2011 State of the Nation Address (SONA)

[niky]

I still have yet to see any evidence that P'Noy's KKK are in any way corrupt.

One or two, incompetent, maybe... but many of them are actively pursuing the removal of entrenched corruption and ineffective services in their departments... and it's against some of these that the loudest protests are... coincidence?

Yes, PNoy's GMA bashing is getting old. But so are the chants of "KKK".

Come on... there's only so long you can sing that song before people ask you: "What has the KKK done against the country? What has PNoy done?"

Same old song and dance. Protest, protest, protest... but there's no "Hello Garci", no "ZTE kickback", no "multiple mistresses/mansions" or "Clark Expo" that you can hang over the administration. Not even the potential for one.

Yet... unless PNoy finds a way to build on from here... unless he can create an established system of undefeatable checks and balances to last after his administration... then all this will be for naught. Right now, he can get by with simply cleaning house... because plugging the holes in the system and saving billions that would have otherwise been lost to corruption is more than enough to support us for the meantime.

But at this point, he should be looking at improving services with the savings, and finding ways of generating more income for the government and the country to sustain growth after the clean-up period.

[oliver1013]

^^ Yup very much correct Mr Niky..

[niky]

In connection with the above post... parang okay yung mga interviews ni Karen Davila sa "KKK" ni P'Noy... I think she brought up a good comparison: Lee Kwan Yew... he created a culture of authoritarian discipline in the name of economic progress. In other words... condition the people for the sacrifices needed to make Singapore prosperous. Tignan mo ngayon... they have some of the strictest laws and highest taxes (parang 300-400% tax on cars) and housing costs... and army service is mandatory... but the people, despite the hardships and despite decrying the high taxes, are prosperous and happy.

Nag-start na si P'Noy. He's told his politicians... you have to make sacrifices in order to ensure our country progresses. He's toed the line with the people. Strict in some ways: (BIR crackdowns... approving higher toll rates in order to not discourage foreign investment groups from doing new infrastructure projects... etcetera), but soft in others: telling them that they have his ear and that he will not have to raise taxes.

Eventually, he will have to make more of the unpopular decisions in order to fund progress. Something which GMA balked at... she would always go for the popular decision by giving in to labor groups and by giving out money everywhere (especially before elections... daming "scholarships" and "benefits" na granted right before elections...). PNoy has to force the issue... Increase service terms for government scholarships, or even payback terms. Increase taxes on goods... maybe even a gasoline tax... to decrease dependence on foreign oil. And others. Like the former Akbayan rep who is now PNoy's political advisor said: It's not just about making salaries higher. Better if salaries are not higher, but government benefits are such that people won't complain about the low salaries. And those government benefits have to be funded by new taxes.

[Cheesekewrls]

Just hoping na sana, maayos pa din ang lahat para sa Pinas.