The Middle Class Should Grow in Number

I have been thinking lately. Being the conservative that I am, I have been trying to think of solutions to many problems of the Philippine and I have come up with the conclusion that the Philippines needs it middle class to grow in numbers.

Here goes.

One of the problem that we face if the skyrocketing number of our population. We are now 97 million Filipinos. And a great number of our countrymen have no jobs. The government is greatly burdened by services and welfare. And we all get bad service. It may seem far fetched but my conclusion is that that in order to arrest the growth of our population and the to alleviate poverty is that the middle class should grow in numbers.

WHY?
Because the middle class are the ones who make few children, It’s rare nowadays to see large middle class families. Many of our young professionals even reach the age of 30-35 before getting married and having children. Heck, our population may even shrink after 20 years if the middle class grow in number.


How are we going to do it?

Well of course we need to formulate a policy that will foster the growth of the middle class. One way I could think of is to overhaul our system of income taxation. At present, every tax payer can have tax exemptions based on the number of his/her dependents. The more dependents you have, the more exemptions you can avail. So if you are the poor sucker who is single and has no dependent, you have to pay the government more. Doesn’t sound fair does it? Add to it the fact that minimum wage earners are now exempt from paying income tax. And that most minimum wage earners and the jobless are the ones who have large numbers of dependents. This group of people who contribute little to the government coffers are the ones who pass on a great burden to the government through their dependents. They greatly burden the public education and public health systems. They greatly burden the government services. And who pays for all these? The MIDDLE CLASS.

What if, we have a system of collecting income taxes that is the exact opposite of what we have now. The less dependents you have, the less taxes you pay. You pay the government in taxes for every child that you bring into this world until they join the workforce. If your children does not go to a public school, you can file it for tax exemption. If your family did not avail of government services in health care, you can file it for exemption. Those low income families who have few dependents can now enjoy lesser taxes. And slowly but surely, they can now afford better education and their children will join the ranks of the middle class when they join the workforce. And the government services will be less burdened by welfare and public education and public health services can now finally be improved.

This is just one policy I could think of that immediately benefits those who practice family planning. It rewards people with lesser taxes by reproducing less. So they can spend the money they save elsewhere to better themselves and contribute to the economy.
And we will have a better quality and better educated population. And with a better quality and better educated population we will have a better workforce and better leaders and maybe the Philippines can finally be a great nation.

We need to stop this welfare state attitude. Our own betterment is in our own hands. The middle class should push for reforms in income taxation. We should resist the socialist policies of the government.

Mikey Arroyo buying liquor amidst Typhoon Ondoy

Maglalasing na lang siguro siya dahil narealize niya na siya ay isang walang silbi at walang kwentang tao.

Namputcha

Namputcha o. Ang hirap magblog ah. Then again long weekend this week, lots of ideas going through my head and all I did was play with my son, watch DVD and sleep. Ang dami kong gustong itackle na issue pero halo-halong kalamay ang nasa utak ko. Leche. Manood na nga lang ako ng DVD.

Labanan ang HB 6658

Isa na naming kaululan ang nire-railroad ng mga amuyong sa kongreso. Ito ay ang HB 6658 entitled
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STIFFER PENALTIES FOR FIREARMS-RELATED CRIMES, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PD 1866 AS AMENDED ENTITLED “CODIFYING THE LAWS ON ILLEGAL / UNLAWFUL POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, DEALING, ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF FIREARMS, AMMUNITION OR EXPLOSIVES AND IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND RELEVANT PURPOSES

Ayon sa panukalang ito, lalo nitong pahihigpitin ang pagmamay-ari ng mga baril ng mga sibilyan. Dinagdagan nito ang restrriksyon sa kung ano ang maaaring ma-acquire ng isang sibilyan a baril
The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon any person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess a light weapon. The term light weapon refers to a weapon designed for use by two or more persons serving as a crew or maybe carried and used by a single person which shall include drum-fed and belt fed submachine light and heavy machine guns, hand held under barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti aircraft guns, portable anti tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti aircraft missile systems and mortars of a caliber of less than one hundred millimeters, a light weapon shall be lawfully acquired or possessed exclusively by the armed forces of the Philippines or the Philippine national police.


In any case, where an unlicensed firearm or light weapon is carried in parts by, or is otherwise in the possession of two (2) or more persons, each and every one of the of those persons shall be deemed in possession of the firearms or light weapon.


When more than three person are armed, and any of the arms carried by any of said persons is an unlicensed firearm or light weapon. It shall be presumed that there is an intention to commit another crime other than that of illegal possession of firearms or light weapon

Binago sa panukalang batas na ito ang depinisyon ng light weapon

1. "designed for use by two or more persons serving as a crew" ALREADY FORBIDDEN TO CIVILIANS.

2. "maybe carried and used by a single person" - that means all guns, no matter the caliber, make or action.

Kung ating susumahin, wala anumang klase o kalibre ng baril ang papasa sa qualification sa itinakda ng panukalang batas na ito. Ang kailangan na lang gawin ng gobyerno ay pahigpitin ng husto ang mga restriksyon upang gawing imposibleng makapagmayari ng baril ang mga sibilyan sa legal na pamamaraan.

Ano ba ang intension sa likod ng batas na ito?
Kung titingnan natin sa mga kasaysayan ng mundo, ang unang hakbangin na ginagawa ng mga despotikong gobyerno upang makapagpatupad ng martial law ay ang pagdisarma sa mga sibilyan. Kung ating matatandaan, noong idineklara ni Presidente Marcos ang Martial Law noong 1972, kasabay na inilunsad ng pamahalaan ang pagkumpiska sa mga baril na nasa pagmamayari ng mga sibilyan, legal man o illegal. Hindi kaya ito ay isa na namang pakana ng gobyernong Arroyo para alisin ang mga baril sa kamay ng mga sibilyan para siguruhin na walang makakahadlang sa balakin niyang magdeklara ng martial law upang mabago ang saligang batas upang mapahaba ang kanyang termino bilang pangulo ng bansa?

At sino naman ang kawawang tatamaan ng panukalang batas na ito? Siyempre ang mga law-abiding citizens. Mga lisensyadong nagmamayari ng baril. Mga lehitimong pribadong indibidwal na namumuhay ng mapayapa at sumusunod sa batas. Ayon na din sa PNP, sa mga krimen kung saan sangkot ang mga baril, 95% ay mga illegal, unregistered at loose firearms ang involved. 5% lang ang involved na mga rehistradong baril. Sa madaling salita, hindi mga lehitimong nagmamayari ng baril ang problema. Sa palagay kaya ng mga kongresistang ito ay susunod sa batas ang mga kriminal? Na hihinto sa pagbili ng matataas na kalibre ng baril ang mga masasamang elemento sa lipunan? Ang tanging gagawin lamang ng panukalang batas na ito ay alisan ng kakayanan ang mga lehitimong at mapayapang sibilyan na ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili laban sa mga masasamang elemento. Iaasa na lang ba natin ang ating kaligtasan sa kapulisan?. Sa mismong oras ba ng pangangailangan darating ba ang pagsaklolo ng kapulisan sa isang kisap mata upang tayo ay iligtas? E alam naman nating lahat na ang kapulisan ay reactive in nature. Sila ay first responders lamang. Meaning, darating sila kapag may nangyari na..

Bilang isang malayang mamamayan, hindi natin dapat iasa sa ibang tao, sa kapulisan o sa pamahalaan ang ating kaligtasan at seguridad. Tungkulin at karapatan nating lahat na ipagtanggol ang ating mga sarili laban sa pisikal na pagatake ng mga masasamang elemento. Tungkulin natin ito sa ating sarili at sa ating mga pamilya. Karapatan natin ito na dapat nating ipagtanggol.

Higit sa lahat, bilang isang malayang mamamayan, kung tayo nga ay totoong malaya, tungkulin nating lahat na ipagtanggol ang mga karapatan at ang demokrasya na tinamo natin. Sa mapayapang pamamaraan kung maaari. Sa pamamagitan ng dahas kung kinakailangan.

Kabi-kabila ang mga kaaway ng ating demokrasya. Mula sa mga komunistang grupo at makakanang radikal hanggang sa mga panatikong grupo ng mga teroristang muslim. Nang dahil sa mga armas sa kamay ng mga sibilyan, naipagtanggol ng mga sibilyan ang kanilang mga sarili laban sa pagatake ng grupo nila Umbra Kato at Kumander Bravo ng MILF sa maraming araw na ayaw silang ipagtanggol ng ating pamahalaan. Bukod sa MILF, nandyan ang Abu-Sayyaf, nandyan din ang CPP-NPA, andyan din ang iba’t-ibang grupo ng mga tulisan. Mga kaaway ng demokrasya. Darating ba ang mga tropa ng pamahalaan bago dumanak ang dugo ng mga inosenteng sibilyan? At kung darating ang panahong ang gobyerno na mismo ang nambibiktima sa mga inosenteng sibilyan, paano natin ipagtatanggol an gating mga sarili? Ilang genocide, at mass murder ang dapat sana’y naiwasan sa buong mundo kung ang mga mapayapang sibilyan ay mayroong armas sa kanilang kamay.
Ang United Nations na siyang pangunahing nagsusulong ng Small Arms control sa buong mundo, ano ba ang nagawa nito upang mapigilan at mahinto ang mga genocide? Inutil ang United Nations laban sa mga ganitong kaganapan. Dahil ang totoo, ang aking kaligtasan, ang iyong kaligtasan at ang ating demokrasya ay kaya lamang ipagtanggol ng ating mithiin na ipagtanggol ito sa kahit anumang paraan. Hindi ba't dahas ang ginamit ni Cory Aquino, aminin man natin o hindi, upang talunin ang mga pagtatangka sa ating demokrasya noong siay ay pangulo?

Unti-unti, nagiging “Nanny state” ang ating bansa. Unti-unti, inaalis ng ating pamahalaan ang mga karapatan nating mga mamamayan. Dapat nating labanan ang anumang batas na naglalayong disarmahan ang mga sibilyan. Tungkulin natin ito. Karapatan natin ito.

 

 

  

 

Conservative Pinoy and his guns

I like guns. I own quite a few. Maybe more than a few. I have spent a considerable amount of money in them. My dad taught me how to shoot when I was 7 years old. It runs in the family.


I believe in gun ownership. For 2 main reasons.
1. It is my "right" (privilege according to Philippine law) and duty to be able to own weapons that I can use to defend myself and my family.
2. It is my duty as a Filipino to own weapons to defend my country against its enemies foreign and domestic.

None of them are airsoft stuff. They are all real steel. Not all of them are still mine, I sold some of them to friends and family.I believe that a free man should be able to own the tools with which he can defend his freedom, his family and his country. An armed citizen is a free man.A disarmed citizen is a subject.

MOLON LABE

A politician I know

His name is Anthony Miranda. He came form the political clan of the Mirandas from Santiago City, Isabela. His father is the former mayor of Santiago City and was killed in the 1980’s. His older brother Pempe, likewise is a former mayor of Santiago City. Anthony followed in the footsteps of his father and brother. He was elected as councilor of Santiago City duing the term of Pempe as mayor. Then he ran for congressman of the 4th District of Isabela Province in 2004 and won defeating Giorgidi Aggabao. He however lost to Aggabao during the 2007 elections. No I’m not writing about his political convictions. I'm not writing about his accomplishments or lack of thereof. I’m not gonna touch the issues he got involved in. I don’t know anything about that. I’m writing about what I saw during the 2007 elections.

I had to opportunity to get to know the guy when one day in January 2007. I received a text message from him asking me to meet him in Annabel’s in Tomas Morato. I said what the fuck? Why would a politician be interested in meeting me?. At that time aside from my regular job as an IT officer in a remittance company, I also work as a part-time IT instructor in Informatics at SM North Edsa. Apparently, he asked Informatics for an IT person capable of working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I was the one they referred. So I met the guy and he contracted me to work on a GIS project that he can use to monitor where his PDF goes and to profile his constituents. He also plans to use it for analyzing the voters in his district. The guy is a big believer in technology.

In the 5 months that followed, I was traveling weekly to Santiago, Isabela for continued consultation on the project. Eventually I became close to his family, as election period draws near, I learned and personally saw the practice of the Miranda family. The Miranda family never spent a single cent buying votes. They never used goons to intimidate voters. This I personally saw during the 2007 elections. As I grew close to Anthony’s family, I also became involved in the campaigns. Their practice of not buying votes has always worked for them. Although not all of them wins, a Miranda is always in position. His brother Pempe lost to Amelita Navarro as mayor of Santiago City in 2004 but Anthony won as congressman, Sadly though, the Miranda family’s luck ran out in 2007. They lost due to massive vote buying, voter intimidation and vote rigging of their opponents. Their opponents have put vote buying stations early on during the campaign but the Mirandas never did. While the Mirandas have in fact bodyguards, they never hired goons. In fact while their opponents are using goons and committed murder, and cheated their way to the final canvassing of ballots, the Mirandas never did try to cheat in any way during the 2007 elections. I know this for a fact, I was there.

They lost the elections. But they lost the elections gracefully. And nope, I don’t have anything invested in this. I’m not a voter in his district. I don’t know how honestly he performed his job when he was congressman, but I know he honestly campaigned and never tried to cheat during the 2007 elections. And for that, my hats off to the Miranda family, especially to Anthony. And may you have better luck this coming 2010 election.

MMDA and LGUs

I wonder who is the whiz kid that figured that MMDA should handle traffic enforcement in Metro Manila. It should be the job of the PNP to enforce traffic. The police is more authoritative and can force compliance and enable arrest to those who violate traffic rules. At the same time, letting the PNP handle traffic enforcement in Metro Manila improves police visibility and can deter street crimes. This would also improve the PNP’s response time to distress calls. The MMDA on the other hand is useless for anything but flagging down motorists who most of the time does not comply.

In my opinion, MMDA is just a waste of funds and resources. Funds allocated for equipment and salaries given to MMDA traffic enforcers would be better served if they would be used to buy equipment and recruit additional PNP personnel. This is one solution to address the shortage of funds for salaries and equipment of the PNP. There is nothing that MMDA traffic enforcers that PNP personnel cannot do. And the PNP can do it better, much much better. PNP personnel are better trained and better equipped to do the job.

This logic also applies to LGUs who are employing people for traffic enforcement. Metro Manila LGUs are employing ill-trained, ill-mannered idiots to do the job of traffic enforcement in their respective cities and municipalities. Most of those employed by the LGU does not even have the proper educational attainment and logical thinking to enforce traffic rules. They are being employed because these people are relatives and minions of the barangay captains who supported them during the elections. Instead of wasting funds paying for the salaries of these idiots, why not donate the funds to PNP so it can be used for recruitment, increase of salaries and purchase of equipment. And I bet if they donate generously to the PNP, they can request additional police personnel for the cities and municipalities.

Of course, this needs legislation in order for this practice of the LGUs to be stopped. Terrible waste of tax payers’ money. And yeah, aside from traffic enforcement, other MMDA functions are just duplicate functions of Metro Manila Local Government Units (LGU). So why not abolish MDDA all the way and let the LGUs do what they are supposed to do.