Today I read for the first time in 3 years a Philippine newspaper. As usual, the cry of helpless news and more disturbing news about my beloved country flood the pages. I cannot begin to think how little we have developed our taste of subjects because the same cycle of corruption, greed and hunger still remain the popular choice. How are these writers breathing with all the sadness and hatred in front of them? Such a difficult life they must live.

One such disturbing news I read is about the recent fiscal crisis that has afflicted the Philippine economy. Indeed, this disturbance is not new to us for we have been under a regime of mounting debts. They didn’t disappear. On the contrary, they just have been floating, kind of suspended in mid-air, and of course they came back. This time, it’s even more pernicious.

I remember during the Marcos regime a lot of our resources were not efficiently allocated for everyone to benefit. I thought we have transcended ourselves from this but unfortunately we further succumbed to the depth of abject poverty because the leaders didn’t have the right scruples to run the economy.

Because these economic debacles have been repeatedly experienced, I think we need to look at them from another perspective. You see, these economic policies do not materialize effectively because politicians saturate the process. It is a maddening world of bickering and empty rhetoric while the root causes remain unsolved.

When government projects are underway, sure enough a large portion of the budget will be enjoyed by these bloodsuckers. While their pockets continue to fill up, the economy keeps burning with deep losses. When government intervention is uncontrolled over market trends such us price structures, stock markets, the concept of liberalized economy becomes disgruntled making us all suffer even more. The recent VAT revitalization making it 12% is a classic example of how we basically have no control over impositions. Only the poor will bear the brunt.

Knowing all these, I am led to believe that our values system needs to be reexamined. So many of our government officials have high academic backgrounds that can overwhelm you but they are the best manipulators in all sorts. This paradox is cliché but widely practiced. Fixing the system requires adroit people with fat resumes, so they say.

Oh yes, it is a grateful thing to be an elite with all the sarcasm you can enjoy. You can degrade anyone at the flick of the finger because you know and you think you are better than the rest. It is this fallacy that brings you to look down upon people - to be at the highest level of mockery.

How many leaders perform the ritual of corruption, stealing and a lot more because they have great education? Such a classic case that has become part of our lives.

Indeed, I wonder what is it in power that negates the values that are supposed to be part of the intellect?

Or better yet, why can’t leaders be absorbed with values that remain the underlying solution for everything? Again, these leaders are equipped with so many things in their mind but they cannot talk to their hearts and ask about emotional intelligence. When they can do this, all the conscience needed to enact laws or punish violators will be executed humanely or that the prices of commodities can be controlled because wealthy monopolists become cautious with their profits. Profits when uncontrolled can turn a man to an evil person, as simple as that. When this stimulus is controlled, then there is no excessive lust.

Which is why I sometimes wish we had a socialistic type of economy in this present situation. The wealth of nations becomes a reality because in here, power is controlled. There is respect and definitely discipline. Leaders become aware of the suffering people and for that, the elite few can be used to help out the needy or that the government takes an active role in uplifting social conditions.

In a socialist setting, the individual remains a common being with simple needs. We can certainly pray for betterment but it is not tolerated altogether. In this scenario, the rich melts to oblivion. Only then when the government steps in and control totally the entire mechanism makes everything chaotic.

Classical theories about socialism have been proven to be ineffective because capitalists say so. It is the trend nowadays and they hope to continue this forever. However, if we are to admire the classless society, there can be homogeneity and peace because people are not fighting for dominance. There is outright simplicity. Only when it is coupled with militarism will make conditions worse. But I still believe there is chance for survival in this pro-rich economic structure we are facing right now.

Finally, whatever form of structure we are in, my emphasis is the importance of honesty, pride and many more values that remain to be disregarded. Mainly our leaders think this topic seems uninteresting and unintellectual. To them it is a waste of time talking about honesty over fiscal issues.

Let us examine ourselves. Let us give our simple traits to dictate our policymaking. Let us not forget they are all human problems and certainly need human intervention.