scrutiny on scurrilous subjects

I’m waiting for my own PC to get its act together and save my excel file. In the meantime, I might as well update my dormant blog.

Why have I been so lazy in updating as of late? My daily routine for the past few days involve sometimes going to the gym, keeping my ear to the ground because of the developments in our beloved republic, chatting through YM, reading blogs, and squeezing in some work for an upcoming big presentation! Heck, it’s a Sunday, and I’m still at the office!!!

Anyhoo, the past few days have brought us the popular gloriagate scandals (for lack of a better term), which is why I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground lately. Among all things, political observations are among my blog content regulars, but work really gets in the way… he3x! In addition, if I had made a blog post, it would’ve been so lengthy that time for friendstering would be lost. But since I’m constrained due to my current excel situation, I might as well comment on the issue. I have commented though on a fellow blogger’s post on this (I still have to ask permission to add him to my links).

What can I say about the recent scandals? These are my thoughts:

The tapes are real. It was her nasally voice. She admitted it herself, but it didn’t really come as a surprise.

I do believe she (and/or her minions) cheated. To what extent, I don’t know. But not only for her side, but also the other side.

On the jueteng thing, I’m not too sure. I dunno if the three Arroyos are on the take, but I wouldn’t really put it past them, since jueteng has tentacles as far as the eye can see, and even beyond that.

The only thing keeping her afloat is the lack of a viable alternative. Any change proposed by the so-called opposition would have birthing pains, plus bring in the same problems as the status quo. (I call them “so-called opposition” in reference to Amando Doronila’s comment that the current opposition is only opposing for the sake of taking power; they do not have an ideological basis whatsoever.)

On one hand, the opposition saw that the prez was at her lowest popularity point, so they jumped on the chance. Out came the jueting thing and the tapes. In case you haven’t noticed, they also were responsible for stopping the E-VAT implementation, in effect stopping another unpopular administration motion.

(I hate taxes; no one’s supposed to like them. But in order to bring this republic out of the pits, hard measures have to be taken. Although it’s a given that the graft thing must be solved in order to reduce the leakages, collections would have to be optimized. This is where the VAT comes in, since it increases the verification system of taxation & income.)

On the other hand, the administration has had a lousy time implementing its stated goals. Only the Finance department seems to be getting its act together. As for the peace & order, legislation, health services, education, public works, the performance is dismal.

I voted for her in the hopes that she be the better candidate; that she implement the hard reforms. She thinks she’s unpopular because she’s being hard on us; she’s actually being too soft on us, not doing enough and not being quick enough. She may be an economist, but she’s primarily a politician.

Unfortunately, her alternatives are worse. Unless we see someone who is worth changing the status quo for, who would bring genuine change, there would always be a stalemate. With that, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll come back to you with 5-10 more additional pesos.

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I’m restarting my PC now. I do hope I don’t lose that much work…. :-s

In addition, let's see where the flames go... ;)