Leila de Lima is a rock of integrity

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America Most of us wasted a year or more in a kind of flexible confinement during covid. It was called home. Leila de Lima spent seven years of her life being punished for having integrity. She spent it in a small room, writing, reading, reflecting, praying, and feeding stray cats. … Continue reading

We should learn to hate dynastic families, the lords of corruption

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America Filipinos broadly are driven by simple, largely emotional, decisions. Duterte is “one of us” and strong, so let’s vote for him. Roxas is a pampered rich kid who didn’t have to struggle like we do, so let’s not vote for him. Or, I have no upside from whoever is … Continue reading

The Philippines is going nowhere, but it doesn’t have to be that way

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America This is a progress report of sorts as I collect data and ideas about the Philippines as it heads toward a 2028 presidential election. It would be nice if the nation could have a breakthrough election that would move it toward modern ideas, accountability, and productive outputs rather than … Continue reading

President Marcos needs to give us more confidence

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America President Marcos entered office roaring. Traveling, hatching new initiatives, doing a lot of good works. Half the nation, though, was in no mood to appreciate his good works because they knew what his father did, and didn’t trust the son. That’s why the President struggles to get his trust … Continue reading

The Philippine deep state

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America A long time compatriot on Twitter, an intellectual pragmatist, referred me to a You Tube panel discussion of the American “deep state” featuring a couple of university foreign policy notables, John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs, from the University of Chicago and Columbia University, respectively. I got about halfway through … Continue reading