Poverty, problem-solving and political will

Business World, Apr 10^th: “The Aquino government is moving to address issues that have held back growth but a great deal still needs to be done, the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) has showed . . .The organization’s Arangkada Philippines 2010 workshop last March 31 found that at least one proposal for five of seven "big winner" sectors had been acted upon in the four months since an advocacy paper was submitted to President Benigno S. C. Aquino III . . . President Aquino and the government are on track. He has a good team of Cabinet secretaries and agency heads . . . But there are still lots of work to be done."

As a people, we are in agreement that poverty is a major problem? Where we begin to split is in the problem-solving and in the political will? It is important to step back: “Where are we coming from”: what are our beliefs and biases that explain our mindset, and influence our problem-solving approaches and the presence or absence of political will? Human as we are (not unlike the journey out of Egypt?) we’re espousing differing if not conflicting biases? And the human condition that is Juan de la Cruz is magnified by our ‘kuro-kuro’ culture, and reinforced by our belief in a free press? For instance, do we have more or fewer pundits in the Philippines than they have in Washington DC?

We know that the worst of America is represented by its politics; and DC is synonymous to US politics. Prof Michael Johnston – world-renowned with his work re business ethics – labels US corruption as ‘Influence Markets’; that of the Philippines, as ‘Oligarchs and Clans’, from his 2005 work, Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power, and Democracy. And he explains: “Philippine corruption is an example of the Oligarch-and-Clan syndrome—one found in countries offering significant and expanding political and economic opportunities in a setting of very weak institutions, but a pattern shaped by historical, cultural, and geographical influences specific to the country. Oligarch-and-Clan corruption is particularly disruptive, in development terms. Because of institutional weaknesses and the power of corrupt oligarchs and their followings, it often faces ineffective opposition”.

Proud of our faith and our educational system of old, Juan de la Cruz opines with self-assurance and certitude? But the tail can’t be wagging the dog – and just like in the Exodus [“Americans of all faiths now embrace the holiday celebrating it”, WSJ, Apr 15^th] we need leadership to pull us together? But of course we know and strongly believe what is expected of us? Is it faith or is it ideology? “[Catholics] . . . fail to live by the [divine truth] with all the fervor that they should, so that the radiance of the Church's image is less clear in the eyes of our separated brethren and of the world at large, and the growth of God's kingdom is delayed . . .”, so says the Church re ecumenism?

Faith allows us to aspire for holiness? Holiness is to “aim for”, a work-in-process – not certitude – as St Peter, Mother Teresa or Pope John Paul II manifested: ‘Who would cast the first stone’? We are quick to criticize others because they are imperfect or hypocritical – because that is how we measure ourselves? Are we being unfair to ourselves? The five largest economies are far from perfect yet they have made better progress in lifting their people? It is not “perfection” we seek – but the political will to move the country forward? As the bishops say, beyond compassion (i.e., tactical initiatives like livelihood, charity efforts, etc.), we need societal change (i.e., strategic or structural fix)? For example, it is not about giving jobs – it is about creating jobs – via a broad-based economy? And so for decades we sincerely believed that the OFW phenomenon was a blessing – it gave jobs to many unemployed Filipinos? Yet it did not set us apart or distinguish us from the typical banana republic – where the few control the economy and where poverty is addressed via dole-outs (or compassion?), perpetuating a pathetic, impoverished economy?

The Aquino administration is working off a concrete platform for development consistent with Arangkada Philippines 2010 – which we appear to support, a product of a broad-based effort to sharply define our economic development roadmap? We must muster the discipline of problem-solving? And until we do we would not have the political will to move the country forward? We’re not in search of a holy grail – we want to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps?