FOI, Right of Reply, Impunity and Discretion

Posted by JoeAm on January 7, 2015 · 22 Comments 

The Freedom of Information Bill being crafted in the Legislature is a very revealing document because it illustrates how the Philippine feudal democracy works. A feudal democracy exists when the framework of laws and governance is democratic but the rules for governing are adjusted to preserve the authority and advantages (the rent-seeking ability, for readers of economic bent) of the … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

A little change of plans

Posted by JoeAm on January 5, 2015 · 63 Comments 

You know, I probably write smack better than most in the Philippines. “Smack: a disrespectful comment made to or about someone.” (One of 42 definitions cited in the Urban Dictionary. Don’t check out the others unless you have great tolerance for American street language.) But I have become increasingly uncomfortable doing smack. I’ve reached the … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Culture and Arts, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Does Senator Santiago figure the Philippines for a beggar-me nation?

Posted by JoeAm on December 18, 2014 · 94 Comments 

It seems to me that Senator Santiago is one of the most negative people around. She is always hammering at someone, often in an indignant rant with five or six juicy quotes for the Inquirer’s crack reporters to wrap their keyboards around. Her quips are legend. She’s a veritable Aesop unchained, lecturing the rest of us … Continue reading →

Category China, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government

“Flipping Manila”: exposing the rot in the walls

Posted by JoeAm on December 16, 2014 · 51 Comments 

Every once in a while when the kid is in school and the wife is downtown buying her way through the wet market, I grab the television remote and check out my favorite shows: (1) various senate hearings, (2) “Flipping Vegas”, and (3) some Discovery Channel survival show with two goofs trying to make their … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Philippine Government

The technocratic federated Republic of the Philippines

Posted by JoeAm on December 4, 2014 · 4 Comments 

In this blog, I seek to develop a set of understandings about how the Philippines works as a nation. Is there a way to improve the productivity of the Philippines? The blog is another case of JoeAm thinking out loud, and writing about it. A puzzlement: what kind of government is best? One puzzlement for me has … Continue reading →

Category Economy, Philippine Government, Technology/Internet