The greater good

A recent report argues that the Japanese seem to have lost their animal spirits. That they’ve gone beyond the ‘lost decade’: ‘For nearly a generation now, the nation has been trapped in low growth and a corrosive downward spiral of prices, known as deflation, in the process shriveling from an economic Godzilla to little more than an afterthought [though an exaggeration?] in the global economy.’ (The New York Times, Oct 16^th)

Over a generation ago, we were seen as the fastest growing Asian country. Today, not unlike the Japanese, we appear to be disheartened instead of being dynamic – i.e., mired in ‘making-do’? Fortunately, the private sector has stepped up to the plate and is engaging the Aquino Administration to pursue an industrialization initiative.

But old habits die hard? It would be gut-wrenching if we’re still clutching our life-support, i.e., OFWs? What about our animal spirits? Our tendency to look back as opposed to look forward seems inbred? Are we distracted, can’t pursue the way forward because we want perfection, cross the t’s and dot the i’s? Does hierarchy distract us and turn us passive? Is our instinct to personalize (i.e., our compassionate heart) distracting us from recognizing the greater good? Major economic undertakings demand a laser-like focus?

If we keep looking back, we would find the continents configured differently; and the Alps would be nowhere? The US and Australia would be inhabited by natives and aborigines? And we would be a pristine Pacific chain of islands speaking Bahasa if not Chinese; or a combination of modern metros and rural farms speaking Japanese? The writer remembers a Jesuit friend (May he rest in peace!) who spoke at length about reality; but the writer, unfortunately, was dense.

The Pharisees and the scribes aspired to be models of perfection – but as we know they were off base? Or why Clinton, among many, calls the American system an experiment, its imperfection for all to see. Hierarchy has long been discredited by the imperatives of competitiveness, i.e., layers of authority are anathema to productivity and thus ‘high-commitment work teams’ came into being. And even before that, royalty has long been in decline. Even the Vatican has started to demonstrate a bit of transparency – because integrity suffers when hierarchy rules, i.e., abuses are not uncommon. But we won’t part with our señorito-muchacho culture?

As in any journey, it is important that we establish a baseline; and fortunately the private sector has done that precisely – via the initiatives the PCCI and JFCs have presented to the administration. And that baseline says we are lacking in infrastructure and strategic industries that could only be had if we amass enormous investments – both local and foreign. In one word, we need to pursue industrialization.

That ought to be our starting point? So that we can look forward and together create the animal spirits that major endeavors exact? And we could only take a new, positive posture if we seek the greater good – instead of personalizing our challenges? Over a period of more than a generation we erred by leaps and bounds – we blew it? And so we need to start afresh? We don’t want to personalize that – because ‘we’re all parties to the crime’, i.e., we’re like seeds that fell on the wrong spot?