Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Ledesma: Economics and politics By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
THE year 2010 will see an end and painful beginning of so many things. What we see happening in the economy yonder the western horizon will eventually reach our shores, assuming it has not yet. It is good that we have somehow developed our trade ties with neighboring countries, especially China, and our Senate had eventually signed the controversial Jpepa after all the hedging and the carping and the environmentalists’ anxiety about toxic wastes.
What we expect to lose in our trade with the US and Europe, we will hopefully recover from our new trade ties with our next door neighbors. Never mind the melamine issue. Although they too will suffer the tide of outrageous fortune of the mighty America, the impact, we should all hope, will not be as devastating as that which is crippling USA and even Europe.
But there will be changes not only in our economic scenario but also in politics. The US will have it soon and woo to the next president who will inherit the problems from President Bush. In our case, the politicians do not harp on the complexities of issue of economy for the simple reason that many of our politicians are failed lawyers, comedians on and off the screen, opportunists and the populist type. They are as dunce as I am when it comes to economics, thus you would note that nary a politician would you hear talking about the vagaries of real political science and economy. Thus, they would rather delve on the ashes of the ZTE-NBN deal, election fraud which happened six years ago, jueting and more recently impeachment and then, as in the likes of Ping Lacson and Jamby Madrigal, back-stabbing their peers at the every opportunity to make themselves look dandy. Economic meltdown? Subprime mortgages? Nah! But jueteng, fertilizer scam and Jocjoc Bolante? They can perorate on these subjects from morning 'til sundown.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo maybe the most unpopular president but haven't you noticed that when you consider alternatives there is simply no one the people can trust to risk another change in leadership. There had been several attempts at ousting Gloria but there is nothing that can ignite another people power or revolt.
The Hyatt 10 cannot because they are a bunch of salivating Brutuses wanting to take over government. Antonio Trillanes and General Danilo Lim cannot because the people are averse to military rule. The communists and their fronts cannot because they argue their ideology with their guns and fund their activism through extortion. For as long as the middle class is strong and satisfied no amount of radical takeover, like "Oust Gloria" movement will ever prosper.
The 2010 elections is extremely important for us Pinoys. It is the start of a new decade. Are we to fall to the lure of populist candidates? There will be change of command in the executive department. Two presidentiables want to identify themselves with the poor to win their votes. They call themselves "Mr. Palengke". You know Mar Roxas visits the market only every election season while Manny Villar's only by recollection. Bayani Fernando laughs at these claims saying he was born right in the palengke. I am waiting for Dick Gordon to say a similar theme.
For a change, we hope to see public debates between contending party candidates similar to what we see in the US these days. The delve on issues although John Macain and Sarah Palin, in their desire to diminish the gains that Barack Obama had made, stride and slide into the muck. But this does not wash.
Close to our home front, we cannot help but speculate as to what is going to happen in Davao political alliances. Hugpong sa Tawhanong Dabawnon of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had always been independent. Its formidable strength is true today as it was before. The mayor's political party is PDP-Laban but Hugpong maintains independence as to who will the group support among the senate and presidential and vice presidential bets. Mayor Duterte made it quite clear that he will keep his promise to support President Arroyo all the way. He also made it clear that after her term ends, he commitment to the president also ends.
I do not think that Mayor Duterte will go for any form of "Unity Ticket" this time even if it is not he running for Mayor but Inday Sarah. It was a costly lesson for him to have done so in the past. We will see what will happen next.
