The Philippine Situation: A change in social dynamics is what we need

[grovestreet]

---

the problem is that the government IS the mother corporation... Their job isn't to change things, Their job is to keep things the way they are, and to preserve the status quo. mao gani "ESTABLISHment".

I think that's how our current system naturally evolves. As corporations grow, their power infiltrates even to the highest ranks in government and would eventually influence even the law making. A good example of this is the USA.

[meru_valley09]

The ills of free trade and greedy capitalism. Think business process outsourcing, signature shoes manufacturing sweatshops. The greedy capitalist would scour the world to look for the cheapest labor to manufacture his goods, and consequently maximize his profits to proportions only imagined in a world where free trade was non-existent.

Laborers of different countries compete against each other and bid to offer the cheapest labor available nevermind if it should deprive them of even half a decent life. The classic case of the NBA superstar with his multi-million shoe endorsement deals that sell for sky-high retail prices yet are manufactured using child laborers in Indonesia, China or Vietnam who get paid less than a dollar per day, not even enough to feed themselves, much less afford them education which has become but a privilege. Do we want our people to accept even smaller wages for their labor just so we can compete with cheap labor from other countries? Bahala na ug gamay, basta naa? Mas maayo na lang kay may makaon pa kaysa wala?

Seriously, I don't think we are limited to just those choices. If we open our minds, there is much we can do to change our social dynamics. And I'm not talking here of armed revolution or the rule of anarchy. We can start with legislation, after all, our constitution lists social justice for all as a principle of the state.

tumpak gyud ni bro... very good insights....

[thadzonline]

the problem is that the government IS the mother corporation... Their job isn't to change things, Their job is to keep things the way they are, and to preserve the status quo. mao gani "ESTABLISHment".

I think that's how our current system naturally evolves. As corporations grow, their power infiltrates even to the highest ranks in government and would eventually influence even the law making. A good example of this is the USA.

Good awareness! Now are we just going to watch it happen when we know it is a system bound to fail?

[garavannz]

si erap jud hinungdan ani hehehe..

[thadzonline]

si erap jud hinungdan ani hehehe..

What exactly do you mean bai? Kay ako ra ba di ra ba jud ko mutuo nga if molingkod si erap iya ni mahimo. Remember, he already had a chance to do that before, pero wala niya buhata. This is not about specific persons but something larger and that is how we do things especially in commerce. Kapoy na kaayo na ang person-based politics, and no matter unsa ka honest imo ibutang sa position so long as the old social dynamics is still in place, wa gihapo'y mahitabo nga genuine social reforms

[PhilCESM]

yup sakto c bananaq. mas nindot pa magbusiness sa china, malaysia or indonesia or even vietnam. our tax is high, our salary is super high compared sa other countries. china mo support pa sa new incoming business. dri wala jud. ngayo ang taga export n business group dri sa cebu og incentives or help from the government wala or naa pero naay catch. saon nalang ni

Agree... plus threat and extortion from Maoist Labor Wing, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). Their activities such economic sabotage and strikes caused Thousands of Factories and Businesses around the Philippines have closed that resulted to million of displaced workers (jobless) which translated into profound poverty. As a businessman back there in Philippines, I can't forget the time when I had received a demand/extortion letter from NPA asking for a revolutionary tax.

We should have to say 'thanks' to our businessmen who are still providing jobs to our fellow Filipinos and their contribution to our economy despite of those huge opportunities offered by China, Australia & Europe but they've prepared to stay in our country. In my case, there were times that I was about to close my businesses in Cebu and Manila and transfer all my resources here in Europe but I didn't do it. I've considered those 100 families that relies on my businesses and other small business like canteens and mini-store that relies to these 100 families.

Not all businessmen are socially irresponsible, in my network only 2 out of 10 businessmen are irresponsible and profit hunger. We've sometime considered them as odds since their businesses are really different and sometime affects ours. They are noted in our community.

Sowing a seed of hatred against businesses is a form social destruction or more likely cultural revolution, this is not acceptable to civilized society and it will only leads to division of different societies. Filipinos are one of the most peace loving people and they don't deserved to have a life like in cultural revolutions, a bloody phenomenon.

[thadzonline]

Agree... plus threat and extortion from Maoist Labor Wing, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). Their activities such economic sabotage and strikes caused Thousands of Factories and Businesses around the Philippines have closed that resulted to million of displaced workers (jobless) which translated into profound poverty. As a businessman back there in Philippines, I can't forget the time when I had received a demand/extortion letter from NPA asking for a revolutionary tax.

I personally do not advocate armed revolution as a means for social change(and definitely I am not for extortion as well). It's way more peaceful and constructive to just do it through active non-violent reformation starting with shifting our paradigms through education. But to say that labor strikes, a form of peaceful assembly and a guaranteed right under the constitution and the UN Bill of Rights, is going too far and indicates very little understanding of peaceful assemblies as a means to demand better working conditions and as we have seen many times, significant social change.

We should have to say 'thanks' to our businessmen who are still providing jobs to our fellow Filipinos and their contribution to our economy despite of those huge opportunities offered by China, Australia & Europe but they've prepared to stay in our country. In my case, there were times that I was about to close my businesses in Cebu and Manila and transfer all my resources here in Europe but I didn't do it. I've considered those 100 families that relies on my businesses and other small business like canteens and mini-store that relies to these 100 families.

Businesses that stay are those that have remained profitable. Or those whose other transfer options actually makes business more expensive. Those who have transferred, probably found cheaper labor somewhere, like China, Vietnam and I wouldn't be surprised if soon, they'll look at Africa and there people who'd take anything in exchange for the chance to satisfy their most basic of needs...at least for a time, as they say: "enjoy it while it lasts"

Not all businessmen are socially irresponsible, in my network only 2 out of 10 businessmen are irresponsible and profit hunger. We've sometime considered them as odds since their businesses are really different and sometime affects ours. They are noted in our community.

The problem as I see here is capitalist businesses always need to have net revenues higher than the past year or whatever fiscal period. Herein lies the problem because whatever little wealth is added into the economy, capitalists compete against each other to get the biggest share possible of that little pie. Most of the time, those that who cannot afford to leverage what little they have to position themselves to get a fair share of the pie, wont ever get a fair share. Most of these are those who have almost nothing in life.

I can best explain this using the spot foreign exchange market(pardon for those who might not be familiar), probably the most liquid of all markets we know of. You see, when you throw in your money in there, it's either you profit or you lose. When you profit, some other player in the market loses a part of his capital. When you lose, you can be pretty sure the money you lost is gained by some other player in the market. Yin and Yang. Same speaks with capitalist economy, when someone acquires billions, naturally that came from somewhere: people's money. Question is how much of it is deserved, certainly one doesn't need billions to live a decent life while the majority can hardly afford a decent meal. How much of it if channeled, could have made a large impact to social reforms and social welfare/security programs(take note that this is different from mere charity).

Sowing a seed of hatred against businesses is a form social destruction or more likely cultural revolution, this is not acceptable to civilized society and it will only leads to division of different societies. Filipinos are one of the most peace loving people and they don't deserved to have a life like in cultural revolutions, a bloody phenomenon.

I still do not understand why people always associate attempts to demand social justice with bloodshed when it can always be done in a peaceful way. The wealthiest nations are not those who espouse laissez-faire capitalism but some form of social market economics. I'm pretty sure you are familiar with this as many European countries have highly-developed social market economies.

[unsay_ngalan_nimo]

beacause underneath man's civilized exterior lies its barbarism and crudity... that is why wars never cease nor arm struggles...



law of nature: survival of the fittest...

[thadzonline]

beacause underneath man's civilized exterior lies its barbarism and crudity... that is why wars never cease nor arm struggles...



law of nature: survival of the fittest...

That's like saying man cannot transcend beyond his being an animal. We are rational beings endowed with free will to choose between being too animalistic or be human enough. To acquire billions is way beyond just for survival.

The state of hopelessness in the Philippines today can be compared to the rationale and economics of hoarding. You see, if a businessman intentionally keeps a certain commodity and make it unavailable or scarce in the market, that is always done for a purpose which is to drive prices up. Now what happens if it is cash/money(liquidity?) being hoarded? When most of an economy's cash is concentrated or monopolized by a very scant percentage of the population, it becomes a very expensive/valuable commodity. But how can that be quantified when it is cash values which quantifies other objects of economics?

Perhaps, you will agree with me that money is a basic necessity. Without it, it probably would be impossible to live. It is what we use to purchase our basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, public transport, education. etc. That's why we try to find work in the hope of making ends meet. However, the prices of our basic goods are expensive coupled with high inflation rates and so more and more the purchasing power diminishes until many of our fellow Pinoys can no longer afford a decent lifestyle.

Then here comes Mr. Moneyed Politico, or Mr. Galante Gameshow Host proclaiming himself savior of the poor and the oppressed giving dole-outs of cash and what-nots to the poor who by the way wouldn't mind being indignified on national TV so long as he/she gets the cash dole-out. Mr. Moneyed Politico boasts of how many OFW's he had helped with his own cash, how many scholars he sent to school out of his own generosity, how many road projects he has completed. Many of our kababayans who are recipients of these dole-outs reciprocate what these monkeys had done for them by voting them into office. Those who have not wallow in the false hope that someday she'll be a recipient of the politician's dole-out discounting the fact that the number of people helped by the politician is but a very small percentage of the the part of the population that shared a similar plight.

But later on, people start to realize, these politicians have actually not done much to alleviate their situations, until at a point in time people will make a generalization that no politicians can actually do much so they will take advantage of what they can take from him through mendicancy or whatever way. Exploit the well until it runs dry.

Let me quote a post I wrote in another thread here:

If ganahan ta mosabot sa ato current social situation, I invite everyone to read or revisit Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Ang pinakauna gyud i satisfy sa tawo mao iyang biological ug physiological needs such as food, air, water, warmth, shelter, ***, sleep, etc. Morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice and acceptance of facts come much later when Physiological needs, Security Needs, Belongingness needs and esteem needs are already realized. (See File:Maslow's hierarchy of needs.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

In Charles Darwin's jargon we refer to "survival of the fittest", i.e. man has to compete with others(or struggle in whatever situation he is in) that he may live. In humanistic psychology, we say "man is basically good" in reference to man's inherent nature to try to survive.

My point:
How much blame do the poorest of the poor deserve if we leave him no choice but become corrupt, e.g. by allowing his votes to be bought by politicians, just so he can provide for his family? He may have income but that may not be enough because the owners of the business that he serves bargained to pay him the minimum(even to the extent that he cannot afford to pay for the prices of the most basic of commodities) whilst they maximize their profits to more than enough of what they need. Not to mention that manufacturers' or industry associations have agreed to set a floor price for their goods but not a ceiling price. IF atong istoryahan sa context of Maslow's Hierarchy, the man here is actually following a natural course which is unahon niya ug answer iyahang physiological needs, unya ra na siya makahuna huna sa kung sakto ba o dili iya gbuhat or ug dapat ba siya makonsensiya. An understanding of Maslow's theory makes us understand our current social condition better.

[raski]

Are we still looking for persons to blame for our country's issues? PGMA? Erap? Marcos? Government? The need to change our system of government? A culture of corruption?

Seldom do I hear the business sector being blamed.

Fact of the matter is greed is at the center of this, IMHO. The same greed that brought about the global financial crisis.

Notice how we do business and how our laws and government favor the privileged, moneyed few. Take the case for example of the expensive oil pump prices. Who actually benefits from it and who bears the burden.

The lowly driver, whose meager keep for the day is further diminished by the rising prices of oil, becomes more hard-pressed to make both ends meet. He struggles to provide his family and himself with the most basic of needs. He struggles to feed them even with instant noodles, canned sardines and smoked fish. He struggles to clothe them or provide them decent shelter. Even the cost of public education is a burden. And so, him and his fellow public transport drivers/movers demand for fare increase. If granted it somehow gives them some more breathing room at the expense of the riding public, most of whom are piecemeal wage earners who struggle just as much to make both ends meet. Bear in mind also that the prices of the most basic of commodities hike up when oil prices are hiked up.

While the oil executive, clothed in the most elegant textile brands, ride in the most sleek sports utility vehicles, dine in the finest restaurants, drink the most expensive wines, send their kids to the best private schools of the land, and live in the most royal manors. For the sake of social justice, are they willing to take drastic pay cuts and share a part in the burden of expensive oil prices? Not to forget that their pump attendants and laborers hardly share in the profit that these multinational oil firms rake.

We must also make businesses accountable for the social injustices that they have long been committing to the majority of our people. For how much of the wealth that the lowly laborer created for them do these tycoons really deserve whilst their workers are mired in poverty? Isn't this exploitation and robbing the lowly laborer of a decent life?

We must bring to task our government, especially our legislators, to look after the welfare of the majority of people and not just that of the privileged, moneyed few as is embodied in Sections 9 and 10 of Article II(Declaration of Principles and State Policies) of our present constitution:

Geez I'm so sick of this communist propaganda. You want to live in a business-free environment? Then go live in North Korea.

When I read the title of this thread I thought you were going to be discussing the real social dynamic that causes poverty here. That is, our unique culture of family clannishness. Our 'kapamilya' culture which breeds laziness, dependence and incompetence. How many people do you know are so lazy they just sit around and let their rich uncle, aunt, mother, father, brother or sister do all the work. You know.. the kind of lazy losers who just sit on their butts while their OFW mom works as a maid in Hong Kong sending them their monthly allowance even though they are already 35 years old and have their own family to feed. Yet somehow they can't seem to get off their butts and go find a job. Oh but of course this is the businessman's fault! Because the businessman should just spoonfeed the lazy losers the same way their OFW relatives nga nang-kayud sa ubang nasod have to do...

You want to know which social dynamic we have to change? Our culture's obsessiveness with our family. You know the saying too much of a good thing can end up being bad? That applies to the way we view family relations too. Grabe ra sad ta mo-forgive basta ang nakasala o kungdi ang tapulan o kawatan kapamilya ra nato. That's what breeds corruption and nepotism on the political level and laziness and dependence on a family-unit basis. It needs to change. We need to be more like people from the first world where the objective of families is to create children who can take care of themselves once they are 18 and not become dependent losers who are like parasites and feed off their more successful relatives...