The tweet I did not publish

By JoeAm I admire political cartoonists. They do their eloquent drawings with exaggerated features and sharp-tongued captions and people know it is an intellectual message wrapped in satire or humor. Not a personal slur. The cartoonists seldom get sued for libel. But in the Philippines, big shots are not used to being pilloried. They are … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Humor/Satire, Philippine Government

Is good government possible in the Philippines?

By Chemrock “In defeat, malice; in victory, revenge” quote from the TV series “Yes, Minister” characterizes the perennial political battles in the Philippines. There is no ideology, no platforms. A senatorial candidate admitted he does not know what is the job of a senator. It’s all personal, very personal. And so, as often the case, … Continue reading →

Filed under Blogging/Journalism, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

The Philippines in 2039, a vibrant neutral state in harmony with China

By JoeAm We have some life’s decisions to make. We’d be wise to consider the future so we choose well. Right now, the Philippines is heading down the path of authoritarian leadership. That’s very different than democracy. Let’s project the Philippines forward as best we can. We are not statisticians and most of us have … Continue reading →

Filed under Crime/Corruption, Ecology/Global Warming, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

The need for an anti-discrimination law in the Philippines

By JoeAm Filipinos generally treat other races with polite consideration. They are courteous to whites, Chinese, Japanese, and everyone else except perhaps blacks, as far as I can judge. Dark-skinned Filipinos are often ridiculed or otherwise treated badly. Women are not discriminated against in the job market, but everyday language is often discriminatory (the President’s … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Trash wars and other Philippine nonsense

By JoeAm The Philippines almost went to war over trash from Canada, imported by Filipinos, and blamed on Canada. The 69 containers of nasty trash evidently sat in Customs stinking up the docks for six years and no one did anything about it. There was no reason, no money to be made in doing something, … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Humor/Satire, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government