Has Harry Roque lost his marbles?

Posted by JoeAm on November 11, 2014 · 21 Comments 

A while back, I expressed the opinion in this blog that the Philippines needed more advocates like Harry Roque (“Calling Harry Roque! Is Harry Roque in the Building?“). This opinion arose out of a recognition that advocates are needed to take on rooted and intransigent political and oligarchic business powers to get consumer legislation passed. After all, the Philippines … Continue reading →

Category Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Senator Santiago shoots carabao, farm fails

Posted by JoeAm on November 7, 2014 · 32 Comments 

Senator Santiago perplexes me. Her outspoken way is so refreshing and yet sometimes tiresome when I want serious solutions. She is one of few legislators with the courage to address the Binay matter. Her jokes are often quite funny. But I can not yet grasp that she is either a visionary or a manager. A … Continue reading →

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

Jojo Binay: last man standing, the dying gasp of the Aguinaldo Era

Posted by JoeAm on November 5, 2014 · 85 Comments 

We can look at the Philippines as moving along several different timelines. One is economic, another geo-political, a third is different phases of government, and a fourth considers the whims and ways of the ruling class. We are not looking for a rigorous academic method here. The writing is simply an aid to thinking through what the Binay corruption scandal means to … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

The Philippines: a nation unplugged

Posted by JoeAm on October 22, 2014 · 28 Comments 

When people talk of infrastructure, we generally think of roads, trains, planes and ports. But there are four other components of infrastructure we should put on the table, right in front of the President and Congress: Electricity Broadband access and speed Computers in education Problem solving Now the first two you are probably familiar with. You … Continue reading →

Category Ecology/Global Warming, Economy, Philippine Government

Binay, the poor, and changing from a rent seeking society to a competitive society

Posted by josephivo on October 19, 2014 · 25 Comments 

By josephivo Rent The word rent has a long history. Here we use it in its more modern definition, e.g. according to Robert Tollison (1982), economic rents are “excess returns” above the “normal levels” that are generated in competitive markets. More specifically, a rent is “a return in excess of the resource owner’s opportunity cost”. Joseph … Continue reading →

Category Economy, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics