if you were in their shoes?
Faithful reader Abbygail asks a provocative question:
… if you will be tapped by the govt. to serve in teves’ shoes, what will you do to change the rut we’re in? help the people w/ your ideas. we cannot be blaming each other forever and just sit still. what will you do if given that chance to serve?
I personally do not think that an interactive forum like ours requires its participants to offer specific alternatives (in contrast, for example, to a newspaper editorial). It’s more than enough to express ourselves and discuss issues with others. But I do share Abbygail’s concern about moving forward (note, please, that I did not use that old plea to “move on” — euphemism for forgiving and forgetting).
If we were in a high official’s place, what, specifically, would we do? No need to limit ourselves to Finance Secretary Gary Teves; how about we choose one department (say, DND) or agency (say, Pagcor), and then offer our proposed (specific) solutions?
Should be interesting. But, please, keep it specific. As they say, God (or the devil) is in the details.
December 19th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
thanks to john n., for finding my question provocative…
to marius….i find your piece on pagcor interesting. and yes, the govt. attracts only low-life scum bec. of its so-so pay. i’ve written about this a while back, as one root of corruption is low-pay. let us not allow the govt as the last recourse of the incompetents
(note: thanks for the positive criticism on the question i posed)
December 19th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Marius Lardizabal
I’d like to be part of Pagcor.
I’ll start off by pushing for the legalization of gambling on all fronts. And establishing a fix tax collection system that will rival Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Then, I’ll modernize and absorb jueteng in the fold. That way existing kubradors et al will remain employed. I’ll invite existing jueteng bankers to be silent partners. And at the same time legalize the operation and remove all doubts of irregularity.
Then, once we have jueteng running and churning, I’ll further introduce special economic zones for Off Shore gaming companies similar to the setup of First Cagayan. Creating more jobs and more tax revenues.
Those three alone are not far fetched. I along with a couple of mates have decades worth of experience on online gaming abroad thus I’m pretty sure we can get the job done and right, in a short span of time.
Of course this is on the assumption that the religious folks we have here will be more open to pragmatic and practical solutions to our economic problems.
Bringing out in the open taboo things like gambling makes it easier to regulate and monitor. And at the same earn big money for everyone.
Now, if anyone here brings up corruption, I say to you, government is corrupt because we attract low life scum because the pay is so so.
Simply put, We get what we pay for.
If we are willing to pay more for civil service then I bet you more talented folks we come forward and share/put their God given skills to good use.
Please no violent reactions just constructive comments.
*************
Whoa! You want the juenting Lord to be your silent parther? Way to go corruption in government will never end. Sus! dios mio.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
This is out of topic but I’d like comment on something:
===========================
“…Ang Mayayaman Lalong Yumayaman, ang mahihirap lalong humihirap…”
This one is takes the cake.
No wonder folks who believe in this statement remain at what they are, depressed!
Have we ever wondered why do we have this class system in the first place? Unlike the Indian Caste system we filipinos are not born in a class contrary to popular belief.
We choose our class because of the decisions we make / take everyday.
So please stop blaming everyone (elite class man o hindi) for our misery. If we need to point a finger, lets blame ourselves.
The Rich folks are where they are now simply because they had/have the guts and vision to push through with their dreams no matter what the obstacles (laid in front of them). Case in point are Mr. Herny Sy and Sen Manny Villar. Now if other rich folks got to where they are now because of other means then let God be their Judge, not us, that is if we truly believe in God in the first place.
Some folks don’t like the Class system but I think it is unavoidable, kahit nga sa mga Kommunista me classifications pa rin sa Demokrasya pa kaya.
Again going back to the Indian caste, we are lucky because in our class system anyone can switch levels if they so choose to.
Apologies for the OT, I just can’t resist to comment.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:21 am
What would I do?
Just do my job. First of all, I got in because I wanted it or I did not refuse the offer. So what if I am in despite all the negative perceptions towards the administration?
Yet, how come that many of the cabinet members are doing well, much more than all the good men in past administrations have done combined.
It’s only during GMA’s time that the budget deficits are being seriously addressed and solved, from 300b during Erap’s to 60b this year and zero next year.
If the GMA administration is corrupt, how come the economy is improving; how come our foreign and domestic debts are going down; how come tourism is doing well; how come majority of big corporations are making big profits?
All these happen because the atmosphere is totally different from what the GMA critics and oppositors want the people to believe. The truth is, the corruption perception is artificially planted in the minds of the poor Filipinos by the corrupt media and the crab opposition. Even the prestigious survey firms are also joining the campaign to bring down the present dispension.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:34 am
bow ako lahat sa inyo, ang gagaling……
bakit kaya hindi natin gawing superpower nation ang pinas…….
with all the ofws that we have…….
let it be known to the whole world…….
na pag sinabi ng presidente ng pilipinas, na huwag kayo magtrabo for a week, susunod lahat…….
ano kaya ang mangyayari sa economy ng bansa pinagtatrabahuan nila……
weird idea no……
merry christmas……