Fixing our country: Where did we go wrong?

[ghostie2472]

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It's the People's fault, not the Leaders.

[eezychair]

The current president's mother changed the constitution and provided for the 60/40 rule on ownership by foreigners. It wasn't really her, I suppose, but the people behind her. This, I'd say was what caused the stagnation. If 100% ownership of businesses and property by foreigners were allowed, capital will flow in. More jobs will be available and competition enhanced to the advantage of consumers. As it is, the oligarchs rule, and the rest find greener pastures abroad and those left, suffer their fate at home.

[cmac2]

Almost everyone does not have a sense of nationalism or loyalty to their country.
When asked, "Do you love your country?"
Answer: "Yes"
Follow-up question: "So what have you done for your part of being a Filipino citizen?"
Answer: "Ummm...."

OT:
Share lang nako ning song titled "A Man of Determination" by George Lam.
I just found the meaning of the words in YouTube 2 years ago after often watching Jet Li's movies as a kid.
A Man Of Determination(full + translation) - YouTube

[emow]

Let's not forget the countries who have been successful... China, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Canada, Australia, among others... the citizens in these countries are overly patriotic and proud. They employ some level of protectionism and even clamp down on some civil liberties in exchange for order and they are doing good.

A free market, if done wrong will lead a nation down to a sinkhole... a protectionist system, if done wrong will also lead a nation to a sinkhole. Not one system is perfect but one thing is certain though, if we put our country into our hearts, great things "can" happen.

China loosen its protectionist policy to the free market under deng xiao peng which made it an economic giant in no time...they were coming from a full protectionist policy...same with vietnam, germany, south korea. Singapore, australia and canada are open markets, the entry of global competitors somehow balanced their socialist policies. A free market done wrong will correct itself.

patriotism must not be legislated, protectionism must be avoided...let the people decide their own choices, if local businesses want profits then they must compete innovatively, effectively, openly and honestly with the rest of the world.

A protectionist policy is an economic fallacy... There is a good argument about it by bastiat...

[J.Abz]

if you want to change this country for good... erase 3 generations from the past and inculcate the new born on the importance of patriotism and love for one's country....

[KlaytoN]

Do we really know ourselves as Filipinos?

The Americans occupied and "managed" our country for half a century. We had good economic numbers, at par or even better with other occupied states like Hongkong, Macau, and even Singapore. When Uncle Sam left, we were not able to sustain the momentum of economic prosperity that was already in place. Divisiveness among us flourished. Seems it would have been better off for us being occupied and ruled by foreign masters. WHY? SEEMS THE PROBLEM LIES WITH OUR CULTURE, OUR IDENTITY AS A NATION. FRANKLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE AS FILIPINOS..

[J.Abz]

^I think your referring to having a cultural identity....

Though I believe that we Filipinos have really an identity (we are proud to cheer Pacquiao in every fight he has won), that alone serves as an example that we are really proud of our race, when one of our compatriots are being glorified and acknowledge in other countries...

Yet the social stigma also within us (crab mentality to reach to the top at the expense of other's efforts) is what pulls down ourselves...

Look at the Japanese for example... they treat themselves with equal respect and work as one whole massive workforce... why they have achieve that? well.. because they know how to selflessly sacrifice their own personal happiness for the glory of many.....

[emow]

A perfect example of the ill effects of protectionism is that of the auto industry of the US. When the government started subsidizing the industries, the quality of their cars went down while the quality of foreign competitors rose up. Their government ran huge deficits maintaining their auto industry competitive. "Buy american!" that was their slogan... For every American car bought, a national debt was incurred which will still be payed by tax payers... The protectionist stand of the US with its auto industry have contributed to the boom of foreign manufacturers...

Protectionism is regressive to development. It undermines the entrepreneurial spirit of the protected businesses while making the citizens pay for the lack of ingenuity of the businesses making these protected businesses satisfied, complacent, and lazy. The quality of products will decrease while the standard of living will increase. If the markets were not close for foreign competition(hopefully), then these protected businesses will still suffer with the disappearance of consumer base... Majority of the consumers will always look for the best quality at the most affordable price they can pay.

[masakiton]

I don't think being patriotic means crippling the free markets. I guess we should include in our educational system the psychology of loving our own. There is nothing wrong with that. I never mentioned that we should "force" our people to buy local. Our government can, however, accord the same or more privileges or support to local businesses in the same way they give these to multinationals.

ang naka daut usahay sa ato a kai daghan mangilad
example: sa transportation (public/private) ... daghan mang overcharge labi na kung klaro nga dili resident sa lugar

isa pa sa lain problema kai ang pag pili sa ato nga government officials ... daghan walai/nihit ug maayong track record pero sikat

[whiteKelso]

daghan man unta bright sa ato but kuwang lang sa kurso...
ipagawas na inyong kaisog diha aron molambo ni atong nasud!