Rappler polls at CDO Presidential Debate - Duterte wins, Binay ranks last

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Rizal Philippines
February 22, 2016

From Rappler - Presidential Debate at Cagayan de Oro

Mabuhay Pilipinas.
PILI  ng magaling na pangulo sa susunod na termino.

While this post predicted a Binay victory, the polls at the debate held yesterday among the 5 candidates:   Binay, Roxas, Santiago, Poe and Duterte showed a different result in a poll conducted among the netizens.  The promise of removing corruption by the gung ho Duterte impressed the netizens.  He was ahead by a wide margin.  Binay was last.

Poe, based on editors picks won 2 out of 3 debates.

Editors' picks per round

• PiliPinas 2016 Debate: Round 1 goes to Mar Roxas
• PiliPinas 2016 Debate: Round 2 goes to Grace Poe
• PiliPinas 2016 Debate: Round 3 goes to Grace Poe

Netizens' picks per round

• On social media, Duterte wins Round 1 of the debate
• Duterte takes Round 2, Roxas is runner-up for netizens
• Consistent winner: Netizens say Duterte takes 3rd round of debate

Whom do you pick as the winner?

Did the prediction of collapse of US dollar as reserve currency happen last February 19, 2016

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Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016



From Before Its News - Ron Paul predicts collapse of US dollar

Former Cong Ron Paul in many places and including the above article predicted the collapse of US as international reserve currency. All ready, the US dollar is no longer a petro dollar.  10 nations have agreed to ease out US dollar as international trading currency. China and Russia announces plan to scrap US dollar  - Jim Rogers

The biggest issue vs the dollar is that there is no gold standard backing this up and thus leads to irresponsible budgeting and spending leading to inflation and double deficit.

Has it happened. We ask the pundits and the data.

From Before its news. Beta Testing the bank before a collapse

Under Obama, we are witnessing the financial calamities:

I.    The State of US finances

• The national debt is $19 trillion dollars
•  The unfunded, yet mandated liabilities (e.g. Social Security, Medicare, etc) now total $230 trillion dollars and,

•  Of course the 800 pound gorilla in the room is the $1.5 quadrillion credit swap derivatives debt.

2.  The collapse of oil price - while it is good for the consumers, it is bad for the banks who lent to the oil companies, and oil companies, and economy in general. It leads to weaker cash flow and bank illiquidity

“Since the start of 2015, 42 North American oil companies have filed for bankruptcy, 130,000 good paying energy jobs have been lost in the United States, and at this point 50 percent of all energy junk bonds are “distressed” according to Standard & Poor’s.  As you will see below, some of the big banks have a tremendous amount of loan exposure to the energy industry, and now they are bracing for big losses.  And the longer the price of oil stays this low, the worse the carnage is going to get.”

And as it is the European banks, there is no end in sight to this financial massacre of America’s economic life-blood. Let’s not forget that the best measure of global economic health, the Baltic Dry Index, continues to plummet to all-time low of under 300.

• 3.   The start of dot com bubble collapse.  

Yahoo price is down by 37%

4.  Crime rate has increased in major US cities:   Chicago, LA

This usually signals a dire economic situation

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Will Filipino voters still go for celebrities/popular persons?

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Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016

Have the Filipino voters been burned electing celebrities to top posts in the govt in the likes of Sens Lito Lapid, Robert Jaworski, Tito Sotto, (who else) ?

They will still vote for popular, easy to recall names, not so much of the substance or the character and competence of the candidate. Better name recall counts.  That is why dynasties will flourish and be stronger.  It is about preserving name recall and popularity.    Just look at the recent SWS survey. Who will be the top 10 senators and Senator Tito Sotto is a the top of the list (bakit patuloy siyang lumalabas sa popular noon time show.  Di ba bawal?

In the senatorial survey, the top five leading candidates were Senator Vicente Sotto III (52 percent), Panfilo Lacson (49 percent), Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto (wife is Vilma Santos an actress) (46 percent), former senator Francis Pangilinan (wife is Sharon Cuneta) (42 percent, and Senate President Franklin Drilon (40 percent).

Other senatorial candidates who were included in the top 10 were former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (38 percent), Senator Sergio Osmeña III (37 percent), Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao (popular personality)(35 percent), former Justice secretary Leila de Lima (35 percent), and former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros (27 percent).

The survey showed a close race for the last two seats, among Senator Teofisto Guingona III (26 percent), former senator Richard Gordon (26 percent), Valenzuela Representative Sherwin Gatchalian (23 percent), and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva (22 percent).

Why the political leaders want the culture of dependency to be unbroken? Why education and business growth would be the least priortiy?

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Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016

When were activists about 40 years ago, we fought and chanted vs all the ISMO, ISMS. One of them was feudalism, (PIYUDALISMO)   It was  landlord tenant relationship, like a king to his vassal. It is a culture of dependency and patronage.  The tenants/vassal, the fief takes care of the farm and planting, the lord gives them all the help - financial, etc.  To be sponsors of wedding baptism, and take care of the needs of the vassals.  It was a healthy functional relationship. I did not know exactly why we activists were against.

Then came land reform; the farmers were given land.  And yet they remained poor.  Why - because no landlord gave them or lent them farm inputs or cash to tide them over during the time they were waiting for harvest.

Fast forward to modern times.  Maybe the farmers now have lands and maybe they know of the opportunities to be independent educated and wealthy.  The lords (the jueteng, land, drug, political, war) will exert every effort to make the people think of their own (by being educated) or be rich.

We must get out that thinking that the political leaders have our future and prosperity in their hands.  We can be who and what we want to be without them.  We have proven this time and time again.  Some of our multinationals expanded without govt help and intervention.  It was purely private venture and perspiration

No more ISMO

The "Unbroken" movie reminds what enemy means and how they are to be treated (accordingly)

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Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016.

I saw a long movie this week entitled "Unbroken"  produced and directed by Angelina Jolie.  It was made in the year 2000 and grossed about $160 million.  It is based on a true story, a book written by Laura Hillerbrand of the same title  "Unbroken,  A World War II story of Survival,  Redemption, and Resilience."

The story revolves around Louie Zamperini who became an Olympic athlete because his brother motivated him because of this saying, " If you can take it, you can live it"  He was trained by his brother Phil.  He qualified for the Berlin summer Olympics, coming in 8th and setting a world record on the final lap.

He joins the Air Force and became a crew of a bomber.  He had a mishap all ready his plane crash landing after a bombing run.  The repaired plane which they flew again crashed into the ocean after developing engine trouble.  Only 3 of them:  Phil, Mac and Louie survived floating for 47 days.  The third one Mac eventually died.  One day, thinking that it was friendly plane they signalled it and was promptly strafed.  It was a Jap plane. They were eventually rescued by the Japanese and eventually became POW.  They were beaten etc and treated as prisoners.

                                         The Camp CO, Bird Watanabe "You are an enemy of Japan, and you
                                                           will be treated accordingly"


Louie turned up in Tokyo camp where the commanding officer,  Mituhiro "Bird"Watanabe and he took special interest in Louie because  of being a former Olympian.  Punishment was often physical and psychological.  Louie was released from the camp after he agreed to broadcasting to US about conditions of POW camps.  He agreed to a neutral first broadcast. But when he was forced to read a prepared anti US speech.  he was eventually sent back to prison.  Louie was punished by having each of the officer of the camp punch Louie in the face. Bird was eventually promoted and transferred to another prison.

Their camp was destroyed during a US bombing raid, and their group was transferred up north to coal processing facility where to the dismay of other the head was Bird.   Bird again punished Louie more brutally hitting him often with a bamboo stick.   At one point he was asked to lift a 12 x 3 x 48 wood plank which as you may guess too heavy.  Bird Watanabe asked him to lift this and lift this over his head.  The "If you can take it, you can live it rang in his ears" and he was able to lift the plank When he did it he looked at Watanabe which was prohibited.   Watanabe beat Louie again.  This time it was Watanabe after the beating.  Louie was unbroken

Cong. Fmr. Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao gets into controversy after sexist remarks

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Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016

Senatorial Candidate Manny Pacquiao's comment on same sex marriage drew artillery barrage from the community so offended and even high profile rebuff from likes of Vice Ganda and Aiza Seguerra.  The Nike endorsement contract of Pacquiao which could be millions of dollars was promptly removed. for having offended  may be which amounts to a sizeable market for Nike. That is why the Pope has been against too much consumerism.  One loses sense of values if you pander to an interest group who could be fatally wrong.

Why cant we react vs the Pope.?   Why should we react vs his disciples who profess the same faith?

It is worth noting that Sen Myriam Santiago same remarks that same sex marriage is worse than animals because you never see same sex animals copulating. nary drew a flak from the offended segment.  Why did they cross Manny and not Myriam.  Because di sila tatantanan ni Myriam.

Manny should stay put and we admire his stand for standing by his religious stand.   What would Bro Manalo say on same sex marraige or Ely Soriano?

Same.

Why a Presidential candidate was DQ'd? to prevent national scandal from happening

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Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016

No it cant be told.  We were wondering why the justices were citing the illogical reason for the DQ case of presidential candidate.  The grape vine has it that the justices do not want a national scandal.  Thus the problem has to be stopped right now.

I was informed that the honorable justices know that the said candidate was born in the US to a famous actress,  because the mother, related to a famous actress  related to a former unsuccessful presidential candidate bore the child to ____.  The mother delivered the baby abroad.  So the foundling story at Iloilo is not very true. If the story indeed is true, talagang hindi natural born Filipino citizen, even the domicile theory will not hold water. That makes her really related to a VP candidate.   If they both win, kagulo lalo.  Ano ba yan?

If the justices were to disclose this to the public this is a scandal and would harm:  the candidate, her family -  husband and children and her followers.  The family of the real father (who is a historical figure) and taint the picture of the Philippines with scandal. (if she gets elected) So why hang the dirty linen.

So with this I kept quiet about supporting the candidacy of the said person, and stopped questioning the DQ or petition not to give due course.  The Comelec is right and so with the justices who voted for the DQ

From where we are, we really are not aware of the truth

Are you a terrorist? A gossiper, rumor monger, according to the Pope is a terrorist;

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We have internet and emails as correct channel to communicate.  However gossip is more powerful than blog;   FB has made the gossip vine even stronger.  We are surprised that some male professional (and even licensed at that) are good in this sport.  They fail utterly as professionals;  (you cant be good in everything)   May the good Lord bless them

It is even far worse to do this to people who are no longer around us.  We can do something more constructive and productive


Terroristic act

                            Maraming tsimosa at bumibili nito
                                  ay palasimba at pious

Ano ang better disguised bribery: the promise of bigger IRA to LGU or BUB?

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Rizal Philippines
February 16, 2016

Many candidates, especially for the top positions are fond of OPM. Using other peoples money or better UGM (Using Govt Money) or Using Taxpayer Money (UTM) to get what they want ie to get elected.  Is it bribery.

How can they can bribe?

1.  Higher salary (the employer shoulders the cost)  The labor sector will vote for the candidate, naturally

2.  Higher IRA share (as one of the very busy Pres candidate has been peddling to the LGU -  mayors and barangay head  UTM

Will PDAF/pork stop? From PCIJ

More pork-like funds

Aside from an unprecedented gift of pork to Binay, Aquino and Budget Secretary Abad have also introduced additional pork-like lump-sum funds in the national budget, beginning 2011, the first Aquino administration budget.

In the General Appropriations Act for 2013, according to University of the Philippines Professor and former national treasurer Leonor Magtolis Briones, about P317.5 billion in special purpose funds or SPFs and P117.5 billion in unprogrammed funds had been proposed. Nearly all had been approved in the enacted budget.

Because these are “not as detailed and specific as the budget proposals of regular agencies,” Briones had warned that these “are vulnerable to reductions, transfers, and ‘adjustments’” since these are lump-sum funds.

The biggest tickets are the Budgetary Support to Government Corporations for P44.1 billion, Special Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGUs) of P17.5 billion, Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund of Ph70 billion, Retirement Benefits Fund, P70 billion, and Priority Social and Economic Projects (PSEP) Fund for P22.4 billion.

The amounts are even net of the 40 percent of national taxes that are automatically appropriated to LGUs as their IRA shares. The Philippines has 80 provinces, 143 cities, 1,493 municipalities, and 42,028 barangays. In 2011, their composite IRA reached P286.9 billion. This dipped to P273.3 billion in 2012, but soared again to P302.3 billion in 2013.

Aside from these direct transfers to LGUs is the massive Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program that the Aquino government has revved up multiple-fold in the last two years. From only P21.2 billion in 2011, the CCT budget coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has more than doubled: P44.3 billion in 2013.

Meanwhile, the P17.5-billion Special Financial Assistance to LGUs includes P15.8 billion in “Special Shares of Local Government Units in the Proceeds of National Taxes,” the P1.5 billion budget of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, P200 million in “Local Government Support Fund,” and P50 million in “Barangay Officials Death Benefits Fund.”

The P22.4-billion PSEP Fund is a new expense item in the 2013 budget. It kicks in as a new pork-like fund that has been split among certain departments for such programs as “Health Facilities Enhancement” (P13.5 billion), “Public-Private Sector Strategic Support Fund” (P1.5 billion), and “Various Programs/Projects of LGUs” (P1.7 billion), and “Support for the Bottom-Up Budgeting Process (Empowerment Fund, P250 million),” among others.

3.  BUB  of P1,000 per head on the way to tuwid na daan.  As the CCT are.  These are socialist agenda and encourages our people to be more indolent and mendicant.   Are they sending their children to school  UTM

Or Roxas promised the P100 million? Manila Times

Our candidates are imaginative creative and enterprising.  We salute them

As early as now, a couple can be disqualified for campaignin very early and beyond the budget allocation.  Who spent for their campaign?  UGM

Of course the winner is the one who has a better strategy of mobilizing resources Whether crooked, legal or illegal who cares?  May the best man/woman win?!!

Ano ang tuwid na daan? Marami yatang rotonda stop light o yoturn?

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Rizal Philippines
February 16, 2016

ANO ANG TUWID NA DAAN?

. My uncle told me last Saturday this father, (our late Lelong) said that to reach your goal, the shortest distance is the straight line between point A to point B. That is what he used to tell his children (my cousin)

But he also told me and he realized, that there are rotondays (circles or byways) in that road/path.

Thus his children told him that they may have diversions, but "Dad i will make sure that I reach that goal."

Now what is tuwid na daan. That of my Lelong or that of my cousin?

Take note that to reach that goal, time is an important resource. Many of our colleagues waste their time procrastinating ie putting off things that they can do today. Sometimes, they try to save on centavos but lose thousands daily on cost of money. How sad.: lack of perception of value and the real meaning of running a business.  Do not understand HABAKUK, the quick and the dead, the importance of time and speed as a competitive advantage

Sometimes they get bad habits for lack of strict supervision or lack of training and mentoring where they used to work before. Having ore salary and working in business district does not show that they had good training.  Some of them manage to give alibis, or object, after the meeting is over and decisions are made.  How can we succeed if the byways are our people? Who needs enemies and other hindrances.?

THE HEADS LEAD THE TAILS. Our actions affect others and their perception of success and leadership.

Gold price breaches $1,200/ounce the highest increase in a year amidst stock volatilty

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Rizal Philippines
February 13, 2015

From the week

Gold prices breached the $1,200 mark, the highest increase in over a year, amidst stock volatility worldwide.  and "weakening dollar" Investors usually look for safe haven when they find other investments to shaky or unsafe.

Could this signal the start of collapse  as was predicted to happen on Feb. 19?  Unlike the end of the world prediction, collapse of financial and capital markets do happen.!!1

VP Binay could be the next Philipine president

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Rizal Philippines
February 13, 2015

From Manila Times by Mauro G. Samonte

From Great Real Philippines - Why Filipino voters would vote for Binay?

Binay tops latest SWS survey, gets 29% share of votes (albeit lower than previous surveys)

    He cites that historically, all VP were elected President.  No Mayor Senator (Duterte Mar, and Grace Poe) was elected as President

As we analyze the data of candidates, I can conclude that VP Binay could be our next President, corruption allegations notwithstanding.    Even if the Ombudsman would charge him on the strength of evidences, as alleged to be overwhelming, it will take time to convict and disqualify Binay.

Why would I choose VP Binay to win?

 1.  He has a strong desire to be the next President.  You can see the fervor in his campaign sorties and his activities;

2.  He has the machinery and the resources to win the election:

      He is the head of BSP whose scoutmasters are teachers.  Teachers we know compromise the majority of Board of Election Canvassaers.  Binay has unpaid watchers in every precinct in the country.

    He has a big bunch of experts and leaders, managers to run his campaign, and lately rumored to be employing foreign (American campaign strategist)

   His campaign ads are greatly crafted aimed at neutralizing attacks vs his personality

3.  He has the strategy to win  (there are allegations that he is behind the DQ vs Sen. Grace Poe, his  biggest threat/opponent to winning the candidacy

    He has gone around municipalities allegedly promising IRAs to LGU up to P100 million.  Who cant resist that offer?  All the mayoralty candidates and barangay officials (grass root followers) are likely to support him.

WHO CANT RESIST AN OFFER THAT ONE CANT RESIST/REFUSE

Let us analyze the competition:

1.  Grace Poe - as neophyte and probably lacking the machinery and resources to run this nationwide campaign.  The DQ cases filed vs her has hobbled her campaign, the perception of the electorate (people are confused as to whether she is qualified or disqualified)

2.   Myriam -  Many of the youth support her, and her partnership with Bongbong can get her the young voters who compromise the majority of voters.  But health concerns are at the back of the mind of the voters.  And she has not made many public appearances

3.  Duterte -  his vacilllation and weaknesses - womanizing drinking, poor health, being a cowboy in approach to justice, and his seeming lack of having national perspective, would put Duterte at a disadvantage.  He admits he has no money nor the machinery like Binay to run the campaign. All he has are ragtag group of volunteers mostly from Mindanao.

4.  Mar - is seen as weak, his wife is looked at as the strong leader. The perception for Mar is that he is a Class A citizen and perceives the poor as just than.  The allegations that the administration violated the election code by  spending nearly a billion in pre election period (all ready) puts his "tuwid na daan" theme to be incredible.  Pictures of rotting foreign aid to Yolanda victims run through the minds of Visayan voters.

From FAQ PH - 6 reasons why Binay could win the Presidential Election

I am not related to Binay nor is this paid posting.  But I believe, Binay will win.

Hillary Clinton could be the next US President

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Rizal Philippines
February 11, 2016

Just as the seers and pundits predict, I too have a fearless forecast that former Secy of State Hillary Clinton will be the next US President.  You watch the debate and interviews and she is most cogent, very clear and very diplomatic and inclusive.  She is above all very diplomatic sharpened by her experience as Secy of State  The advice of fmr Pres and husband Bill Clinton would certainly help

Above all she could be wearing jockey.  She has balls!

112 reasons why Hillary Clinton would be the next President

Sen Bongbong Marcos could end up as country;s next Vice President

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Rizal Philippines
February 12, 2016

Rappler - The Leader I want

My fearless prediction is Sen. Bongbong Marcos could be the next VP of the country.  His political allies would make that possible.  Except for the Bicol Region,  Sen Marcos could get the  vote rich  provinces of Region I with his MasigaBONG, pasaluBONG campaign, the Eastern Visayas vote, the bailiwick of his mother.;   his running mate Presidential Candidate Sen. Santiago would support him at Western Visayas,  The youthful voters who support Sen Santiago would put in votes, demographic wise in the entire country.  If my informants are right, a candidate from Mindanao, would support the good Senator in Mindanao, provided he gets the support of the former in Northern Luzon. Makes strategic sense, doesnt it.

NCR and Region IV, Region 3 would just be the battle ground to fight for Sen. Marcos.

So despite the strong objection of the alleged victims of the father strongman, Sen Marcos might make it   Sen Marcos has matured enough, gained savvy and maturity and showed his brilliance on his stand on many occasions like SC Justice Corona;s impeachment, showed his balls on BBL.

He showed his courage when frontally attacked on the alleged wrong doing of his late father.

So the man to watch for next VP of the RP -  Sen Bongbong Marcos

Did the administration candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo violate the election code?

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Rizal Philippines
February 12, 2016

Congresswoman Leni Robredo was interviewed last night at a TV station regarding her candidacy for VPresidency.  While being  interviewed there were scripts being flashed on the screen like:    Nielsen estimates that the administration candidate have spent roughly a billion pesos for the ads;  while the limit for the the campaign is only P10 per voter or roughly P500,000,000.  There is all ready over spending and that they had a headstart.  The election period started only last February 9, 2016 But her ranking upped from 3% to a high 14% because of the election spending!

Some sectors are campaigning for the disqualification of the tandem since there were events and nominations conducted prior to the timelines prescribed by the law.  It was asked in the TV interview how could this staggering amount be recovered by the candidates?

But one is worried thattuwid na daan tandem all ready committed illegal acts while campaigning.

The post:     is gathering signature to have the duo disqualified

Hundreds of Filipinos and as high as millions could lose jobs in KSA and elsewhere in the world

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Rizal Philippines
February 5, 2016

                                        From Arabian business - up to 3 million expats could lose jobs at KSA due 
                                                                    to Saudinazation

The Iran KSA row over the beheading of a Shiite relgious leader (most of Iran leaders are Shiite, KSA are Sunnis) may break out into war.  The war could lead to loss of jobs.

From Manila Times - Iran Saudi row may displace millions of Filipino OFW

This is too sad as PHL is being kept afloat by OFW remittances.  All ready , CB discounted its projection of remittances by OFW.

The other reason is the low low oil prices. KSA and Russia makes money and can provide for its people's welfare at $80.00/barrel and up.   Oil is trading below $30.00 Russia is being hurt by this development, and is spending its cash reserves for paying its IOU.

From Business Mirror oil glut causes loss of jobs for OFW

Thus the oil majors closed their drilling operations because of oil prices that were at $26.10 last week.  Some 4,000 Filipinos working at oil rigs at Norway and North Sea did not get contract renewal.  The low prices and entry of Iran into a market that is a state of glut could not come at the worst moment.

However, many workers in ME are nurses, sales people and other professionals and may not be affected by this glut.  Middle East remittances account for 25% of the total  remittances and this was still OK as of December 2015

The bigger threat is the Saudinazation wherein KSA puts the limit of expats in their country to only20% of the total population to give job  opportunities to Arabs. The current number of expats stand at 8 million or 30% of the total Saudi population

Economic indicators favor high oil prices?

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Rizal Philippines
February 5, 2016

From the Guardian - why low oil prices hurt the stock market?

This post has seen several posts and watched several news at BBC, CNN, Channel News Asia that many stock markets closed lower in 2015, many of the shares being dragged by low oil prices.  High prices favor wealth creation and not consumer welfare.  Truly, a robust economy does not favor those who have less in life.  They are anti thesis.  Thus a country with great GDP, would also have poor people because wealth would be concentrated only in the hands of few stockholders, and stock market players?