``The main issue in present-day political struggles is whether society should be organized on the basis of private ownership of the means of production (capitalism, the market system) or on the basis of public control of the means of production (socialism, communism, planned economy). Capitalism means free enterprise, sovereignty of the consumers in economic matters, and sovereignty of the voters in political matters. Socialism means full government control of every sphere of the individual's life and the unrestricted supremacy of the government in its capacity as central board of production management. There is no compromise possible between these two systems. Contrary to a popular fallacy there is no middle way, no third system possible as a pattern of a permanent social order.”-Ludwig Von Mises
Quote:
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer, ``What we did was not only our duty but our moral obligation,” said Trillanes said in justifying his latest act of defiance, adding,“It is our duty as religious individuals to do what is right.”….“Dumaan tayo sa tamang pamamaraan [We passed through the right processes]. Elected pero wala ring nangyari [We were elected but nothing happens]. They voted for me so that I can speak up for their rights and our advocacies,” said Trillanes, referring to his election as senator last May. (highlight ours)
Possible Translation:
I got 11 million votes during the last elections; therefore I deserve my pork barrel!! Where the heck is my pork???!!!
Our comment:
Friday’s failed power grab simply highlighted mainstream media’s favorite theme of “Personality based rent seeking” politics or the misguided belief that our country’s success or failure depends on the proverbial “magic wand” by one great leader that has yet to emerge or that the present country’s ills will simply vanish by the ouster of the incumbent via another revolution.
After TWO (successful) EDSAs and several aborted coups since 1986, we never seem to grasp that the leadership game of musical chairs will not subject us to deliverance; not as long as we sustain the vicious cycle of the patronage system which is rooted on our unwarranted dependence on government or our platonic love affair with the “socialist paradigm”.
Statements like this simply reflect on the abject predicament of our deeply flawed political-economic structure. Yet, when parsed, they appear to be very revealing. As a prominent saying goes, the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Quote:
From Bloomberg, ``Like soldiers, we're going to face this, whatever they want to do with me,'' Trillanes said inside the hotel after the raid and before being arrested. ``This is not our loss. If there's a loser here it's the Filipino nation.'' (highlight ours)
Possible Translation:
Where are you, my 11 million @#$% voters when I needed you??!!
Our comment:
Obviously, there is a clear distinction between the mandated function of an elected official to fulfill one’s designated tasks and a naked power grab. Put into a math equation: 11 million votes ≠ a license to grab the political leadership.
But politics like the financial markets occasionally strips out one’s computational logic or rationality especially when overwhelmed by vanity, in this case prompted by an apparent miscalculation from the ramifications of popularity based political actions.
Again instructive political statements like this seem to give credence to English author Samuel Johnson’s ever noteworthy and applicable quote, ``Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”.
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