Do our leaders expect too much entitlement? Are we (the people) expecting too much? Here’s Mikey Arroyo talking about the expectation the President shouldn’t eat at McDonald’s via Joey Alarilla:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng7spMHEolE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
I actually understand where Arroyo is coming from. I recognize that train of thought from many business leaders I’ve met in my young life. I’ve lived the lifestyle they’re living. I’ve spent a life having a limousine waiting for me at the airport coming in to take me to my hotel when I could easily take the bus or ride the train. I recognize the comfort and ease of mind that money brings, but there is nothing wrong with eating at McDonald’s or KFC or Jollibee. I do it whether I’m in the Philippines or not. I did it when I was without money and I do it with money. I know lots of rich people who do eat at McDonald’s. I also know a lot of rich people walking around in in shorts and tattered shirt, without anyone knowing you’re a multimillionaire. They can walk around in that garb in a hotel and have a meal and still have a platinum credit card. And no, I’m not pulling your leg.
I personally respect those who are low-key, better than the flashy ones.
What if it is the age old tactic of deceit? This whole acting l33t; acting you can afford multimillion peso meals. Deception is an Instrument of War. Business and Politics are analogous to warfare. Make your enemy think you are close to your goal, even if you aren’t? Is it a feint to make it appear you are far from your goal that you actually are close to it?
Is there a difference between a local diner and McDonald’s? Obama was in the news for his choice of mustard. Leader of the Free World eating at a local diner and his choice of mustard was questioned:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm4cYRGANL4[/youtube]
Go figure, you know?
Going back to the Arroyos. We can’t expect everyone to be low-key. The Arroyos are just being true to themselves. The Arroyos have entitlement wrap around them. They expect a lot from people. They expect people to serve them, but couldn’t wrap their minds on the idea that they serve us. They wield power arrogantly, when power and wealth ought to be wielded gracefully. While it is true that different strokes work for different people, the Arroyo family have Napoleon complex on their DNA.
Personally, I don’t care if Arroyo or her ilk spend their day eating in fine china or ordering from McDonalds. This is what I do care about: they should do their job. And the Arroyo Family, being mostly in politics, serve our interest. They are on our clock. When they wallow in wealth and do a poor job at working the nation’s business, there’s something to be said about that. If Mrs. Arroyo or her ilk took time to read and be reasonable, they would know why the nation is divided and why at a lot of our people hate what they do. That said: I expect the Arroyos to care only for themselves and their ilk; tough luck for the hand that feeds them. That makes the Arroyo not really l33t.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Glad to see you’re coming around.
I totally agree.
hi cocoy, thanks for linking to my blog post.
cheers!
thank you for pointing out your youtube post. cheers!
I once had a limo waiting for me at JFK. There’s a blonde model in the backseat just for me and champagne from a pull-out drawer. The first thing I did was call my mother and tell her I miss her and four hours later, I was eating at McDonald’s Times Square. Hm.
pardon my ignorance but what is “l33t”?
grabe ka naman, google mo.
ok fine. na-google ko na.
l33t is pronounced “elite”.
l33t is one of those little tricks where the computer-savvy elites tell the less-savvy who the computer-savvy elites are.
i realized that thanks to brianb.
“Do our leaders expect too much entitlement? YES and it is morally wrong.
Government spending cannot be a private affair . By definition government spending means government ownership or control and
therefore, eliminates any involvement with the concept of “private”. A private affair by definition cannot be incorporated as government spending. In other words, government spending is a government affair, private spending is a private affair. If government becomes involved in a private affair, the private affair ceases to be private.
“Are we (the people) expecting too much?”
our expectation is standard and normal. it is reasonable.
*nods*
It is not the right or wrong of a fine meal, it is the context, the apparent lack of compassion and total absence of dignity of 30 people tromping about the planet and living high while their work at home is fraught with failures and wrong-headedness.
Joe
indeed.
I agree with most of your post, but I think one thing we are missing here is the sad fact that 1 million PHP is only worth an expensive dinner for 30 people. I think the President’s actions during that trip clearly shows that she was not sensitive to this issue, and its very disappointing (didnt she study economics or something?). I dont even know what the that trip was supposed to be all about? But you know what would shut me up? one power point slide with this data:
Trip to US acheivements: xxxxxx
Trip to US expenses: xxxxxxxx
Thats it.. show me that info and we can end this issue. :) This is what my company asks of me when I go to any business trip, would it be unreasonable to ask the president the same thing?
Nemoy,
The PCIJ had a post on Gloria Arroyo’s travel dated Jun 2, 2008:
To put the PCIJ post in proper context, the Philippines received Net Foreign Direct Investment of U$2.93 Billion dollars in 2007.
FACTS:
1. FDI has been on a decline since late 1990s.
2. Business Trends Asia says Philippine FDI declined 79.2% (June 2009)
When I become president all I’ll ever eat is Texas steak and barbecue ribs. Every day, plus a bucket of KFC before I sleep. None of that healthy living, eat-your-veggies bullshit. When I become president I’ll drink beer with every meal (imported ha! Heineken or Amstel) and will not wash my hands after the meal but read with greasy hands and barbecue sauce all over official documents. When I become president I will not have to worry about bad breath after eating spicy food. When I become president, I will ask that soup be pinakbet instead of those damned tomato or mushroom soups they serve in fashionable restaurants. When I become president, I will demand that lechon skin be my exclusive property, not to anybody else’ tasting. I will also ask that fashionable restaurants stop monopolizing chicken skin, which is my favorite beer food (now they’ve run out in local beerhouses because fancy places have been ordering them chicken skins). When I become president I will go eat at steak houses instead of pasta places and other “interesting” places for dates. Outback all the time, babe. When I become president I will reserve the right to call Wagyu steak just a fat sonofabitch cow with a taste for high-maintenance lifestyle. When I become president.
You’re just a trying hard wannabe copy cat! hehehe.
told ya so. :)
dudes, the protectionist policies embedded by the landlord classes in the constitution is a factor that foreign investors have been pointing out – but pinoys expect different results using the same rent capture pro-landlord protectionist constitution.
but people would rather rally against con ass and charter change when they should really be changing it. niluluto na sa sariling mantika, oblivious pa rin :)
BongV,
1. i agree with you to a point. the constitution is too wordy.
2. i disagree that changing it via con ass right now is the right thing to do. there are many ways to improve our country, without resorting to charter change. These things we can do without changing a single line in our constitution:
2.A. The Global Competitive Index specifically said that our labor laws are too constricting.
2.B. Electricity is too expensive.
2.C. Our Private Sector is unconvinced that to invest in the Philippines is the right thing to do.
2.D. Our BPO sector isn’t huge enough to keep GDP growing the way it is.
2.E. Graft and Corruption is so prevalent that it doesn’t just involve the top. It goes down to our local government.
2.F. Our Justice system is so screwed up that to go to court is almost a lose-lose proposition. When I say justice system, i mean from the police to the courts to our jail. and in some cases our laws.
2.G. Our Government is so constricted financially that it is taxing too high. So high in fact, that it is almost mafia in its pursuit of funds. We need a Balanced Budget, stat. Maybe it is time to triage our social services. The government should be involved only in activities that make the biggest impact.
3. don’t get me wrong: i am not adverse to having a constitutional convention and let them work on the charter for as long as it takes.
4. our leaders need to get serious for our people to take them seriously. It is cliche: we really do need national unity. that will only come if our leadership is inclusive of everyone. we need all hands on deck and yet people pursue our differences rather than our similarities.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg. HK and the Philippines protectionsim were compared – http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_n2_v26/ai_15473461/pg_4/
“Every big foreign investment project,” says Soliven, “is slandered as ‘a scam’ or labeled ‘imperialist exploitation,’ and thus those two cabals of conspiracy, the Old Rich and the nouveau riche, manage to fight off and repel ‘the enemy.’” Filipino First, says Soliven, should really be called “Filipino Last and Always.”
“The reason the 40-percent limit is so debilitating is that as long as votes in a company are pegged to the owner’s share, no foreign investor will have control over his money. This is particularly distressing in a developing country such as the Philippines, where the economic climate is uncertain and the risks are already high. Foreigners are unlikely to invest millions of dollars if they don’t have a say over how the money will be spent.”
“”If I had to name one thing that has hurt the Philippines more than anything else, it’s this 40-percent limit,” says Peter Wallace, an international business consultant and economist who has lived in Manila for many years. “We had a similar problem in Australia years ago–we were resource rich but cash poor. Much of Australia’s development came about because it opened the door to those who had the money to develop, especially in the mining industry.” In testimony before the Philippine Congress, Wallace pointed out that if the Philippines followed Australia’s lead, the country’s abundant resources would finally start paying some dividends.
The development of natural resources is hardly the only area of the Philippines’ economy affected by the lack of foreign capital. The nation’s infrastructure, for example, remains one of the worst in Asia. President Ramos has recently eased the ongoing power shortage that just last summer was responsible for blackouts of 10 to 12 hours a day. But the shortage never would have occurred had the country opened energy development to foreigners. “Making yourself open to foreign investment does much more than bring in money,” says Wallace. “It brings in badly needed technology. It grows your exports. It creates jobs, and it generally also develops a host of industries that pop up to serve the new investors.”
The Philippines’ nationalism has, in fact, managed to strangle every aspect of economic development. Foreign goods remain a luxury that only the protected rich can hope to afford. Recently Philippine Sen. Blas Ople pointed to a study by the government’s own assistant secretary for trade documenting that no less than 167 signatures were necessary to release an imported car from the Bureau of Customs. Ople had a field day when the customs commissioner proudly announced he had greatly reduced the number of necessary signatures: to 50.
The regulatory choke hold is also responsible for a phone system so abysmal that it is an international embarrassment. In a November 1992 visit to Manila, Singapore’s senior minister, Lee Kuan Yew, publicly spoke out against the Philippine telephone company as “an example of a powerful vested interest … which has had a monopoly for 64 years.” He also cited a standing joke that “98 percent of Filipinos are waiting for a phone and the other 2 percent are waiting for a dial tone.” In fact, fewer than 2 out of 100 Filipinos have phones in this nation of 61 million people, and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company controls more than 90 percent of the existing 600,000 lines. Their monopoly has been helped along by Supreme Court decisions that shut Eastern Telecommunications out of the market and awarded a contract to PLDT even though its foreign-backed competitor had outbid it by a factor of six.
Comparing the Philippines’ phone system to Hong Kong’s actually provides a thumbnail sketch of how two economic systems produce hugely different results. While the Philippines stagnates with one of the worst phone systems in the world, Hong Kong boasts one of the best: fully digitalized with about 63 phones per 100 population, about double the number of another East Asian powerhouse, South Korea. It is so easy to get a phone in Hong Kong that almost all the colony’s shops have a phone sitting out front that customers can use free. And with new developments in related technology (such as cellular phones) now becoming popular, the government reviewed its telecommunications policy and decided to open up additional networks to increase competition.”
Yup, but Pinoys don’t wanna do anything about it either – they just wanna complain that it is high. Then they expect prices will be lower using antiquated electric distribution systems – they gotta be kidding. You either invest or you don’t get the efficiencies – can’t have the cake and eat it too.
That’s entirely the point of bringing in FDI. The foreign private sector, due to its technology /R&D/markets – see something advantageous that the locals don’t see. However, the protectionist provisions are stumbling blocks as foreign investor are averse of risk – specificlally hand away majority control of their idea/processes/brand to the local joint venture partner.
That’s entirely the point of bringing in FDI. The foreign private sector, due to its technology /R&D/markets – see something advantageous that the locals don’t see. However, the protectionist provisions are stumbling blocks as foreign investor are averse of risk – specifically hand away majority control of their idea/processes/brand to the local joint venture partner. BPO can only grow so much in the Philippines.
It’s not just the BOP sector that’s needed to grow the GDP – it’s ALL SECTORS. Open up the economy – get more players involved.
Yup. No contest. Look at the bigger picture – corruption is all over – because people put up with it. For short – even the people are corrupt!
Yup. No contest. Look at the bigger picture – corruption is all over – because people put up with it. For short – even the people are corrupt!
Taxes are high because corruption is high. Taxes have to be increased in order to make up for the amounts that are being lost due to pilferage. But hey, people put up with it – and they pay the price in terms of higher taxes – mga oblivious kasi.
BongV,
PLDT is a villain, for sure, exporting about 8 billion pesos to the UK last year and milking the Philippines for every centavo it can scrape up. I laughed through tears when I saw a front page article about some do-gooder effort of PLDT employees aimed at education or health of Filipinos, or somesuch. The employees should look “upstairs” and correct the PLDT Board’s policies. They could get done in 10 minutes what would otherwise take them a century to do, “on the ground”.
Regarding FDI, my brain recently pulled up “Hawaii” as a comparison for the Philippines. Native Hawaiians have plenty of jobs, some are quite wealthy, but the islands are crawling with haolies and assorted other ferriners. Who cares? It is a paradise for those who can afford it. All the money came from outside in.
By the way, the drive from Tacloban, Leyte to Naval, Biliran, is among the most spectacular in the world. I’m buying land on a hill in Naval. To the front are the oceans and islands, the to back are the mountains, valleys and rice-terraces.
The Dutch have discovered the area and are moving in like they expect the seas to overwhelm their homeland dikes in a few years. They go for the hills, too, for some reason. hah
Joe
BongV, my biggest pet peeve with regard to changing a line in the constitution is that i don’t trust our legislators or the arroyo government to do the changing. I don’t disagree with your points. With the exception of the 40% limit, I’ve raised similar points in the past. It is why i think that there is still room to grow. we don’t need to rush on it. in fact, we should do it right.
and yes, people put up with corruption. That is perhaps our biggest failure.
cocoy:
i understand the apprehension. but haven’t filipinos been at this charter change thingie – since Cory’s time.
this looks like an endless loop in computer programming parlance -
“my biggest pet peeve with regard to changing a line in the constitution is that i don’t trust our legislators or the government to do the changing”
- it goes nowhere, stuck in the endless iteration. the system “freezes” “hangs” – and the only way to get the computer to work again is a hard reset – and to have the code rewritten.
BongV,
Because no one bothers to ask what the Filipino people want.
Here’s rational way to get at charter change. The government calls for a referendum, and the question is: “do you want us to call for a constitutional convention?” If the answer is yes, then call for an election for members of the constitutional convention at the next possible cycle. If our leaders were altruistic in their desire to move this country forward, that’s what they’ll do. But no— they want to keep the status quo because gaming the system works. for now.
In the meantime, the “fate” of this country isn’t tied to charter change. There is much we can do without it. We ought to be doing it with or without any sword hanging over our head called charter change.
Your domestic capital isn’t enough.
Foreign capital isn’t coming in and are going to places that roll out the red carpet (the Philippines ain’t one of them).
Foreign capital has been telling the Philippines the same thing – but are you expecting different results by doing the same thing? Sticking to a moribund protectionist charter.
meanwhile, am playing U2′s – Stuck in a moment you can’t get out of :)
BongV,
Moribund is a great word.
I’m listening to Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz”.
Joe
i think its only Fox news that questioned. it. they’re weird that way…
Fox is republican.
as long as there are suxxors..
there will be l33ts who will keep on pwning the suxxors
kekeke
:)
This is the self deception of those in power. They think themselves
as more than humans. They think: They deserve the perks. They deserve to be served. They deserve to be praised of the jobs they are doing.
We placed them in the position to serve us. Not to be our Kings and
Queens.
Power is like Shabu addiction. It is not surprising that people who
are in power will do anything, by hook or by crook, to maintain their
rule over people.
Has anoybody made the distinction between “needs” and “wants” :)
You can want it – but is it what you need?
Sure you want to be protectionist, but is it what you need? you want more opportunities and jobs, you lack domestic capital, you need more capital. Where are you going to get it? Obviously not from the local capitalist. You want foreign capital, but at your door you have a sign that says, I just need your money, I will control it your money, you will have no say on your money.
If you were in the investor’s shoes – will you invest? Let’s keep it real, get real.
I can understand the call for altruism if the Philippines were run by a monarch for life. But it is supposedly a democracy – therefore having altruistic leaders still boils down to the people who will select the leaders – <i>the voters</i>. Sure they want winnable popular pedigreed candidates – but is it what they need?
Leaders can run a game with the system – because… you have voters who play the game as well. The entire Philippine government machinery is full of Blagojevichesque characters – and the only person people can single out is Gloria Arroyo? How about your governor? mayor? councilor? barangay captain? The people who will not vote for you if you do not hand out a donation for beauty pageants, little miss philippines, misis philippines, miss barangay, little miss barangay, a funeral wake, a plane ticket from KSA to Manila – when you have voters who want these, they get mafiosos in government – cry all you want you ain’t getting altruistic leaders.
need – this country needs a lot of things. it needs a balanced budget. it needs to make its government more efficient. It needs better labor laws. It needs a more efficient tax collection. the laundry list is long.
wants – the people want prosperity for all but do we stop to ask them if the road we want that prosperity to take is through Charter Change? Nnnooo.
I do not disclose products and/or services that are still underdevelopment nor do I discuss deals that are being negotiated.
You misunderstand. This isn’t about being protectionist nor do we dare rewrite the constitution. The proponents of Charter Change are saying this is the right thing to do. For the sake of argument, let’s assume that’s true. All I’m saying, if THAT is true, why the hell won’t the proponents properly ASK the PEOPLE, do you agree. That’s all i’m saying. If YOU believe you are right— and I’m not saying you are wrong, Why the bloody hell won’t government call for a referendum: do you want charter change instead of all this backdoor crap? The backdoor stuff does nothing for transparency.
And if the people say, sure, you know what, based on the arguments, we think we should have charter change. then fine— all the protectionist stuff you rave about, let’s debate it on the floor of the Constitutional Convention.
Believe me, I’m all for liberalized trade. I’m all for less government regulation.
I prefer better labor laws where I can fire incompetent people without having the bloody government on my door crying foul. have you ever had to fire someone in the Philippines? Imagine the worst divorce case and multiply it. The country doesn’t require we change the constitution for that, would it?
I’m also saying the proponents of Charter Change are so interested in charing the fundamental laws that are locked and require a lot of work to get unlocked and we’re missing the things we can fix, right now. The universe doesn’t have to stand still for change to happen.
August 25, 2009 at 7:49 am
a computer needs to read a drive, process I/O interrupts – does the CPU stop to process all other interrupts? does it blank your screen because it is waiting for the drive to finish reading?
that’s the thingie – people can say they don’t want charter change as the path to prosperity – your alternative is more of the same. you can only increase labor efficiency so much – if you can increase it, so can the competition. but they open up their economy – and you can’t. guess the next step.
the question is not about your products – the question is will you invest in a company where you have no control of your money and where a company has a track record of its officers being nonchalant spenders of investorsm oney, without showing results for the investor? so I will ask you again? will you or will you not invest?
Anong haven’t asked the people – the issue has been raised all the time, all the people have are the same cop-out arguments. Don’t they trust the representatives they elect? If it were so, I wonder why these same people are even allowed to vote?
Debates – you have been debating said sissue for how many presidential terms now? and your ranking in the global competetiveness index is getting lower and lower. what will it take – when you hit flat bottom? :)
Believe me, I’m all for liberalized trade. I’m all for less government regulation.
if the charter says divorce is not allowed – what do you think? you will have divorce without changing the charter?
Then do the fix right now – you have had four presidents and you are still talking about fixes???? talk talk talk… meanwhile investors are walking… away away away away from the philippines.. talk is cheap.
Of course, you’ll wind up missing a lot of things, when you have an electorate that keeps on voting for bozos who can’t do j*cksh|t :)
cocoy,
Yep. Labor laws and fair employment laws that end hiring based on association. Hiring and firing should be strictly job-capability defined.
Joe
a company has needs – it has an organization to fulfill that need
balancing the budget – falls under finance and accounting
labor efficiency falls under – operations
changing the company mission and top-level policy that determines how finance, accounting, and operations is organized and funded – is beyond the realm of the departments and involves systemic change – not tactical or strategic change.
selling products more efficiently to a market where the company has no competitive nor comparative advantage is good?
are you saying you will engage in a market where it is a loss leader? Does the Philippines have those deep pockets to be a loss leader? Susmaryosep.