Stability in the Philippines

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A Colonel in the Philippines Armed Forces stands accused, or is being investigated for attempting to incite a military coup to overthrow the Aquino government. The story is covered here.

The Aquino administration argues that the man is a front man for the Arroyo administration, who stands accused of a great deal of corruption during her administration. The problem is that there is a great deal of scandal surrounding her and her husband....so she would have a great deal to gain from any efforts to overthrow the government.

The reality is that Aquino has invested a great deal of resources in investigations against corruption. This is of course a very positive development. The fact that it has been to the detriment of broader economic and social policy is understandable. This is a big issue, and the economy has a surprising capacity to look after itself...if government would leave it alone. After all the right of government to extort 'unconditionally' is ultimately the cause of corruption; and democracy is the ultimate tool for extortion.

I frankly place no trust in democracy; and the extortionary demands of colonels are a product of that illegitimacy. Consider the justification for his repudiation:

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said:

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) considers Mariano’s action an isolated case in the organization.....It’s apparent that he is alone. No one came after him. We can see if a person’s action is isolated".

I think this is true as well. My PMA sources suggest there is no support for this action.

Valte: "We are confident that the soldiers know that they are here to uphold the Constitution, to secure the county and not to engage in partisan politics.”

That might be what the Constitution says but they don't have much of a shelf life in the Philippines. Was it 1987 that this one came into being? We are actually due for a new one. The reality is that ethical principles are the basis for issues of justice; not some arbitrary, 'dated', dogma drawn up by a group of people who purport to represent the 'majority'; whatever that means.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

The prospects for a cure for diabetes for Filipinos

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The Philippines is home to a great many 'fatties', i.e. Overweight people living on poor diets with type 1 (genetic) or type 2 (lifestyle) diabetes. In the Philippines it is hard to indulge in recreational or even family eating without being served up a plate load of festive sugary, fat lard, which manifests in obesity and related illnesses like diabetes. This is a Western lifestyle problem, all the worse in the Philippines because of the high rates of unemployment, the indulgence we might associate with Spanish and third world countries, as well as the humidity which tends to discourage the exercise that raises their metabolic rate.

Fortunately, whilst it will take some time, and the spectre of diabetes or cardiovascular disease to teach Filipinos to eat well, and to change their lifestyle habits, there is hope for current sufferers. There is research which offers hope of a cure for both forms of diabetes. Read more here.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Prostitution the tip of the 'big banana'

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Prostitution is illegal in the Philippines and yet no police officer lifts a hand to prevent the practice...except for this token raid, which unreasonably detained foreigners. How is a foreigner supposed to know prostitution is illegal when the country so openly allows the operation of brothels in the country. This is indeed a joke. The police cannot even afford police vehicles, and yet here are these targets that have no chance to get away. Police officers need only walk in off the street....and yet nothing is done. There is something suspicious about this case. Only a club with foreigners was targeted? What? You could not find a club with Filipinos in your own country, or did you have a joke before you let the Filipinos free.

Perhaps the nation ought to start arresting police officers who fail to do their job...and fine them more than the brothel owners are paying them in kickbacks to not take action.

Better still acknowledge that your country's silly laws preclude girls (and guys) from getting 'honest' self-respecting jobs, forcing them into prostitution. The unemployment rate in the Philippines, the high corruption, the high import tariffs, the low productivity....you have some work to do...stop making foreigners scapegoats for all your problems.

The other reason I dare say prostitutes enter the trade is because they were abused by some Catholic hypocrite or because the country is one of the most materialistic nations in the world; more brand-conscious than the Japanese....who have the greater capacity to afford such treats. The reality is that the Philippines suffers from a culture of indulgence and poor institutional management or organisation. These are the places to start; not some token gesture which destroys the livelihood of Filipinos. Better paid call girls than living off the streets. They make the choices. Given the choices of your political leaders....they are at least not hurting others...at least not at face value. Just they offend your sensitivities.

The other important point is that Western countries have no 'culture of prostitution' so rife in Asia. The prostitution districts in the West would fit in a single street, but in Asia, there is an entire district in many parts of each city. Some Westerners go to Asia for a 'fling' of sorts, but prostitution in Asia is grandiose in scale because of your hypocritical cultural values, your culture of perpetrator & victim, and still more concerning, your disparity in wealth.....not to mention your frivolous, materialistic cultural values, culminating in your demand for brand names.

This is the basis for the popular acceptance, the widespread occurrence, the prospects for recruitment, the basis for indifference, the basis for kickbacks, and the basis for media hypocrisy. Your track record is not so impressive that you can afford the luxury of national pride.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Small government in the Philippines

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For those of you who are advocates of small government in the Philippines, you might want to join or support this group in Metro Manila.

There are several websites - www.minimalgovernment.net and Facebook.

There is also a group of Ayn Rand supporters in the Philippines; which provides a philosophical base for capitalism, as opposed to the pragmatic or divine arguments which are more typically used as a justification for capitalism....to bad effect. The problem of course is that a bad defense is a weak argument used by critics to erect straw arguments to defeat good arguments. Not very honest of them; but entirely practical from their short-range perspective. i.e Extorting wealth is a little more practical than creating it if you do not consider the long range implications of that compromise of principle. So join this group in the Philippines.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Critical thinking in the Philippines

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The Philippines is for the most part a country of uneducated persons whom are exposed to a limited range of beliefs. Religion is well-entrenched, so there is little questioning of religion. That is not to say you cannot have a discussion based on reason; its just not very often that you get that far. A great many pastors have a knowledge of philosophy, but its generally only enough to rationalise their existing beliefs. Seldom does rational discussion reach a level where a person is willing to repudiate god. The reason is that most atheists think that Christians, indeed most theists, are open to a logical refutation of their values. They are seldom able to do this because their beliefs are not founded on reason, but rather intrinsicism. That is not to say they give no credence to rationality; the problem is that they give greater value to intrinsicism.

If you are interested in atheism and critical thinking, you can view the contents of my website, or you can purchase one of my books when they become available, or you can join this Philippine based group which are advancing critical thinking and atheism. I have no knowledge of this group, so I am always interested to know how you get on. The reality is that the Philippines is a mix of Asian and Western values, so the respect for logic can be a little superficial, as I found with one admirer or Ayn Rand in the Philippines. Values are deep-seated. There is a great deal of depth underpinning your values, which even philosophers struggle to grasp. This is why philosophers have failed to have much impact on people over the years. They have failed to develop a values system which has resonated with people. This is what I intend to deliver in coming years. In the meantime, if you are in the Philippines, visit this group of critical thinkers. Sadly, you will hardly learn to think critically from your parents or your educational institution, nor from the media, whom I routinely refute. If you are yet to be convinced that there is no God, I would encourage you to visit my blog on religion. In due course I will release books on such topics which will describe my values in a more coherent and comprehensive fashion. You can visit my shopping cart when the time comes.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Deforestation in the Philippines

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The Philippines government has halted logging in 6 provinces according to the following ABS News article. Of course given President Nonoy's track record, one does have to wonder whether these logging restrictions are less about deforestation in the Philippines, and more about extortion of money from loggers. There is a long history of such political extortion in the Philippines. There is a legitimate need though. The opportunity to 'appear' to do something about over-logging, and the fact that the President 'appears' to have acted 'decisively' might be more important important than the reality in a country where facts are inaccurate, and ignorance is ubiquitous. i.e. commonplace.

There are similar efforts by provincial and national bureaucrats to extort wealth from miners. The problem in the Philippines is that everyone has the opportunity to extort some kickback in this country. Just look at how many mining projects are behind target. Generally miners are able to commission a project ahead of schedule, particularly given the softening in global economic activity.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Online corruption in the Philippines by pro-Aquino lobbyists

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In recent times, the new President of the Philippines has come under attack for his poor handling of the hostage crisis. There is also suggestions of corruption, like the setting up of very generous discretionary funds. The Filipino people are among the most prolific social networkers, so it is understandable that these issues would raise some controversy online. It is also little wonder that such opposition would not go unchallenged by Aquino, or his supporters.

Consider one Facebook group 'Step Down Aquino'. The developers of this website tell me that Aquino and/or his supporters have been able to infiltrate their Facebook account and engage in all manner of identity fraud, including:

1. Posting of pornography

2. Deleting 50% of the content

3. Thinly veiled threats to delete by showing their ability to corrupt

4. Setting up similar Facebook accounts under the identity of the person, but placing 'jibbish' content to discredit any opposition to their cause.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan GuideApplied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks