In one of my fave movies, The American President, I first heard the axiom: Politics is a matter of perception. It is. And I wonder if the present government is simply creating a perception of a Rice Crisis in order to sway the people’s attention to the real issues that really matter like: the truth behind the ZTE scandal; global warming where our copycat laws (i.e., Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Solid Waste Act, etc.) remained in letter and are in fact inutile for lack of or no concrete enforcement; the growing National Government debt (7.8% GDP growth! Huh! Where the heck they got that number?!? We are wallowing in debt! Hello?); the growing poverty stricken population, etc.Today’s issue of the Philippine Star Business Section’s Headline reads:
The National Government’s debt went up by 0.5 percent to P3.732 trillion as of January this year from the end-December level of P3.712 trillion following the issuance of debt papers during the month, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported yesterday.Shouldn’t the government look into that?
Of the amount, P1.505 trillion or 40 percent is owed to foreign creditors while P2.227 trillion or 60 percent is owed to domestic creditors.
At P3.732 trillion, theoretically, each of the 88 million Filipinos is indebted by P41,910.
And yet, the ever gallant SOG Justice Secretary has even the gall to suggest a Rice & Corn Emergency Power to the President. Who are they trying to fool? Juan Dela Cruz is suffering and is slowly dying, not because there is a shortage of rice but because the government remains inutile to provide him the means to make a decent living and enjoy a quality life before he hits the ground 6 feet under.
Rice shortage is not the real issue. Listen to what our IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) Scientists have to say for Christ sake, instead of creating a panic among our people. IMO, the real issue is the US recession is sweeping the world, and the Philippines is caught flat footed.
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3 comments:
I couldn't agree more.
The government created another crisis that has seriously stirred panic among Filipinos, in a futile attempt to displace the nation's current focus on the genuine issues, as you have clearly pointed out.
Futile in the sense that, although it did create panic among consumers, it was evident that the crisis was again, artificially orchestrated by the Arroyo administration.
We are fed up with the obtrusive dishonesty from their end. How about corruption shortage, for a change?
Right you are Kabayan. The usual method - using diversionary tactics to cover up the real issue... What's new?
tsk tsk
I really hate to rant, but couldn't help it, especially when I read the news.
I have always loved this country that's why I kept coming home in spite of the better opportunities outside. Now, I wonder if I really did made the right decision huh.
Thanks kc and jen for sharing my sentiments.
I just hope and pray that everything will turn out better.
Now, another wage hike? Are we prepared for it? Can't our labor sector, I respect you guys, understand the repercussion it will create? IMO, that will not help en masse the clamor for better living wage but merely add to the agony. What we need now is favorable investments that will create jobs. Ahhhh!
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