Did PHL really achieve its super 7.8% GDP growth because of stability and good governance?

Social and political criticisms
                                               
                                                Tuwid na daan nga ba? Tila maraming liko2?

According to Moody's reasons for raising PHL debt to investment grade were good governance, debt consolidation, and peace and order.   The same could be said as reason for the super growth of PHL in the 2nd Quarter which is even better than China.

But with all the news about PDAF and DAP running into billions of pesos, one begins to doubt these to be the true reason.  The BPO, the construction sector, the OFW remittances have stayed steady and growing;  Filipino investors have made large bets on the PHL.  The country grew inspite of these scandals.   Let us be more sober and work harder so that we can continue providing jobs to our people


                                             

        

Unconstitutional deficit spending is the root of US problems - former Fed chief Greenspan

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From Money News by Dan Weil | September 2013

                    

The unconstitutional unrestrained deficit spending by the Fed govt is behind the problem that US is facing now - the US govt shutdown.  The shutdown could spark a financial crisis which would remove US from the eminent economic status it used to observe ie as Number 1 world economy.  If it goes into debt default.... which could be likely.  This was according to former Federal Reserve Bank Chief Alan Greenspan in his new book, "The Map and the Territory, Risk, Human Nature and the Future of Forecasting"

Behind the stand off is the uncontrolled spending of the govt.  It is to reach $640 to 700 Billion at the end of the fiscal year.  (I thought pump priming through deficit spending was a good idea?)

If US Congress/Senate fails to pass the new debt limit law, US would most likely lose the triple A rating its debt enjoys. It would be unable to pay the interest payments of $6 billion by Oct 31, 2013, would be in default and would have to pay higher interest rate.

Will deaths at Lampedusa Italy cause rethinking of immigration laws in Europe

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From DW

 

France and Italy are calling on the rest of Europe to rethink their immigration policies and to cooperate with this flood of refugees from rest of Africa and Asia, as 82 more bodies were recovered from sunked ship off the island of Lampedusa, Italy.  Most of those dead were from Somalia and Eriteria fleeing from harsh conditions in their countries.

Present during the recovery of the bodies was integration minister Cecile Kyenge, Congolese born.  The latest recovery brings to 232 the total dead. Of the 500 boat passengers only 155 survived.  Many more are missing.

Italy has requested that EU meeting in Luxemborg put the problem in its agenda.

Kyenge promised to change the law which punishes cladestine immigration with a fine of 5,000 Euros.  Morever, the refugee centers are hosting 4x its capacity.  Kyenge also promised to increase the capacity of immigration centers to 24,000.

The Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta gave Italian citizenship to the dead last Friday, the official day of mourning for the dead from Lampedusa. (From Euroobserver October 7, 2013)

Do you agree with PM Letta or Minister Cecile Kyenge?  Should Europe allow refugees to flood Europe while Europe herself is not doing well with its economy?  Should Europe be more compassionate?

Could mini drones endanger civil liberties?

Social and political criticisms

            
     

We have often thought of drones as used for spying and air strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan border, and very sinister.

I first saw use of drones in surveying and make aerial mapping efficient and cost effective.  They do not have to hire pilots and expensive full size planes and aerial cameras.  The mini drone does all the work  at fraction of cost and time

There seems to be a proliferation of mini drone and many look at them as incursion of civil liberties and human rights. What do you think?

Private mini drones at YOu Tube

Mini drones from CNN Innovation Nation

From Topix - are miniature drones all ready monitoring Americans

Many personalities call the Disbursement Acceleration Program unconstitutional and illegal - another impeachment in the offing?

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                                          Fr Bernas on DAP -  illegal and unconstitutional


From ABS CBN news | October 1 2013

At least 3 Senators (two incumbent - Ping and Miriam) and former (Joker) called the Disbursement Acceleration Program as unconstitutional.  No law allows the "juggling of funds" as it were without appropiate legislation from Congress.   The PDAF may have been corrupted but its disbursement/creation was legal.

About a billion pesos were appropiated for senators (P50 million each) post SC Corona impeachment.  PNoy defended it as being post event and therefore is not a bribe.

Several personalities are questioning the constitutionality the DAP before the Supreme Court.

Fr. Joaquin Bernas, a constitution expert has all ready expressed his view that DAP is illegal and unconstitutional!

So  PDAF + DAP = HOLDAP?

If we are consistent with impeachment of Corona, we should impeach responsible people for this.

Tamang daan, tuwid na daan?

What do you think?