Two reasons why the US should hold an accused murderer in US custody

Posted by JoeAm on October 18, 2014 · 100 Comments 

Reason Number One A Philippine judicial system that is not based on reason, but on emotion and political influence. The attorney for the victim’s relatives, one Harry Roque, intends to lead the family on a storming of the US ships docked in Subic if the U.S. does not turn the suspect over to the Philippines. Mr. … Continue reading →

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

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

Maybe America should stop worrying about Muslim extremists and worry more about her own

Posted by JoeAm on June 26, 2014 · 62 Comments 

I confess that my confidence in America was shaken to the bone the other day when, innocently responding to a news article comment thread, I was besieged with insults the kind of which I never receive in the Philippines. My initial remark was eventually deleted by the editors even though it was not obscene or even … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Laws and Ethics, USA/Americans

Spurs 2014 champion team is a blueprint for governance

Posted by JoeAm on June 19, 2014 · 13 Comments 

  By Andrew Lim I begged for Joe’s indulgence to allow me this short piece on the San Antonio Spurs’ recent championship in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This is not a sports blog, but the team had distinct characteristics that made for good analogies in geo-politics, economics and life in general. As disclaimer, I … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Philippine Government, USA/Americans