The House horror show illustrates why Federalism is a bad idea

Posted by JoeAm on November 28, 2016 · 194 Comments 

By Joe America Did you catch that strange House hearing in aid of legislation last week? The objective of the hearings was to examine the drug problem in New Bilibid Prison. Unfortunately, legislation and Bilibid were set aside to pursue a public shaming of Senator De Lima. The House reps stunned most of the Senate, a lot … Continue reading →

Category Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Two cases from the Society’s legal department: on line violence and presidential immunity

Posted by JoeAm on November 23, 2016 · 21 Comments 

By Joe America I find legal documents in the Philippines to be enlightening. For one thing, I can read the arguments from the people involved rather than as filtered through mass media, the State’s troll armies, or other biased or unreliable sources. Here are two cases I found pertinent because they involve how to deal … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Technology/Internet

Does Senator Poe understand and approve of Duterte’s Propaganda Centers?

Posted by JoeAm on November 21, 2016 · 68 Comments 

By Joe America I’m sorry I had to use Wikipedia to get a list of Senate Committee members. However the Senate’s web site listing has not been updated since August, 2015, and I know Senator Drilon is not the Senate president anymore. Some guy of very different principles and evidently little administrative precision took over the … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Education, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

The Philippines leads the world into post-truth modernism. It’s ugly.

Posted by JoeAm on November 19, 2016 · 125 Comments 

By Joe America In the post-truth world we live in, we define our values according to utility, and so we paint the factual world around us as we need to in order to get what we want to get. Okay, okay, I know that is vague, a lot of words chasing an idea but not … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Culture and Arts, Economy, Laws and Ethics

Dear President Duterte: “Ummmm, any chance you could up your game?”

Posted by JoeAm on November 13, 2016 · 124 Comments 

By Joe America Decisions have consequences, Mr. President. For example, if others see Filipinos as rude, OFWs have a harder time getting jobs. If the nation is considered a dangerous bastion of killer cops with no respect for international conventions, then investors don’t want to bring their money here. I think you would agree that Filipinos … Continue reading →

Category Crime/Corruption, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government