It had to happen, sooner or later.
This latest nickname for the American president was seen on a protester’s placard in New Hampshire—the first state that gets to vote in US electoral primaries—after Trump said the other day that he might consider pushing the death penalty for “drug kingpins” who, because of their deadly trade, effectively commit multiple murder.
Such a move would of course have to clear the US Congress as well as the Supreme Court, which among other things would have to rule whether such a drastic federal penalty is proportionate to the gravity of the offense committed. Evidently Trump thinks so, an opinion that is obviously shared by Donald’s “brother” Digong.
* * *
But neither Trump nor other right-thinking Americans should need a Duterte to point out the gravity of the threat posed by the drug trade. The entirety of American culture today is awash in drugs, so much so that a wildly popular TV series like “Breaking Bad” could run for nearly ten seasons purely on the misadventures of a couple of social misfits who turn to baking crystal meth, or shabu.
The reason drug usage gets away with a wink and a nod in the States—and can even end up being glorified like the heroes of “Breaking Bad”—is the reification of Rights and of the Self in that thoroughly self-absorbed culture. If I’m able to get away with doing something, no matter what it is, then it’s probably a Right that I’m entitled to, just because it’s something I want to do.
It’s a pervasive way of thinking that cuts across ideological divides. On the far right, groups like the NRA are ready to die for their constitutional right to bear arms, even if that so-called right is clearly premised by the US Constitution on the existence of, and need for, a popular militia—one that, 250 years later, has long been replaced by a professional standing army.
On the lefty-liberal side, the same groups who’d oppose Trump’s death penalty for druggies—let alone Duterte’s far harsher statements—are virtually certain to be the same people who’d cheer the Right of American mothers to murder a million unborn babies every year, vilify pro-life Catholics exercising their own free speech rights as “the new Taliban,” and want the US State Department to coerce countries like ours to adopt abortion policies buried deep within “planned parenthood” and “responsible parenthood” programs.
The hypocrisy—on human rights, unborn babies’ rights, drug criminals’ rights—is so rank, it makes you gag.
But doesn’t an abortion ban drive women with unwanted pregnancies underground? Heck, yes, and of course it should. Murdering the unborn is a practice that deserves to be carried out with shame, in the shadows. Underground is where it belongs, together with purveyors of the drug trade—in their case, six feet under.
* * *
Talking about hypocrisy may not be the best segue into a look at the latest news from our esteemed leaders in Congress. Or—maybe it is?
Over at the House, the honorable congressmen voted a new divorce bill into law, 134-57 with two abstentions. It was noteworthy that after the vote, Duterte broke his conspicuous silence on the issue to reveal that, no, he was opposed to the new bill, because it would be “disadvantageous” to children and abandoned mothers.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who shepherded the bill through the House, has announced that he will be talking to the President to try and change his mind. After all, they share a common history of failed first marriages—one which unfortunately is all too common as well in our country, whether or not the couple is honest, or lucky, enough to split up and move on.
We sense, however, that Duterte is being canny about the divorce issue, which isn’t part of his core agenda for governance. If the true believers in the Senate on either side of this issue win his vote against the other side, they ought to add their strength to the President’s on the issues that do matter to him.
Speaking of the Senate, those exalted ladies and gentlemen approved, by 17-2, a new law creating a national identification system. The new national ID card can be used in all transactions with government, making it more convenient for our citizens to avail of public services. The ball is now with the House to come up with a similar counterpart bill from their end, which can then be consolidated into a single law for the President’s OK.
The new ID card ought to be less controversial than divorce, except for the usual leftist claptrap about government invasion of privacy. But what may upset some other folks is a recent estimate from Neda that the new system may cost up to P24 billion to roll out. We hope we get to see the details about those imposing costs as soon as possible.
* * *
We close with our occasional roundup of economic news, most of it, again, positive:
The Philippines finally inked a new agreement for a P51-billion loan from Japan to finance the planned Metro Manila subway. This will be the first tranche for the P357-billion first phase of this ambitious project. Even if it breaks ground on schedule, it’s sure to be unfinished by the time Duterte steps down. That’s why we ought to elect the right man—or woman—again in 2022.
AMRO, a regional think tank, expects our economy to grow even faster in 2018 and 2019 due to buoyant exports and higher domestic consumption driven by grand infrastructure projects like the new subway. But even with funds like the Japanese loans coming in, I’m not sure if we have the non-financial resources—technical talent, cooperative local governments, transparency and political will—to start up all those projects on schedule.
All that growth is bound to take a toll on the country’s financials. The current account deficit more than doubled last year to hit its highest level since 1999, mainly because of strong imports. The overall balance of payments deficit also more than doubled last year, albeit still within government’s original target due to record-high inflows of foreign direct investments. And this early, the 4 percent inflation target for the current year is already certain to be breached.
To put things in perspective, though, any fast-growing economy always runs the risks of overheating as well as over-leverage. Even as we’re watching out for these risks, let’s not take our eyes off the prize.
Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.
This latest nickname for the American president was seen on a protester’s placard in New Hampshire—the first state that gets to vote in US electoral primaries—after Trump said the other day that he might consider pushing the death penalty for “drug kingpins” who, because of their deadly trade, effectively commit multiple murder.
Such a move would of course have to clear the US Congress as well as the Supreme Court, which among other things would have to rule whether such a drastic federal penalty is proportionate to the gravity of the offense committed. Evidently Trump thinks so, an opinion that is obviously shared by Donald’s “brother” Digong.
* * *
But neither Trump nor other right-thinking Americans should need a Duterte to point out the gravity of the threat posed by the drug trade. The entirety of American culture today is awash in drugs, so much so that a wildly popular TV series like “Breaking Bad” could run for nearly ten seasons purely on the misadventures of a couple of social misfits who turn to baking crystal meth, or shabu.
The reason drug usage gets away with a wink and a nod in the States—and can even end up being glorified like the heroes of “Breaking Bad”—is the reification of Rights and of the Self in that thoroughly self-absorbed culture. If I’m able to get away with doing something, no matter what it is, then it’s probably a Right that I’m entitled to, just because it’s something I want to do.
It’s a pervasive way of thinking that cuts across ideological divides. On the far right, groups like the NRA are ready to die for their constitutional right to bear arms, even if that so-called right is clearly premised by the US Constitution on the existence of, and need for, a popular militia—one that, 250 years later, has long been replaced by a professional standing army.
On the lefty-liberal side, the same groups who’d oppose Trump’s death penalty for druggies—let alone Duterte’s far harsher statements—are virtually certain to be the same people who’d cheer the Right of American mothers to murder a million unborn babies every year, vilify pro-life Catholics exercising their own free speech rights as “the new Taliban,” and want the US State Department to coerce countries like ours to adopt abortion policies buried deep within “planned parenthood” and “responsible parenthood” programs.
The hypocrisy—on human rights, unborn babies’ rights, drug criminals’ rights—is so rank, it makes you gag.
But doesn’t an abortion ban drive women with unwanted pregnancies underground? Heck, yes, and of course it should. Murdering the unborn is a practice that deserves to be carried out with shame, in the shadows. Underground is where it belongs, together with purveyors of the drug trade—in their case, six feet under.
* * *
Talking about hypocrisy may not be the best segue into a look at the latest news from our esteemed leaders in Congress. Or—maybe it is?
Over at the House, the honorable congressmen voted a new divorce bill into law, 134-57 with two abstentions. It was noteworthy that after the vote, Duterte broke his conspicuous silence on the issue to reveal that, no, he was opposed to the new bill, because it would be “disadvantageous” to children and abandoned mothers.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who shepherded the bill through the House, has announced that he will be talking to the President to try and change his mind. After all, they share a common history of failed first marriages—one which unfortunately is all too common as well in our country, whether or not the couple is honest, or lucky, enough to split up and move on.
We sense, however, that Duterte is being canny about the divorce issue, which isn’t part of his core agenda for governance. If the true believers in the Senate on either side of this issue win his vote against the other side, they ought to add their strength to the President’s on the issues that do matter to him.
Speaking of the Senate, those exalted ladies and gentlemen approved, by 17-2, a new law creating a national identification system. The new national ID card can be used in all transactions with government, making it more convenient for our citizens to avail of public services. The ball is now with the House to come up with a similar counterpart bill from their end, which can then be consolidated into a single law for the President’s OK.
The new ID card ought to be less controversial than divorce, except for the usual leftist claptrap about government invasion of privacy. But what may upset some other folks is a recent estimate from Neda that the new system may cost up to P24 billion to roll out. We hope we get to see the details about those imposing costs as soon as possible.
* * *
We close with our occasional roundup of economic news, most of it, again, positive:
The Philippines finally inked a new agreement for a P51-billion loan from Japan to finance the planned Metro Manila subway. This will be the first tranche for the P357-billion first phase of this ambitious project. Even if it breaks ground on schedule, it’s sure to be unfinished by the time Duterte steps down. That’s why we ought to elect the right man—or woman—again in 2022.
AMRO, a regional think tank, expects our economy to grow even faster in 2018 and 2019 due to buoyant exports and higher domestic consumption driven by grand infrastructure projects like the new subway. But even with funds like the Japanese loans coming in, I’m not sure if we have the non-financial resources—technical talent, cooperative local governments, transparency and political will—to start up all those projects on schedule.
All that growth is bound to take a toll on the country’s financials. The current account deficit more than doubled last year to hit its highest level since 1999, mainly because of strong imports. The overall balance of payments deficit also more than doubled last year, albeit still within government’s original target due to record-high inflows of foreign direct investments. And this early, the 4 percent inflation target for the current year is already certain to be breached.
To put things in perspective, though, any fast-growing economy always runs the risks of overheating as well as over-leverage. Even as we’re watching out for these risks, let’s not take our eyes off the prize.
Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.
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