending P208M – and counting - in secret US lobby contracts for “support on Charter Change”, among other things). Why not lobby the Singapore gov’t whose law provides a mere $250 penalty or a 3-month jail time, or both, for Singaporeans who kill a maid? While OFWs remit billions of dollars which, in turn, prop the country’s economy, a vigilant and protective diplomatic corps remains a dream as thousands of OFWs end up exploited and abused or dead;
11) the futility of changing into a parliamentary system of gov’t (to prevent corruption and abuse of power) especially in the light of ongoing massive rallies, impeachment attempts and coup rumours against the alleged corruption and abuse of power by Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the parliamentary gov’t of Thailand). The PM has since called for snap elections.
12) re-assigning DepEd USEC Mike Luz to the DOLE after the former refused to accept P15M of Palace funds for the scholarship program of Cong. Antonio Diaz (which acceptance would have violated DepEd’s auditing and accounting procedures). In effect, he was being punished for refusing to launder the money.
13) Causing the untimely resignations of, among others:
a. CHED Chairman Fr. Rolando de la Rosa who, having set up strict measures to prevent the establishment of diploma mills, withheld a permit for AMA (the computer college) to put up a nursing school since AMA lacked the mandatory requirements. AMA appealed to GMA, and the permit was granted. Which begs the question, why set up a Commission on Higher Education if the Office of the Pres, can decide, on its own, the standards for higher education?
b. Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo by pressuring him to go lightly on GMA allies implicated in the overpricing of the Diosdado Macapagal Ave. and multi-million peso bribes relating to the IMPSA deal;
14) the open investigation re FG’s and Cong. Arroyo’s monthly multi-million peso shares in jueteng activities;
15) open secret multi-million peso pay-offs to congressmen for blocking the impeachment process;
16) $57B of public debt such that a large chunk of gov’t budget is spent servicing debts resulting, in turn, to low credit ratings and sluggish foreign investments due to the fear that soon the country will not be able to pay its debts (a sharp fall in demand for OFW’s or sustained increase in oil prices could make that much sooner).
Another result of debt servicing is the decrease in much needed funds for education, infrastructure and public/social services.
17) the unjustified delay in privatizing NPC which continues to incur huge and grossly disadvantageous debts (about $7B and counting) paid for by taxpayers.
18) Lack of any far-reaching gov’t program as GMA’s programs have really been about providing dole-outs to the poor (giving food, medicine, at best, giving land titles – when her popularity is going down) but these are temporary gains for the people. The strong stock market and strong peso mean absolutely nothing for the common Filipino because these factors have not lowered the prices of basic goods, increased jobs, lowered interest rates on loans nor increased access to basic social services (how many Filipinos can rely on their health insurance to pay for all their hospital and medical bills? How many can go to school? How many can afford decent housing? how many have started to borrow from non-traditional lending sources? How many more are willing to risk abuse as OFWs so long as they don’t starve here?)
Among other things, the wide and increasing popularity of (a) going to Divisoria and other flea markets (to buy cheap and/or pirated goods) and (b) demand for instant noodles, clearly show that the real economy is not affected by stock market or peso gains.
19) the OFW remittances and the imposition of the 12% VAT have been the only real gov’t gains (after 5 years!) as they have fended off a further slowdown of the (already sluggish) economy and further downgrading of our credit rating.
Finally, not to forget:
20) arresting Cong. Crispin Beltran partly on the basis of a 21-year old warrant issued during the Marcos regime (!);
21) raiding a newspaper office for its negative (yet, not illegal) commentaries;
22) warrantless arrests of rallyists;
23) prohibiting all rallies;
24) issuing Proc 1017 just to silence critics ;
25) etc., etc., etc.
To any foreigner feeling high and mighty lecturing Filipinos on the state of Philippine affairs, please mind your own business as you obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Change your citizenship, live here, pay our taxes, then we’ll talk.
To all those scared of replacing GMA (we don’t need a coup, snap elections will do so we can freely decide on a new leader), she still has another 5 useless and damaging years, or more if she and her allies get their way with the Charter amendments.
You want to settle for the status quo but we desperately need and deserve so much better.
mr anonymous
im a filipino but i must say that i agree with michael over you. it is very easy to criticize but solutions were not mentioned in your very loooong and boring reply.
good day
macmac
ahem. there are solutions. there have been solutions since GMA first took office after EDSA 2. We filipinos just have the very bad habit of criticizing and criticizing. without end, not seeing that there is a sincere effort, which, by the way, have been working well until the whole hullaballoo started.
as for those who keep criticizing the government, funny how they never seem to really have solutions, just sweeping generalizations about the state of the country. (case in point, FPJ) also, they might have solutions in mind, but these are completely off-tangent and do not address the problem at all (case in point, the rallyists).
and for the person who listed her 25 faults of the government, let's see you list 25 suggestions to solve them. see, it's easy to keep pointing out flaws when you yourself are not imbued with the responsibility to actually solve it.
and why are you anonymous? at least the foreigner had the decency to say his name AND declare that he's a foreigner.
If anonymous of the long reply and his ilk took half the energy they spend in rallies to actually do something about these irregularities and not just talk about them... maybe we'd be getting somewhere.
I don't deny the need to punish corruption, or the need to punish this President for any proven instances of corruption. But they constantly fail in doing their duty by the book. They can't make a decent case, can't furnish any evidence. Nothing that will stand up in court.
Rallies and shit like that are just panakip-butas. You want real change, opposition people, why don't you form your own political party that can actually change something?
It is so typical of the head in the sand Gloria loyalistas that they would find anonymous’s comment “very looong and boring”. What a hassle to read all that, man.
Since reading 25 excellent reasons to impeach GMA is beyond your feeble attention span let’s concentrate on one.
Why did the president appoint Virgilio Garcillano (a well-known election fraudster) election commissioner?
That should be short enough for you. If you can come up with a good answer I’ll tattoo “Gloria Parin” on my forehead.
However, I think my beauty is safe, since obviously the only reason Gloria would appoint someone like Garcillano is because she intended to cheat. Which she did do and which everyone except for the readers of this blog acknowledges.
Looking forward to reading your responses.
mr anonymous
i cant speak for gloria but personally i really dont give a rats ass whether she cheated or not. reason being, even if she did, an alleged illegitimate gma govt is still eons better than a would be fpj govt. try to remember the erap times and take that as a small glimpse of what it would have been like under fpj. tito sotto as executive secretary is oh so appealing. truth being, im not one to take the bleeding heart way of caring who really won but whether the country is in the the better hands of someone capable of directing us to progress.
at the end of the day, you could probably come up with a million reasons why gma is wrong for us, but i bet you will provide comic relief when i hear your possible remedies to gma.
i would still go ahead with the tatoo "fpj is the king and i really really believe he would have been better than gma"
Anonymous 2: Look, this is the thing you guys still don't understand. We don't support Gloria per se. We're not slavering Gloria fanboys.
We support the continuation of the administration - because this is (whether you like it or not) the legally installed administration (go ahead, disagree with the Supreme Court if you like).
I personally think someone should answer for the shoddy treatment of Juan Miguel Luz - but I think we should prosecute and punish by the book. I actually agree that Gloria probably wanted an inside guy for the job at Comelec, that's why she got Garcillano (has your head exploded from the cognitive dissonance yet?).
But you know what? Despite these problems, she's actually delivering on the promises she made in her campaign (and she'd deliver more if not for the obstructions thrown in her way by troublemakers). She's actually effective as a representative of the Philippines abroad - she gets respect from other heads of state, unlike another former President we could mention. And like it or not, we're stuck with her for another four years. And your alternatives (so far) don't get me excited enough to march to the streets again.
Again, ang problema sa inyo, puro kayo salita at rally. Instead of coming up with an alternative political solution that people can rally behind as a peaceful and progressive alternative to GMA (one that can effectively take charge using Constitutional means? A new political party, for example, that can prepare for takeover in 2010 and effectively focus all this energy you've been wasting on ineffective rallies that only annoy the undecided?
Even by the lukewarm standards of most GMA defenders, those are pretty tepid responses! She must be bubbling over with pride to be able to attract such fanatical loyalty.
Micketymoc – I can see where you are coming from and feel the same in many ways. Still, isn’t “continuation of the rule of law” more important than “continuation of the administration”?
If you are willing to look the other way in the face of flagrant subversion of the democratic process (and this is what having an “inside man” at Comelec means, especially one like Garcillano) because you agree with her middle-class ends, you are leaving the door wide open someone else (whom you may not be so happy with) to do the same thing. Thus the cycle of cheating and corruption that holds this country back will continue.
If it was right to get rid of Erap for his corrupt ways, why isn’t it right to get rid of GMA for hers?
Did I say it was all right to get rid of Erap? I was there at Edsa 2: years later, I realized it had set a horrible precedent. Replacing an impeachment trial with a revolution was a mistake. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Did I say I was willing to look the other way? I want Gloria to be punished for crimes she commits in office - but I don't see why the opposition is totally unable to "fiscalize" these mistakes under the law. Is it because they're just as guilty of these crimes as well?
I will support the opposition as soon as you have an alternative that (a) can replace Gloria without a revolution - preferably using the elections; (b) will have none of the trapos in its ranks; (c) has a clear and credible program for change; (d) makes unpopular decisions and stick by them because they know it's the right thing to do. That's just off the top of my head.
I want the opposition to break the cycle of cheating and corruption, but I hate the way they choose to accomplish this. I'm not even sure if that's what they want to accomplish in the first place! All they want to do is get Gloria out of office; but I haven't heard how doing that is going to break the cycle. Do you have any idea of the next step? Oh do tell!
You're obviously not listening; you're obviously not interested in our answers. Thus you insist that we're such "fanatic believers" bent on defending our "heroine" at all costs. No frickin' way. We're people who are tired of rallies and protests by hypocrites and has-beens longing to relive the glory of a revolution that was (for Coryistas) and that never was (the Reds). Somebody once commented here that the act of rallying to eject Gloria was part of his effort of "nation building". Bull SHIT. Nationbuilding is about building on what you have instead of tearing everything down to build anew.
The "middle class" realize that now, for once in our history. We're sorry if it doesn't agree with your opinion, but calling dissenters "fanatical" and "head in the sand". Whoo. Way to go building a nation, man!
But I didn't call you fanatical. The second sentence of my last comment ironically -- in fact you and others seem the opposite of fanatical, you are most reluctant "supporters" of any cause I have ever seen. And of course I can understand why -- I am not going to claim that there are lots of alternatives because there ain't.
I *am* interested in your answers and hope that we can debate this without any more name calling.
So I'll ignore the heavy sarcasm behind your question “do you have any idea of the next step, oh do tell" and try to answer it.
1. Sack Abalos and the other commissioners, jail them, and try them before the Sandiganbayan.
2. Appoint a new team on the basis of efficiency and impartiality. My choice for chairman would be Chris Monsod, if he would accept the position.
3. Hold new elections with UN observers.
If those elections were judged to be fair by Comelec and the observers *then* I would say let’s support the administration.
Oops. That should have been "The second sentence of my last comment was meant ironically ...
anonymous 2: You have very good ideas; I agree it begins with the Comelec. But here's where I guess our ideas diverge: I don't believe in snap elections. I support the above, if we were able to enforce them in time for the next national-level polls. Like EDSA revolts, snap elections might be good in the short term, but will degrade our democracy over the long run. I say we make our bed with each Presidential election, and lie in it for six years.
I'm not saying we collectively take it in the arse for a whole Presidential term; I wish the opposition could more effectively marshal its powers to oppose administration corruption (easier to say than to do - they must first clean their ranks of the Estradas, Marcoses, and Escuderos) and not stand in the way of positive admininstration developments (today's opposition leaders love to seem "populist" when standing against such unpopular but necessary legislation such as the increased VAT).
All administrations need to make unpopular decisions - that's why I believe we should give each President the full 6 years, save only death, disability, or impeachment.
What? Yoo hoo? Anonymous 2? No reply? It was just getting exciting. Ya. No name calling na for now.
But one thing I do have to say. TEAM TALSIK GMA LOST this battle. The steam is totally gone. And whatever sympathy they had is now gone and you have that gaga Cory to thank for that. It's really over. For now.
Time to recoup. Re strategize. OR better yet. Find something else better to do.
I. Exactly what is decent of a f o r e i g n e r l i v i n g o v e r s e a s who meddles in Philippine domestic affairs by e m a i l i n g his support from thousands of miles away and leaves his full name? What dictionary did you get the definition of “decency”? Or do I have to spell out the irony? Let me further help you: The gov’t has recently:
a) detained a Congressman (no less) by:
1st, basing the arrest on 25-year old warrant under the Marcos regime; then, having learned he already was granted amnesty,
Next, tried to detain him for inciting to sedition; then, having learned he is immune,
Lastly, charged him with rebellion to enable them to detain him further. You might also want to check the meaning of “trumped up charges” while you’re at it.
b) raided a publication solely for its negative (but perfectly legal) reviews
If they can do those things, they can do that to any citizen. Meddling in matters one does not have a stake in is not decent. It is precisely the opposite.
II. Form a political party to “actually change something”? So we can end up living in the Batasan building for fear of being arrested illegally?
III. For those who cannot read between the lines, and those who would rather seek the solutions from a mere citizen rather than their own President, here are the solutions to the few problems I pointed out:
1. She should lift EO464 to allow gov’t officials to testify re gov’t anomalies. (Then again, this is Tantamount to hara-kiri for her)
2. She should not punish whistle-blowers and promote those implicated in criminal activities. (Again, suicidal for her)
3. She should not be allowed to treat public funds as private funds. We are staring face-to-face at a default of our public debt. She’s not spending money wisely, and most often than not, spending it illegally.
4. She should:
a) Provide agricultural programs to subsidize farmworkers and fisherfolk – provide accessible funds for their equipment and material for production, distribution and/or exportation. Giving them land means nothing if they’re not assisted in developing their lands for agricultural production. (But then again, she’s practically depleted the funds for that)
b) Protect local agricultural products (the way the rest of the world is protecting theirs) by not allowing cheap agricultural goods to be dumped into the country
5. Appoint and retain heads of gov’t on the basis of merit and not for self-protection. (3nd hara-kiri opportunity)
6. ensure (and not hamper) that all laws are strictly and equally enforced. The wishy-washy implementation of laws scares foreign investors away – one day their contract is valid, the next day it no longer is; one month they’re taxed, a few months later there’s an additional tax; sometimes they’re charged a fee, other times they’re not. Scary for them
7. End all lobbying contracts that do not have a direct effect on common Filipinos. Begin to lobby other governments (especially where we have a large OFW population) for equal rights and treatment and better working conditions. Ensure that the embassies/consular offices check on the OFWs regularly to determine their conditions (and not just wait for their complaints since some of them are not allowed to leave the work place).
8. Not meddle in matters within another official’s scope of authority when a crony/ally sidetracks legal processes and directly appeals to her. (4th suicide chance)
9. Not change the system of gov’t. Stick with the same which has worked quite effectively elsewhere in the world. It’s the time for economic reforms, not political reforms.
10. Focus on fiscal responsibility. Tighten the budget by:
a) cutting the bureaucracy - significantly reducing the number of gov’t employees. (how many people can go to a gov’t agency and NOT see a gov’t employee just loitering/eating/chatting taxpayer’s funded-time away?). GMA hasn’t done that in 5 years has she? She certainly won’t do it now that her popularity is at risk.
b) stop pork barrel funds (major hara-kiri event, as she needs support for anything, especially a looming 2nd impeachment complaint)
c) wisely selling/privatizing gov’t assets/GOCCs in clean bidding processes. I already mentioned NPC. To date, the gov’t “owns” Channels 4, 9, and 13. Does any gov’t need 3 tv channels, let alone a gov’t that needs funds badly? (I said wisely because in the privatization of PETRON, the gov’t then lost any leverage in oil price hikes; in privatizing the water supply – people got expensive, unclean and unreliable water supply of water. Some basic social services should remain public – like electricity, water, health, education, in order to ensure that they don’t become profit-driven services).
11. Scrap major disbursements to dole-out rice/instant noodles/medicines to the poor (aimed mainly to improve her image) and at the same time,
a) Immediately lower the prices of prime goods – the peso is on a 3.5-year high. Manufacturers/Producers have said that the cost of goods are high because the cost of importing raw materials was high. The dollar has gone down to the level it was 3.5 years ago, why haven’t the prices of relevant goods gone down accordingly?
b) Don’t give people fish, teach them how to fish. Provide free training to citizens in fields where we can attract foreign investors (we may not be able to compete with China’s low wages but we can attract investors with highly skilled laborers. There are enough gov’t officers out there who can train and enough gov’t offices as venues).
c) Increase access to cheap medicine by broadening their distribution beyond gov’t hospitals. Private pharmacies and hospitals should be allowed access to be able to sell the cheap medicine.
12. Let FG and Cong Arroyo make donations to fund gov’t programs. They have enough jueteng money for the purpose and they’ll come out as heroes. Nobody has to make any mention that they’re jueteng profits.
13. Improve tax collection instead of imposing additional taxes. She didn’t do this before imposing the additional 2% VAT, I can hardly expect she’ll do this now she needs all the support she can get.
I had hoped someone would point out GMA’s programs as counter-arguments. But because there are none (at least, none that are defendable), it is just the status quo that’s being defended really. Let me tell you what exactly you’re defending:
a) massive spending (mostly illegally) that doesn’t help the country but merely ensures GMA’s stay in power (by courting favor from the poor, politicians, the military). I can hardly believe people defending a cheat, but a thief of hard-earned taxpayers’ funds … I’m at a loss for words.
b) unsustainable public debt which has put us on the brink of default. Such that additional revenues raised would not necessarily provide enough funds for gov’t programs (like education and infrastructure) as a large bulk would more likely be used for debt servicing to avoid default.
c) a new round of taxes (to raise funds to lower the debt and raise our credit ratings). Whoopee.
d) Lack of any long-term program to improve the economy (aside from raising taxes).
e) censure or imprisonment for anyone who merely disagrees with the gov’t (no gov’t is infallible, it must allow criticism to at least learn from its mistakes. So far, GMA has been nothing but arrogant.)
Forget the opposition and their motives. I’m disappointed with them myself. Look at the economy. If we’re really getting better, why did surveys say we just had the bleakest Christmas ever? Are there more than 1% of the population who benefit from stack market gains? A strong peso is not great news for exporters and OFWs; and prices of basic commodities, that should be determined by the peso exchange, have not gone down – so who exactly is benefiting from the peso’s strength?
The status quo is not worth defending. Don’t put down all who oppose GMA. A good many have no ulterior motive other than protecting the Filipinos’ welfare. Instead of waiting for someone, let’s look for him/her and push him/her to challenge GMA who’s already wasted 5 years (almost 1 presidential term). She needs to go.
Oh man. That was a long one. I wish I cared.
She did not waste five years. Things could have been faster if not for all the trouble the anti gma forces caused.
Without wanting to seem too much like the caped crusader revealing himself in the final scene, I'll drop the anonymous bit. Micketymoc and I already know each other in a cyber sort of way.
Sorry for the lack of a reply -- I had a dinner last night. Actually I don't have a response to Micketymoc. He has a point of view that he has expressed clearly and logically. It's not one I hold, but it's valid. Actually I hope that he is correct, since I agree with Carlos that it doesn't look as though Gloria will be departing any time soon.
Anonymous 2 signing off.
Torn! Gasp! Is it really... really you? :o) Howdy!
Gasp also! *eyes fall out of head* Was it really Torn & Frayed vs. Micketymoc!
It's like Godzilla vs. Mothra. Or Sarimanok vs. Ibong Adarna. Cherie Gil vs. Sharon Cuneta.
All of the sudden this thread has become epic.
Ain't it? I'm so honored.
I like the idea of being Sharon Cuneta to torn's Cherie Gil. Except that Cherie Gil gets the best lines...
"...second-rate, trying-hard... COPYCAT!" (splash!)
...But since this is the T.O.D.A.S. universe (or resembles it uncannily), Sharon gets to pick up huge-ass goblet-shaped fishbowl and dumps its contents on Cherie. (Extra points to those who saw that episode.) :-)
Ha, ha.
After seeing Sharon shovelling greasy food into her chubby face in her latest cinema ad I'd be delighted to play Cherie Gil.
Btw micketymoc, I liked your passion of christ video, but couldn't help thinking about the contrast between that and the Danish cartoons. Although neither of us is big on the Christian tradition, at least most Christians can take a joke.
Christians: will tut-tut, shake their heads, and say they'll pray for you. (Heard that a million times.)
Atheists: won't give a shit.
You-know-whats: will riot over cartoons. Or so I thought till I read this article - I so dig her outlook, and her smile ain't half bad either. ;-)
By gosh, this blog is more exciting than South Park ! Let me share my point as a foreigner merchant princess with a pinoy heart. My family, friends, business partners, and I have spent many years investing billions in your country as foreigners. We all have had to pay the highest rents, salaries,visa's, etc. We have suffered sooooo much frustration and lost alot of money because of the insanely bad business habits of your country. It's practically a gangster's paradise that uses Christ's name in vain. All I can tell you now is that it is either Gloria or communism. And until Gloria all whips your lazy, chismis-crazy asses into shape, I refuse to do business with a bunch of crooks ! If you know the problems, then empower yourself to fix it intelligently without the use of violence in any form. She is not Superwoman you know ?! As for now, China rocks !!! Money talks and bullshit walks, it's that simple darlin's !
China's a gangster's paradise, too, darlin'! Do you think you'll find fewer crooks there?
Honey, nothing you've said is nothing we don't already know. But remember (and I think because we're so hospitable to foreigners that they often forget this, and we've been hurt quite often because of that): you're a guest here, and there's nothing that irritates or offends many Filipinos more than a guest who thinks its her place to lecture us in public on something we already know. You cross a line.
And at that point, you overstay your welcome and we no longer care whether you have ten pesos invested or ten billion or employ one maid or one million. We'd rather see you pack your bags than stay any longer. Just a piece of advice, sweetheart.
"lazy, chismis-crazy asses into shape, I refuse to do business with a bunch of crooks."
I have to say. Good thing you didn't leave your name. You meant well. But really, your comment was offensive.
to people who criticize mr. Lange----
why cant you people just make posts that will voice out your views about the current political status of our country not constantly criticize an american na may pakialam sa pilipinas..
kaya hindi umuunlad ang mga pinas kasi sa mga taong mapanuri.. bakit kasi muna gumawa kayo ng mabuti sa bansa tapos saka kayo mag criticize..
Korek.
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