Why do you think Pinas is lagging behind its ASEAN neighbors?

[rilkeanvein]

IMHO, lahat ng sinasabi natin in one way or another has some relationship with corruption sa govt.

Nakikita ko na yung root ng lahat ng problem is dahil sa corruption. Tapos parang nagiging domino effect n lng

Some examples:
Dahil walang enough enough resources, ma traffic sa kalsa. Dahil ma traffic, affected ang economy

Dahil walang budget , walang gamit sa mga public schools natin. Dahil dun, nde effective ang education system.

Dahil sa corruption. may mga police na nangongotong. Sad to say pero pati sa level ng mga Barangay Chairman eh may corruption pa din.

[Chip]

Don't be too quick to assume that it's only people with no money who don't vote wisely.

I don't like having the unwashed make political decisions for me, as I can see how wrong they are, at times, but you can't lay all the blame on them. This kind of attitude is what created the "US versus THEM" feeling that made so many people flock to Erap's camp during his election... a feeling of rebellion against the elitist attitude espoused by the then-administration camp. And it's a legitimate feeling... hell, I wouldn't have voted for de Venecia, either, if I'd had the right to vote (non-citizen here).

You have a point. I am not turning it into a class war, but like you, I just don't like having the hoi polloi steer the country because of their sheer numbers. And you're right, people with a High IQ arent necessarily smart either, I guess what's needed for voters is common sense- which a lot of people seem to be sorely lacking these days or are willing to forego because of hunger (not that you can blame them really).

I also agree with the other posts here, what freedom we enjoy has been won at relatively little cost. Perhaps if we had worked harder to acheive the liberties we so easily take for granted, we would choose more wisely who governs us.

[niky]

Yup... it's basically how hard you work for your freedom that dictates how much you value it.

Personally, I still like Robert Heinlem's idea on voting (the guy had some fascistic ideals, but he did have some good ideas)... Basically... you don't get to vote unless you've served at least three years in the government and/or military.

Simple, isn't it? This shows no bias to the rich or the poor. Whether you serve as an accounts clerk, an infantryman, a driver or a middle manager in some branch of the government or another, you get the right to vote.

If you're not willing to put up with the low pay or hard hours to serve your government, then why should you have any word in how it's run? Don't like how the employees and ex-employees of the Government vote? join the Government or military, and then you get a choice.

Israel is almost like this. What they have, instead, is mandatory service in the armed forces for all students after high-school. It makes you appreciate your Government/Military more, if you see what hardships and sacrifices they have to endure.

Might not be a realistic idea... but heck, it'd make counting the votes a whole lot easier. :hihihi:

[Flagg]

What makes a 'progressive' country? A growing economy.

What makes a 'growing economy'? Consistent investment (both foreign and local). More work = more workers = bigger market (more money). A simple cycle.

What fosters investment? Low cost and Stability. That's all, just 2 things. It's not having a graft-free government, it's definitely not democracy. Even the US has Halliburton, Germany has Siemens, Japan it's zaibatsus, etc...

Vietnam is much lower cost than us in wages and electricity... however, we can fight that with better productivity except there's...

Stability, which means:
- consistent flow of raw materials
- consistent supply of utilities
- consistent supply of labor
- consistent finished product distribution

Only 4 requirements, from manufacturing to services.

Does a corrupt government disrupt the 4 above? No. It only affects cost.

What affects the above 4? A restive, easily-fooled labor force.

Yes, our biggest problem is our labor situation. Our labor laws are good, the enforcement is terrible.

Consider: a restive labor force can disrupt any or all of the above 4 requirements for stability at any time... and in our country, for a possibly long (and costly) time... whether legal or illegal.

I have seen so many companies, both local and multi-national, pull-out simply because of labor 'issues.' I have also seen that the 'issues' were actually only hiding the true agenda: the Left's desire for destabilization. If one reads Lenin or Marx, one will see that one of the requirements for revolution is destabilization.

A true story:
XYZ, Inc. was manufacturing at 2 sites here. Workers were paid at least 2x minimum and paid 8 hours for a 6 hour day. (parang GM plant... ) The workers' union was KMU. Every year, before peak Christmas production (translate produce October in time for December), there will be a strike notice. Whether may CBA or wala.

Usually, the management gave in. But, of course, there came the time na masyado na mataas ang labor cost so... the workers were warned... one more strike notice and the company pulls out.

Strike notice pa rin. Site 1 was closed... 5,000 workers out of a job. Being stupid, nag-strike na talaga ang Site 2... one can gues the outcome...

Total damage: 12,000 workers out of a job + unknown number from XYZ's suppliers. Not only were they out of a job, they were abandoned by the KMU (no work = no dues), and marked for life by the local business community as having caused the closure of XYZ. Sad, 'no?

[Alpha_One]

A true story:
XYZ, Inc. was manufacturing at 2 sites here. Workers were paid at least 2x minimum and paid 8 hours for a 6 hour day. (parang GM plant... ) The workers' union was KMU. Every year, before peak Christmas production (translate produce October in time for December), there will be a strike notice. Whether may CBA or wala.

Usually, the management gave in. But, of course, there came the time na masyado na mataas ang labor cost so... the workers were warned... one more strike notice and the company pulls out.

Strike notice pa rin. Site 1 was closed... 5,000 workers out of a job. Being stupid, nag-strike na talaga ang Site 2... one can gues the outcome...

Total damage: 12,000 workers out of a job + unknown number from XYZ's suppliers. Not only were they out of a job, they were abandoned by the KMU (no work = no dues), and marked for life by the local business community as having caused the closure of XYZ. Sad, 'no?

KMU is stupid. Their all-or-nothing, our-way-or-else attitude allows them to uniquely turn a situation highly advantageous for them to a situation that gives them nothing. This is one example. Another is the Manila Midtown Hotel. Etc, etc, etc.

[Syuryuken]

Di ba congressmen, government officials and senators are politician and also public servant?

Kung naglilingkod sa bayan ng taos-puso sila ang tinatawag na "public servant" kung pansariling kapakanan "politician" IMHO

[Chip]

Strike notice pa rin. Site 1 was closed... 5,000 workers out of a job. Being stupid, nag-strike na talaga ang Site 2... one can gues the outcome...

This is exactly the kind of idiocy and willful ignorance that gets me all riled up!!

This is like choking the chicken to get more eggs

Kaya sometimes, I cannot blame SM for their labor practices (however unethical they may be). Pag napasukan ng KMU yan, tiklop agad yang SM.

[Syuryuken]

Lahat ba ng mga malalaking kumpanya may labor union kahit sa ibang bansa?

[milky]

My favorite topic

honestly, IMO is too much democracy and the people not knowing how to use it properly.

I agree with theveed. I do believe that democracy does foster economic growth, as it enables institutions to deliver its very tenets that SHOULD lead to efficiency. Sadly, the concept of democracy was imposed on us by the Westerners, and thus abuse. Walang pagpapahalaga.

As to why we are lagging behind- it's caused by so many things. One political- economic explanation would be that these newly- industrialized economies have different ideologies and types of government (socialism, authoritarian, etc) that steer trade policies. Another is that they have a capable bureaucracy that is not only efficient, but effective.

There also exists the problem of the poverty trap (rich getting richer, poor gets poorer), and the demographic trap (poor families = large families), and of course, corruption. In terms of our budget, ang daming magagawa nito for our country if only hindi ito binubulsa ng ating mga nasa gobyerno.
We are a blessed country, and believe me we are rich, especially in natural resources. We just lack the view on allocation and sustainability.

IMO, lahat ng nasa government are public servants. We installed them in their various offices to serve the people and country and nothing else. They should keep that in mind and base their actions on that.
I disagree though that politicians are defined as having a selfish inclination. Politicians are those who are concerned with socio- economic- political affairs and nothing more. It is a general term.

[oliver1013]

Discipline,discipline and uhmmm discipline!!