Weekly Brief
Observers are warning of a rapidly changing global order -- a trend that will eventually force Filipinos to ask the right questions about where they are headed.
In review and in prospect
In the raging gender “debate”, there is a clash of viewpoints around what it means to be a man or woman. There is the socio-political layer where the question is outright sidestepped in favour of what people “identify” with. The direction of the “debate” then goes to what the noisiest mob would prefer the conversation be all about. For those grounded on facts, on the other hand there is the underlying scientific layer where it comes down to what the genetic code is telling us. There are only two chromosomal configurations that determine gender. Simple. Conversation ended. Noise ignored.
It seems a similar thing afflicts the field of “economics”. If we are to believe the “economists”, prosperity is a thing within everyone’s reach. It’s just a matter of implementing the right “policies” to ensure that there is enough for all. And what is “enough” according to the more “progressive” of this lot? Why, enough is a “standard of living” that is “just”. What is “just”?
You know where this is headed.
Ask scientists and you will get a different answer. Rather, you will get all the right questions first. Like, how much of what feeds the Philippines’ 110 million people and how much of what powers their lives are sourced externally and are paid in US dollars? If those external sources of energy that keeps Filipinos breathing and their ways of lives “modern” is somehow cut or becomes prohibitively expensive, how big a population can the Philippines sustain and how close to a “just” standard of living for the remaining survivors could be maintained using domestic sources of food and energy?
There are numbers to be done and dots to connect before one can answer those questions soundly. But even from an initial quick-and-dirty unpacking of these questions, it is easy to work out that the answers are not ones most people prefer to discuss.
Last week’s blog posts
January 15, 2023 by benign0
"Rave reviews notwithstanding, the Crybabies are aghast. Mrs. Marcos, the widow of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, has remained a prominent figure in Philippine politics despite all efforts taken by the Opposition to take her down."
Communists offer NO real solutions
January 14, 2023 by benign0
"The idea that workers are society’s 'heroes' can only go so far. The real heroes are people of vision who imagine business ventures and put capital at risk (i.e. invest it) to build business enterprises. In short, capitalists deserve their wealth..."
Lazy thinking and intellectual bankruptcy remain deeply rooted in the Philippines’ public discourse
January 14, 2023 by benign0
"Laziness and impoverished minds impede an entire people’s capacity to think critically and engage with the world in a meaningful way."
Can’t afford onions? Welcome to the free market we all signed up to!
January 12, 2023 by benign0
"We can blame government ’til the cows come home, but the free market ultimately wins and those who play well win. Those who don’t play well lose."