Comments on: The Precariousness of Hope

By: Ding G. Gagelonia

Ding G. Gagelonia — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:13:51 +0000

I pay my taxes. Does the government not owe me a measure of peace of mind that my money will not be lost in some syndicated scam operated within a Department? To many, in fact, happiness is directly proportionate to one’s equanimity about things. But ‘unmoderated’ greed in public service – that’s something I cannot swallow and just keep quiet about. My own kid’s future is at stake here, noh?

By: leytenian

leytenian — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:09:15 +0000

“nobody, owes you happiness and no one, but no one, has a duty to make you “happy”.”

Very true for an individual’s point of view. I can relate to that in fairness to Bencard.

Collectively as a society, democracy do not make people happy but happy people make democracies. But democracy alone is not the greatest source to society’s happiness. Economic growth has a more direct affect to national happiness. It encourages the feeling of trust between people and the government, and trust is essential to democracy. Economic Growth precedes democratic reform.

By: sparks

sparks — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:52:09 +0000

@blackshama,

I’ve come down from my ivory tower lately and joined an NGO (although I still have one graduate class). Depending on the ups and downs of what I see every day, I’m sorely tempted to go back up the tower.

The view from below is much, much, much dirtier than I’d imagined.

By: blackshama

blackshama — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:48:48 +0000

Be a teacher! And make the change that counts! It’s not like what Barack Obama did in winning the White House, but one child at a time.

By: arthur

arthur — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:32:50 +0000

Bencard can live perfectly happy in a Marianas atoll for all he cares.

The concept of interconnectedness is alien to him.

Mankind to him is made up of dispersed autonomous individuals each fighting and jostling for resources and elbow room.

Well i have news for you Bencard. Such viewpoint is slowly but surely becoming extinct. The financial turmoil in the US affects other economies of the world. Trade globalization dictates that we must look out for one another because the destruction on one part sends ripple effect on the other.

Your happiness is my happiness. One can never really be happy unless everyone is happy.

Or you can just barricade yourself in your New York apartment Bencard and watch the world self-destruct – if it adapts your viewpoint – from your plasma TV.

By: sparks

sparks — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:56:50 +0000

Anuman ang maging kapalaran, huwag ka nang umasa pa sa pamahalaan.

Balik na naman tayo sa kahulugan ng pulitika at ang tungkulin natin bilang mamamayan.

Hindi ba lahat tayo umaasa sa pamahalaan? Na may tubig na tutulo sa gripo, na may kuryente, na may daanan ang mga motorista, na may ani ng palay, na may kaayusan sa lansangan.

“Governance” ang produkto ng “Government.” Sawa na ko’ng bulok ang binibili ng buwis ko.

nobody, owes you happiness and no one, but no one, has a duty to make you “happy”.

Huh?

Thanks Ding. :)

By: Ding G. Gagelonia

Ding G. Gagelonia — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:59:48 +0000

You embody the hopes of our teeming millions and the corrupt government of the day and the cancer eating up our society’s innards will be no match to our greater resiliency as a people. Manalig ka kapatid, manalig ka.

By: jcc

jcc — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:43:06 +0000

“When majority are sufferings , it will affect the other non-dependent individuals. Life is not about getting stuck within ourselves. Life is also about giving. Nothing else”.

Typically Leytenian, feisty and spirited. :)

By: leytenian

leytenian — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:24:30 +0000

Of course, an individual should not rely nor dependent on anyone for basic needs and daily maintenance but individual growth depends on economic development ( opportunities and employment) Economic development is the key job description of a public servant/ officer. Public servant are held accountable to people’s quality of life. In Finance, public officials are held “totally accountable” for their management and disposal of money and assets in people’s behalf. Today we need to demand more of their accountability plus performance report. When majority are sufferings , it will affect the other non-dependent individuals. Life is not about getting stuck within ourselves. Life is also about giving. Nothing else.

Unless , you want to be a member of Bencardian. :)

By: jcc

jcc — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:32:41 +0000

caffeine_sparks;

Welcome to the club but keep punching !

I have a similar observation in my book:

“The grievous treason and subversion committed against the motherland was perpetrated not by the murderous thugs and misguided elements of our society, but by the very people in the corridors of power, who paradoxically, were sworn to uphold the law and be the zealot guardians of its citadel.

“The termites of our society were having a field day”.

But you are still young to have noticed, and paradoxically, those who do not are in “bliss”.

Keep fighting and don’t be disappointed. Pandora might have unleashed those plagues , greed and misfortunes throughout the land, but in her fright, she has instantaneously sealed the box and in it, remains “Hope”.

To maintain our sanity, we should keep looking inside the box and not outside the box. :)