But it seems to me questionable whether any government has the right to demand loyalty from its citizens beyond its willingness or ability to render actual protection.
-Quezon To MacArthur, January 28, 1942
For once, I agree absolutely with Bong Montesa: never play the game of chicken. If this recent Inquirer editorial pointed out the administration has so botched up the peace process and is zigzagging so clumsily today, as to make the restoration of peace so much more difficult, the subsequent Inquirer editorial,suggests the MILF finds itself in a bind, because of the hostilities that have erupted and for which it took credit. Pointing to August 22 news item MILF Chair Al Haj Murad raise points in meeting IMT and the from Luawaran.com,’ the editorial suggested that the MILF (or the faction of its leadership that wanted to achieve its political aims through negotiations) was trying to invoke the assistance of its Malaysian sponsors. See –MILF asks Malaysia to convene peace panel – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Davao City councilor Peter Lavina in his bog, suggests that the Malaysian government officially speaking, is supportive. But the political reality in Malaysia is that the government is in its own version of survival mode. Lip service and a little diplomatic nudging here and there is all very good, but in determining the cost-effectiveness of using a nation’s resources (diplomacy, economics, military, etc.) there is little going for Malaysia if it publicly supports armed rebellion on the part of the MILF.
Militarily, even, the dilemma is there. If you assume, as some do, that the MILF possesses SAM’s in its inventory, it cannot use them now, or even later. For to do so would provide proof of foreign funding or at least facilitation/support; and regionally speaking, Malaysia as the likely culprit would trigger unease in Indonesia and alarm countries like Thailand (both being firm U.S. allies) which is fighting its own Muslim secessionists.
And so it seems the last-ditch appeal, perhaps by the more moderate among the MILF’s leadership, is for the Malaysians to give a sign that they continue to enjoy that country’s confidence and backing, in an effort to convince the other foreign powers to head off full-blown hostilities. Again, here is a confluence of interests: the Americans wouldn’t be too keen on hostilities because as the primary funder of our armed forces it would have to foot the bill and this includes what the Americans know all too well includes lining generals’ pockets (see Who Profits From The War in Mindanao? | Filipino Voices). It wouldn’t even really help the American arms industry. Not much money to be gained with out Korea and Vietnam War-era weaponry.Add to this the possibility that SouthEast Asia, including the Philippines, exists in a kind of policy limbo vis-a-vis Washington: In Asia » Blog Archive » Asian Policy Challenges for the Next President.
But that doesn’t mean that these nations could prevent a shooting war, either.
So when the MILF announced, on August 21, it would hold a press conference on August 23, I had deep misgivings. What would they say? After their former brio, they’d been complaining that AFP uses excessive force in attack pulverizing Muslim communities, which ignores who started the fighting or the absurdity of expecting the AFP not to send in the PAF.
Though they did have a point in saying MILF: CAFGUs, CVOs, plus Pinol, et al=Ilagas which the PNP, for one, validated by the tactic of arming civilian militias (see PNP sending shotguns to Mindanao auxiliaries – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos). The news of state-armed militias is indeed troubling; it is a sign of weakness and does not address the sort of insecurities that led to this: see Iligan City Hall Sights « preMEDitated.
Where did this insecurity come from? On one part, the public being unsure of what, really, the administration’s game plan was concerning Mindanao (in a nutshell: An irresponsible response « Mon Casiple’s Weblog on Philippine Politics). Second, the Palace having to respond to public hostility to its peace plan, and that response being at best, a confusing combination of bluster and appeasement. ALthough RG Cruz puts forward the Palace line of a STRATEGY CHANGE | RG CRUZ which suggests some sort of rhyme or reason, crude zigzaging seems a more appropriate description: Malacañang Backtracks on BJE MoA Even As Supreme Court Set to Rule on Constitutionality » The Warrior Lawyer | Philippine Lawyer.
Third, uncertainty concerning traditional allies such as the United States (see US silent on MILF terrorism « Peter Laviña New Blog) and Fourth, the possibility that the armed forces intervened by mounting operations even when the President hadn’t quite made up her mind on that to do. In his blog, thenutbox actually suggests the President announced offensive operations to retroactively rubberstamp the armed forces’ decision to begin them, regardless of the President’s position on the matter:
What my uncle told me was that Mrs. Arroyo actually ordered the attacks against MILF after the generals have already decided to launch the AFP offensive.
Arroyo’s inability to control her temper, his hypothesis went on, is actually borne out of her fright of the generals’ deciding by themselves without consulting her. She made a complete turn-around in his policy towards the MILF to appease the generals who were clearly pissed off with the BJE deal she made with the rebel group. And she wanted to appease the generals as soon as possible, hence her uncontrolled emotions for the delay of the taping.
At first I dismissed this as another conspiracy theory from a Gloria-hater. But veteran journalist Ellen Tordessillias, in a reply to a comment I posted on her blog, confirmed that, indeed, the anti-MILF mopping operations were actually carried out before the Bitch ordered them.
Note that Tordesilla’s military sources are excellent. I’d also heard on my own from a retired senior officer that Camp Aguinaldo had leaked the RP-MILF agreement to the media in the first place, and when I asked the retired officer if the agreement had the sanction of the AFP, the retired officer had emphatically shaken his head and said, “no, the AFP will fight!”
Note that Tordesilla’s military sources are excellent. I’d also heard on my own from a retired senior officer that Camp Aguinaldo had leaked the RP-MILF agreement to the media in the first place, and when I asked the retired officer if the agreement had the sanction of the AFP, the retired officer had emphatically shaken his head and said, “no, the AFP will fight!”
Put another way (see Philippine Politics 04: Arroyo needs to defend and explain the MOA-AD) if the President really did see the deal as an opportunity to display statesmanship, her statesmanlike resolve dissolved quite quickly, indeed. And Fifth, I’d say, a kind of latent nationalism everyone in official circles had assumed wasn’t there anymore (see This is what will happen to the Philippines after signing the GRP – MILF Memorandum of Agreement : OTWOMD | Bluepanjeet.Net)
The President hasn’t given supporters of the peace deal any chance to save themselves or the cause of peace. Which, sad to say, has been the repeated experience of those who still suffer from the delusion that they can achieve their idealistic goals by means of a pragmatic alliance with the President.
So if there are defenders, still, of the MOA: MOA-AD a path to peace, says Archbishop Quevedo « SCRIPTORIUM and refer to Red’s Herring: SC review imperils Mindanao peace process; then see The Palace’s High Cost of Learning | ralphguzman.org.
And refer to GOING IN CIRCLES « THE MOUNT BALATUCAN MONITOR and PUSONG MAMON « THE MOUNT BALATUCAN MONITOR to get a glimpse into how people -particularly Filipinos seized by uncertainty in the affected areas of Mindanao- began to send the message to civilian and military officials alike that in the absence of any reassuring information that the government knew what it was doing and would defend citizens seized by panic, that they would then take matters into their own hands.
And the would do so in the manner of their forefahers, see Viva Iligan! « preMEDitated:
In the speech, he appealed for:
Calm.
Bravery.
Community.
And Solidarity.He also urged community leaders to lead the people under them, to prepare for the worst, and fight if the need arose. He also mentioned the presence of the tanks and the several thousand strong army defending Iligan.
He also mentioned that the people of Iligan should not be afraid because God and Senior San Miguel was on our side. He closed his speech with a, “Viva Senior San Miguel!, to which the people heartily replied a “Viva”.
Although, I’m Protestant and do not agree with Catholic veneration of saints and even angels, I could not help but realize that the Mayor was speaking the heart language of the Iliganon, something that they could understand. He was speaking the old language of the Spanish times at the time when the citizens of the old fort of Iligan defended the fort and even waged battle against the Moros. Historically, even though Iligan was just a doorstep away from the Moro stronghold of Marawi, it was never conquered by Muslims despite the fact that at that time their pirates raided Christian towns as far away as Luzon.
“War,” Clausewitz famously wrote, “is the continuation of politics by other means.” Samuel Johnson also famously warned that “patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels,” and yet it is also a time when a formerly divided people can find unity and leaders can tap into a kind of mystical reservoir of national solidarity and idealism:
As Juned Sonido, perhaps one of the most even-tempered bloggers around reflected, in a time of conflict there is the need to be aware of the dangers of jingoism and the imperative that should weigh heavily on all those in authority: to provide protection from those who hold allegiance to the state. What distinguishes the two? A clear and present danger, a compelling need:
At present waltzing around the negotiation table is as useful as cupping a corpse. It is hard to negotiate when one side has not given up the armed option or has no control over its army while the other side seems to be following the likes Neville Chamberlain at Munich – practicing vermi-negotiation or the art and science of negotiations by the worms at Munich.
Meanwhile, the war continues and people are hurt. A few hours ago a bomb was exploded in Zamboanga. Will this again reach the other corners of the country. Another bomb in the MRT or LRT?
Is this jingoism? No. This is a matter of national self defense.
It is the duty of the State to protect the citizens who opt to stay in this country. Otherwise these same citizens will go to other means to protect themselves.
You have to wonder whether such viligantism can view anything other than bloodcurdling hostility as acceptable.
By way of Carl Parkes — FriskoDude: Philippines: The Sulu Zone of Peace who points us to Jolo’s gun culture – Sidetrip with Howie Severino, we catch a glimpse of the complexities of conflict and clan relationships among the Moros. Those like the Catholic bishops clamoring for peace know from personal experience that peace is possible but peace between Christians and Muslims is made doubly difficult as peace among the Moros is difficult enough to achieve. Though it can be done: see A Lesson on Clan Conflict Resolution in the Philippines.
The reality however is that even though it’s always denied it, the Palace is sensitive to public opinion particularly when that opinion starts triggering May, 2001 flashbacks in the President’s inner circle.
Where that opinion is -and how it’s increasingly hostile to any policy other than crushing the MILF- can be gleaned from surveying the blogosphere:
See The Journal of The Jester-in-Exile: Are Yu Dif? Didna Her? then The Philippine Experience, as well as fiesty commentaries from mindanao is the land, promise « Geisha (gay’sya) Diaries and Mindanao « the Scribe in Me and The Art and Science of – Notes from an Apathetic Atenean Doctor. As well as idiosyncratic thoughts: hay.. and A SCENARIO EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH OUT « THE MOUNT BALATUCAN MONITOR.
On a more philosophical note, two entries discuss A Just War | Filipino Voices and A Just War: Road to A Just Peace | Filipino Voices (what is a “Just War”? See Just War – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). The voices raised against war are few and far between, see: Oppose the Mindanao War « Pinoy Observer
And while some will ask (and perhaps hope) Critical Criterion Edition: Peace in Mindanao? Here is A sober reminder that the war is real | Filipino Voices which makes for cautionary reading, as does this entry from General Santos City, in For the Children | HomewardBound:
12:52 PM Our principal called for an emergency meeting, the second meeting we had today that zeroed in on matters of safety and security. The schools has received calls that messages were circulating about schools in General Santos City whose students and teachers were hostaged. We were not very sure of the report but for the reason that we have to secure the safety of our students, we have decided to send them home.
However, we could not simply let them take the public transport, which will drop them in downtown GenSan. So, we arranged for vehicles that will take them to their respective homes. Those who have their own vehicles were fetched by their parents.
What happened in the elementary school is a different story. Panicking parents rushed to the school fetching their kids. Some drivers told us about the chaos in the elementary school.
Some member of the authorities went to our school to reassure us that none of the reported events were true and that we are relatively safer here. That’s a bit of a relief. But who knows what will happen next? Better safe than sorry.
Intuitive: We Need Your Prayers echoes the unreported reality for most Filipinos, worried about loved ones and even their property and livelihoods. Meanwhile, everyone waits to see which side will escalate matters and bring the front lines to other metropolitan centers of the Philippines.
“Govt drops MOA in all forms.”
“Govt cancel ZTE deal”.
We have a government that is the equivalent of a street flasher. Now you see now you dont.
Now from the most trusted man in America, an experts view of why John McCains pick for VP is correct for America.
Hope you have video and audio. You can advance it to the 10th minute of the interview show.
Women should take note…..
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=183517
4 Marines killed, 10 hurt in Abu Sayyaf ambush in Sulu
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080830-157727/4-Marines-killed-10-hurt-in-Abu-Sayyaf-ambush-in-Sulu
Despite denails by MILF, the two groups had a tactical alliance all along.
If MILF got th MOA-AD, the ASG would demand its own special kidnap-for-ransom zone.
Just let the ILAGA lose. May mga traidor dyan sa military.
glu gun,:
“TOWARDS WHERE?”
Forward
Wrapped in the Flag: MOA-AD agreement
4. The relationship between the Central Government and the BJE shall be associative characterized by SHARED authority and responsibility with a structure of governance based on executive, legislative, judicial and administrative institutions with defined powers and functions in a Comprehensive Compact. A period of transition shall be established in a Comprehensive Compact specifying the relationship between the Central Government and the BJE.
5. In the context of implementing prior and incremental agreements between the GRP and MILF, it is the joint understanding of the Parties that the term ‘entrenchment’ means, for the purposes of giving effect to this transitory provision, the creation of a process of institution building to exercise shared authority over territory and defined functions of associative character.
“The MOA-AD seems to be going in this direction, which is just as well for redressing historical grievances and imbalances. Perhaps, a best effort at an “associative relationship†should be made and be given a chance  before all concerned consider other options.”
http://blogs.inquirer.net/voxpopuli/2008/08/14/bje-and-independent-statehood/all-comments/
cvj will like this one!!!!
From the REAL most intelligent media station of the United States, on why Obama will lose the black vote.
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/portrayal_of_obama_as_elitist
speaking of national territories/sovereignity:
Italy agreed to pay Libya $5 billion as compensation for its 30-year occupation of the country ending in 1943, the Libyan foreign minister told reporters Saturday…. “It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era,” Berlusconi told reporters at the airport on his arrival.”
hhhmmmm, how can we make singil the Japanese and the Americans for ‘board and lodging’ too?
Federalism is a system of political organization based on a constitutionally guaranteed balance between SHARED rule and SELF-rule.
@noel
das funny…
on a side note
It’s funny how the US media uses the word ‘elitist’ for Obama. I would have thought that in a country that prides itself with being meritocratic (follow the ‘american dream), ‘elitist’ cannot be used in the negative context/connotation with Obama because he got where he is today by hardwork. Despite difficult circumstances he went to Harvard Law (not such a bad school, i heard)
In contrast the word ‘elite’ would have negative connotations for persons like, say Escudero or Zubiri, or the Mindanao “Royals” who got where they are today mainly by accident of birth and patronage.
cheers
PS.This is in no way an endorsement of Obama, McCain pa rin!
A pro-underdog elite/elitist? That’s a New England liberal ala Kennedy. Well, the ways of Harvard rubbed on Obama. The Afro-American scholar in the video pointed out the new iconic figure for the black people has arrived.
As hvrds stated, the afro-american heritage is an integral part of America’s history. It’s about time a black leader becomes president. Then next will be a Latino. And then hopefully, a Fil-Am.
Or am I dreaming that a Pinoy will become prex of the U.S. of A.
Federalism and Privatization of Iraq:
Iraq signs $3B oil deal with China: It was the first time in more than 35 years that Iraq has allowed foreign oil companies to do business inside its borders.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/08/30/iraq.china.oil.deal/index.html
leytenian,
I also like Federalism if only to kick-start economic development in the outlying regions. Less control and bureaucratic from imperial Manila. As I commented before, Ten or eleven State Presidents/Premiers who are more focused that a multi-tasking, scandal-prone (whether real or imagined) unitary President , and outside the control of the 24 (dis) honorable/distinguished senators (ready to be president from day 1).
Worrisome are duplicate costs from redundant functions. In any move to a Federal government, there should only be one house in parliament.
There are about 21 senators who lives in manila. They represent many regions in the provinces of Mindanao and Visaya. There’s no direct accountability. The governors and the congressmen are not enough to represent their people. A senator must reside within the region he/she represents. Direct supervision and being close to the people they represent has been lacking with our current unitary system . The Senate is a drag to our economy. It must be decentralized and allow individual state / regions to elect their own senator who lives and resides within that region/state.
lood an jud ang imperial manila. our current unitary system is a dictatorship type of system. Worst than communism. It’s a monopoly of power.
“It’s about time a black leader becomes president.”
Ew, that’s not a sign of progress if we just take turns, itim ngayon, bukas kayumanggi naman….and so on.
He should get it because he deserves it and not because he is black.
But I guess it will take a loooooooooooong time to finally banish this meaningless concept of ‘skin colour’ or ‘tribe’.
Kaya naman in our own national elections all you have to do to win is capture 2 o3 3 of the major ethnolinguistic groups. Just say your grandfather is Ilocano and your mother is Cebuano and your father is from Pangasinan and that you grew up in say Pampanga – panalo ka na…
Out of curiosity, do you still look at Michael Jordan as a “black” basketball player or just a basketball player?
cheers
nash,
ano ka ba? you’re not hearing me.
the best qualified candidate. and incidentally, btw, (and all the qualifiers), he’s also afro-american
double cheers!
yes, but it doesnt have to be mentioned at all, we all can see he physically black, ayt.
😀
nash, he’s the best candidate yet McCain pa rin. 🙂
siempre mccain pa rin! because this means sarah palin CAN be president when he dies in office! imagine a religious fundaMENTAList for usa prez! it’d be so entertaining.
bush is a tough act to follow in terms of the gaffes we all enjoy.
nash, i agree. palin the best choice. 🙂
the fight is really between the vp’s. they say if obama wins he’ll get assassinated for being black and a muslim (as insisted by leytenian) . while if mccain wins, he will not last long and his vp is expected to take over soon. very entertaining indeed.
I am a business owner. Obama’s policy is to tax corporation higher. How I am going to sustain and employ more people if most of my bottom goes to corporate taxation? This Hussein Obama must be out of his mind. He is discouraging entrepreneurship in this country.
This is politic and yet many people even my employees do not understand the consequences of his policy. Once My company will be taxed higher, I can tell you now- I will remove people out of job because I could no longer afford the expenses. The incentives of being an employer is not Obama’s policy. This Obama guy provides me no business comfort at this time. The uncertainty of his skills to deliver and execute policies reflect the fact that he’s only been a Senator of 2 years. The rest of his time has been spent campaigning to become the first black President.
McCain on the other hand will provide incentives by providing extra budget to supplement corporate expenses towards healthcare benefits for employee sponsored plan. That to me make sense and will provide assurance to my employees about their healthcare needs. McCain will even maintain lower taxation to both individual and corporation.
Apply this example to all small, medium and big corporations in the USA….. what will happen if employers are tax higher? What about the salary of individual employees.
An American of Hispanic parents will be the next minority to be President of United States. And Harvard seems to have an inside-track on producing minorities with excellent leadership skills. Exhibit : Alberto Gonzales.
The philosophical father of the Democrats is Jefferson. While the Republican side is Alexander Hamilton. One was a belief of bottom up source of power and the other top to down belief system of power.
I do not know for sure if Pinoys generally who have become American citizens have registered themselves more as Republicans than Democrats.
However the culture of being coolies or dependency is still embedded amongst Pinoys. They would almost always vote or go with their masters. Feudal cultures are the foundation of hegemony. First as plantation or farm workers then navy stewards and then later the professional class.
The wave of pinoy immigration to the U.S. came only after LBJ made it possible in the late 60’s. Like Australia in the past colored people were severely restricted in being allowed to become immigrants to the U.S.
The struggle for civil rights and voting rights paved the way for these changes to happen.
Pinoys therefore owe a debt of gratitude to the African American struggles for equality and to LBJ.
Essentially Pinoys and these truths that are self evident are still separated by years of cultural agreession that distorted the belief system of the natives of these islands.
To draw an analogy when Malate was the center of adult entertainment in the past there were a lot of Malate blondes who inhabited the funspots of the area. The American navy ships sometimes used to dock in Manila and navy men in thier whites used to roam Malate.
A lot of people forget that Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the U.S. and the people of the island are American citizens but cannot vote in the U.S. elections. They also pay no federal income taxes. Once a Puerto Rican becomes a U.S. resident he can vote.
To draw an analogy when Malate was the center of adult entertainment in the past there were a lot of Malate blondes who inhabited the funspots of the area. The American navy ships sometimes used to dock in Manila and navy men in their whites used to roam Malate.
The pinoy culture of not being able to say no is still embedded and the culture and concepts of individual freedom and challenging authority is still frowned upon in contrast to the American culture of fighting city hall as a God given right.
Here in the islands the Pinoy is still brainwashed to believe that we are ruled by rulers who are there by the grace of God.
Our best model for a politician is today a priest turned governor who made it by the slimmest of margins.
We have to learn how to turn our goulash of cultures into an advantage by remembering that more cohesive states will simply swallow us whole.
“Meaning of this, me and readers don’t get. Clarify, commenter should.”
epekto ba yan ng kapapanood ng star wars!
hey,master Yoda!
hvrds,
“Pinoys therefore owe a debt of gratitude to the African American struggles for equality and to LBJ.”
Utang na Loob: The Filipino practice of ‘utang na loob’ (debt of gratitude) probably came out of this attitude, the idea that we need to return whatever someone has done to us with another favor. This practice of returning favors has very often been pinpointed as the cause of many of society’s problems.
There is a local saying: ‘Ang Hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay Hindi makararating sa paroroonan’, which means ‘One who does not look back to where he started will not get to where he is going.’ It has been used by many politicians to get votes in return for personal favors.
Powerful businesses have also used it to support candidates who would later legislate in their favor. And this ultimately destroys the very essence of politics, which should be looking after the common good and not just the interests of a few.
I don’t think the utang na loob to the African-American strugges for equality should be reciprocated by voting Obama. For US pinoys, to reciprocate is to follow the rules and be good citizens. Public Debt of gratitude has nothing to do with US elections. Your “debt of gratitude thing” is too filipino.
Thank you for reminding me.
Mabini is in ermita not in malate.
“The pinoy culture of not being able to say no is still embedded and the culture and concepts of individual freedom and challenging authority is still frowned upon in contrast to the American culture of fighting city hall as a God given right.”
Look what happened to mayor lim, when he was challenged by an erap boy.
Anthony Scalia
“TOWARDS WHERE?â€Â
Forward.
So your frame of mind is that going forward is always the better option.
If that is so, forward could also mean SUICIDE.
talking about debt of gratitude:
for those of you who are voting for Obama, you should return the tax refund money to the government. you have a debt of gratitude to the republicans for cutting your taxes low and even giving you tax refund this year of over $650.You probably have sent it to the Philippines to help your family.
If you want to receive another refund next year then you should consider voting for McCain… ( smiling)
leytenian: are you a registered Republican?
Most Fil-Am immigrants start as Democrats and became Republicans later in life. Those who remain Democrats became either elected officials or welfare recipients.
KG, my Galactic Basic language pardon you should.
Support Obama, us Pinoy jedis should. Fil-Am jedi masters must galactical alliance have, with the Hispanic wookiees. This done soon, before white storm troopers strike back.
Most Fil-Am immigrants start as Democrats and became Republicans later in life. Fresh from the boat, they were told that the Democratic Party is the party of immigrants. As their life improves, they realized that their work ethic is more Republican than Democrat. Those who remained Democrats became either elected officials or welfare recipients.
Noel,
“leytenian: are you a registered Republican?”
Yes.
leytenian,
so, either it’s obama or hillary who got the nomination, you wouldn’t have supported any one of them being democrats. in short it’s the party’s policies you are against.
A Fil-Am community leader, Mr. Rawlein Soberano , former SBA official, articulating the real situation of racial prejudice in the U.S.
“Voters, including Filipino Americans, who cannot bring themselves to elect a person of color for president. He said he just recently uncovered this, and was “appalled at the racism among some Filipino Americans.”
http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug30/news7.htm
“I am a business owner. Obama’s policy is to tax corporation higher. How I am going to sustain and employ more people if most of my bottom goes to corporate taxation? This Hussein Obama must be out of his mind. He is discouraging entrepreneurship in this country.”
It is nice to try to give oneself importance. I doubt very much if the clueless one is in the top income tax bracket.
Income tax rates in the U.S. as per Barack Hussein Obama’s proposal will increase for those with a taxable income of Php 250K + per year. U.S. income tax rates are based on a progressive scale. The more you make the more you pay. Corporations have a lot more tax breaks and tax shelters than ordinary individuals.
Over 90% of American will not be affected.
Corporations that invest on capital goods still get their write offs and the accelerated depreciation. That creates domestic jobs. However if anyone would like to export those jobs and still get tax breaks from the federal government forget about it. That will hit American corporations who outsourced their jobs overseas while getting tax breaks from the Federal government. Ouch!!!!
Over 90% of American will not be affected.
They will also review the capital gains structure that allowed the mavens of wall street to get billions in compensation from the corporations they were running which was more than the combined losses so far from the financial crisis.
That means the republican parties buddies who had a orgy of income generation during the last four to five which was more than the loses that the corporations they were running will no longer be able to socialize their loses while getting away with the billions.
It is so funny to see attempts to smear this guy Obama with his own middle name.
An icon of American culture is a guy with the first name name Mohamed.
Mabini is in ermita not in malate.
Last time I was in the area Mabini and M.H. del Pilar ran from Kalaw to Quirino. Both streets run right by the famous Malate Church.
Two Republicans so far have been responsible for ballooning the U.S. Federal Debt. Reagan and off course Bush 43. He has increased the national debt by an amount that is more than the combined debt since G.Washington.
My pinoy sense of “utang na loob” really will always be grateful to him for technically bankrupting the empire.
It is an anomaly that the most autocratic states on the planet are now giving life support to the citadel of democracy.
They should have taught the Russians and Chinese a lesson by putting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on receivership and defaulting on the loans held by the former Cold War enemies.
Why does not McCain pull the plug on the debt paper held by the Chinese and the Russians????
OOOOPs if he did that he would have to raise taxes…..Ouch!!!!!!!!!
Kalaban naman sila!!!!!!
glu gun,
“So your frame of mind is that going forward is always the better option.”
its always the better, no, best option
“If that is so, forward could also mean SUICIDE.”
?????????????
please let me know how going forward can also mean SUICIDE. staying stagnant is SUICIDE
hvrds, your first paragraph is quite funny. by the way, I think you’re referring to USD250K and not Php.
I think leytenian is misinformed about obama’s economic policy goals. but the fact is, she dislikes obama for being a “muslim†and not about his economic goals. mukhang nagpapalusot lang. her attitude and that of one self-proclaimed republican anti-abortion advocate are more in line with Master Yoda’s below post:
as I’ve earlier said, this I’ve long observed w/ many pinoys not just among fil-ams.
The great game of geopolitics is still on. And many nation-states and territories, including our very own Mindanao, are their playgrounds.
George Soros, iconic head of the London-based financial oligarchs, is backing Barack Obama for POTUS. He once brought down his own adopted country’s Bank of England, sponsored Georgia’s Rose Revolution, and had a big hand in Asia’s financial crisis in 1987 (claimed by Malaysia’s Mahatir)
His latest projects: bringing down Iran (?), return of Anwar Mohammad to political power (almost a win), toppling the military junta in Myanmar (?), power play in Georgia (a disaster), etc.
The aim of Soros’ group is to contain the power of China and Russia. The currrent hostilities in Mindanao is a play to prevent China from consolidating its power in the region.
Sounds incredible? But true.
And, according to plan, the Philippine government is now seeking the help of Soros’ boy, former PM Tony Blair to be peace mediator in Mindanao.
Poor Esperon. The good general does not realize he is just being used as a pawn in this big game.
Obama’s Record of Voting for Higher Taxes Equals Failed Judgment.
“While hardworking families are hurting and employers are vulnerable, Barack Obama has promised higher income taxes, Social Security taxes, capital gains taxes, dividend taxes, and tax hikes on job creating businesses. In fact, during just three years in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama has already voted 94 times for higher taxes. Barack Obama doesn’t understand the American economy and that’s change we just can’t afford.”
“[Obama] Wants To Raise Taxes Even Above The Levels Of The Clinton Era, Including A Huge Increase In The Payroll Tax.” (Editorial, “The Obama We Don’t Know,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/4/08)
CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo Asked Obama: “Why Raise Taxes At All In An Economic Slowdown? Isn’t That Going To Put A Further Strain On People?” (CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” 3/27/08)
The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.” (Andrew Taylor, “Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget,” The Associated Press, 3/13/08) Obama will start taxing at $250,000. He consider this income belongs to the rich… Obama is clueless just like hvrds. To me i’m still broke.
“Hvrds said, over 90% of americans will not be affected”
let’s see if you are correct:
The Democrats’ Budget Would Raise Taxes On Individuals Earning As Little As $31,850. “Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.” (Andrew Taylor, “Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget,” The Associated Press, 3/13/08)
In The Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama Had A Record Of Voting For Higher Taxes
In The State Senate, Barack Obama Supported “Hundreds Of Tax Increases.” ABC’s Terry Moran: “[O]bama was considered a reliable liberal Democratic vote in Illinois. For instance, voting for most gun control measures, opposing efforts to ban so-called partial birth abortions and supporting hundreds of tax increases.” (ABC’s “Nightline,” 2/25/08)
http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/288542838.html
Who are Obama’s friends?
I don’t even think he can call himself a drinking-buddy of Hillary. And Obama can’t be swift-boated because there are no military veterans he had served with!!!!
From Wiki:
“On BookTV, November 12, 2007, Soros said that he supports Barack Obama for the Democratic candidate in the 2008 election, but says that John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, or Joe Biden are all fine candidates, as well.”
Its still playing out well according to the game plan.
leytenian, read this:
“Closing Income Gap Tops Obama’s Agenda for Economic Change.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/us/politics/02obama.html?pagewanted=2
hvrds,
on 90% of americans will not be affected by Obama’s tax policy… you are so wrong. but i am open to listen to your opinion to why you agree with Obama’s policy.
on:
“They should have taught the Russians and Chinese a lesson by putting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on receivership and defaulting on the loans held by the former Cold War enemies.
Why does not McCain pull the plug on the debt paper held by the Chinese and the Russians????”
this is going to be a matter of who can deliver ” trade and foreign policy” . that’s something we can discuss next year. (google for the term constrainment)
History, it is said, rhymes rather than repeats. Bretton Woods 1 broke down because some key governments weren’t willing to import inflation from the US. Bretton woods 2 has survived  even intensified  the subprime crisis because many emerging market governments have preferred importing inflation to currency appreciation. China seems more worried about textile job losses than inflation, negative real returns on household deposits or the risk of financial losses on its (large) holdings of Agencies.