Why President Aquino is right to push back against the Supreme Court

Posted by JoeAm on August 20, 2014 · 55 Comments 

Context is everything. When we want to judge something accurately, we need to get the context right or we are likely to end up with the wrong judgment. I think that is broadly what has happened regarding President Aquino’s “push-back” against the Supreme Court on the Court’s DAP ruling. And his comments about a second … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Economy, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Why tying in with America makes sense

Posted by JoeAm on August 19, 2014 · 39 Comments 

Why did the Philippines eject American bases from the Philippines in 1991? First and foremost, to preserve Philippine sovereignty. Here’s what happened as reported by the New York Times on December 28, 1991: American and Philippine officials reached tentative agreement last summer on a treaty that would have extended the lease on the naval base for at … Continue reading →

Category China, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

Economic war with China (rev)

Posted by JoeAm on August 7, 2014 · 18 Comments 

I have greatly simplified this blog from its original version. It seemed to me upon re-reading what I had originally done to be a rather presumptuous engagement by a foreigner in affairs that are not really his business. So what is left are a few facts I gathered to try to understand what the impacts would … Continue reading →

Category China, Economy, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

How to deal with Global Goons, subtitled “Sticking it to China”

Posted by JoeAm on June 6, 2014 · 21 Comments 

We can identify some very distinct “Global Goons”, eh? The U.S. is one given its rampaging tendency toward spying on everyone. Russia is another, embarking on a thuggish adventurism in the Ukraine. China for sure is one, claiming seas that belong distinctly and fairly to other nations. Those are the major goons, I suppose. Maybe we … Continue reading →

Category China, Foreign Affairs and Defense

To whom Mr. Obama was talking; what he said

Posted by JoeAm on April 29, 2014 · 44 Comments 

I sense a need to do a little translation here, especially for those who wanted Mr.Obama to be more warlike in his remarks, you know, firmer in committing America to engage in shooting to remove the Chinese from Filipino seas. First, let us consider to whom Mr. Obama spoke. The three audiences: Americans, who are … Continue reading →

Category China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, USA/Americans