Duterte aligns Philippines with China, says U.S. has lost

[DonJuanMatus]

Facts:

1) Duterte is very Anti-American and views all the problems of the country to be America's fault, along with the people who use drugs.

2) Duterte is a man who has no problem murdering thousands, and millions of people he finds fault with

3) Duterte has a communist/socialist mindset

The people of the Philippines lack any "real identity" and would love to have it, along with a place to pin their problems on.

Duterte is providing the people with just that and throwing both drug users and Americans for the feeding ground.  I will be leaving the Philippines very soon and I will not be returning.  I see the writing on the wall.

Those who say that Duterete is a genius and is only concerned for the "people's welfare" may have their head in the sand a little bit.  This guy is all about power.

First, Drug users were the enemy of the people, now Americans are the new target, then it will be foreigners as a whole.  Just wait and see.

Edited October 24, 2016 by DonJuanMatus

[scott h]

1 hour ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

It seems America is to blame for ALL the PIs problems

This is delicate, so I must watch how I phrase this: I like to call it the Napoleon factor or an egomaniac with an inferiority complex. Or that it is easier to blame others for you own faults instead of seeing what the problem is and coming up with a workable solution.

The Spanish and then the American colonization is usually blamed for (by some apologists) the reason for the current problems. But if we look at history, what did the Spanish find in 1521? A thriving empire or unified government such as was in place in Siam, Vietnam, Cambodia and had gone back for centuries? No, what was in place were isolated city states usually controlled by ethnic Chinese, Malays, some Arab "princes" even some from Taiwan, which imposed their will on the countryside surrounding their cantons.

So what really happened (the way I read history). The Spanish (and then the running imperialist dog Yankees after them) did not really destroy an existing civilization, such as they did with the Aztec and Incans, but rather brought a unified form of government and civilization here, not replace one.

So instead of embracing and building upon the "civilization" that they inherited, they need someone to blame when things go wrong, and we all know that its a lot easier to blame someone else instead of taking responsibility.

What's that old saying "When you point your finger at someone, look down and see that 3 fingers of your hand are pointing back to you.
 

[Jollygoodfellow]

34 minutes ago, DonJuanMatus said:

I can't figure out how to not quote someone.  I wish the UI was different.  I shouldn't be able to modify Old55 quotes, or make up entirely new ones

HI, The editor has a quote button, if you wish to quote the whole post of another member use that, if you only want to quote part of a post you use your cursor to highlight that part and the words 'quote this" appear so click it and its placed in the editor for you. Make sure you reply outside of the quoted text box.

Oh I now see you dont want to quote, easy bottom of page click reply and the editor opens. 

Edited October 24, 2016 by Jollygoodfellow
added wee bit

[DonJuanMatus]

On 10/22/2016 at 7:02 AM, Old55 said:

34 minutes ago, scott h said:

So instead of embracing and building upon the "civilization" that they inherited, they need someone to blame when things go wrong, and we all know that its a lot easier to blame someone else instead of taking responsibility.

What's that old saying "When you point your finger at someone, look down and see that 3 fingers of your hand are pointing back to you.
 

The above is so true, and I never heard that old saying before.  I'm going to use it.  A similar saying is, "Instead of plucking the moat out of the other's eye, pluck the beam from your own."  I heard that in Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth".

 

Two different sayings that are saying the same thing.

 

[intrepid]

2 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

Well I have a lot of Filipino friends on Facebook and have seen this stupid story making the rounds (it is Rappler so consider the insipid source).  It seems America is to blame for ALL the PIs problems because we killed so many civilians while freeing Manila from the Japanese.  I should probably stay off the public discourses but had to ask them if they wanted us to leave the Japanese here instead? And Germany (most of Europe) looked pretty well blown up at the end of the war - but they managed to rebuild without blaming anyone. 

Then someone else came in and said the US purposely moved the war from Hawaii to the Philippines to protect Hawaii... as if the war was ever in Hawaii, other than the attack on Pearl.  Who knew we had the power to move the Japanese from Hawaii to the Philippines... Who teaches them their history?  But the anti-American rhetoric has been building up.

These are the same friends that dream of the communist paradise that is Cuba and want the same here.  Duterte is just the man to give it to them ha ha

http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/82850-americans-destroyed-manila-1945

Tim. Thanks for the link.  I've always enjoyed history. But in recent years I see so much rewriting of it.  Seems history has become whatever the writer wants these days to benefit his points.  Much like statistics are used 

[RBM]

3 hours ago, DonJuanMatus said:

Facts:

1) Duterte is very Anti-American and views all the problems of the country to be America's fault, along with the people who use drugs.

2) Duterte is a man who has no problem murdering thousands, and millions of people he finds fault with

3) Duterte has a communist/socialist mindset

The people of the Philippines lack any "real identity" and would love to have it, along with a place to pin their problems on.

Duterte is providing the people with just that and throwing both drug users and Americans for the feeding ground.  I will be leaving the Philippines very soon and I will not be returning.  I see the writing on the wall.

Those who say that Duterete is a genius and is only concerned for the "people's welfare" may have their head in the sand a little bit.  This guy is all about power.

First, Drug users were the enemy of the people, now Americans are the new target, then it will be foreigners as a whole.  Just wait and see.

 I have never read Duterte  hates Americans, I have read he hates the current US government and the system If you have a link relating to what you state please include it.

He is on record many times with his statements regarding death to drug pushers, users,  other than this issue I am unaware of his threats to kill millions of people unrelated to drugs.  Sure his mouth tends to react before his brain is engaged, and he has certainly made some crazy statements.

He has openly admitted to being a socialist,  has made overtures to NPA how ever I am unaware he has admitted to being a communist.

As I posted earlier his actions of which myself and others may well not approve of, has made no effect to our life style. In fact I have read in many reports crime has dropped and for sure drug use is must be down considering how many have been killed.

Six months ago, although not threatening we have seen many drugs being sold after 8pm in out local plaza. Did it worry me, not particularly, now it's not seen, what we see is kids playing and many more people strolling around.

From the view of this expat, whom is expecting corruption, graft to decrease, plus the oligarchs to loose control of their monopolies I see many positives.

We all have the right to pack it in and leave as you have chosen,  me, I feel safer, content and have no ambition to up and run.

 

 

 

[Jack Peterson]

4 hours ago, RBM said:

I have read he hates the current US government and the system

 Don't many of our fellow US members feel the same?

 Just asking as this is what can be gleaned, from many Topics & Posts here. 

[DonJuanMatus]

When I was in Davao a couple years ago, I spoke with many long-term expats there and they all said Duterte hates Americans.

For me, that's enough, but when I read about how, when young, he couldn't see his girlfriend in the US because he couldn't get a Visa..it explained a lot.  Imagine if he then lost that girlfriend to American men there, and then he sees American men coming here and dating his women.

I suspect he has a real ax to grind with America and he's been sharping it for a very long time, and I've seen what he does to things he hates.

[OnMyWay]

9 hours ago, RBM said:

I shall start by saying, after 100 plus days zero effect, we travel a lot, Cebu monthly, Bacolod and many places, again zero effect. Nobody has shown disrespect, no bad comments (at least what I am aware of) just life as normal.

Same here.

[robert k]

The problem with socialism is "Sooner or later you run out of someone else's money".

If one looks for any Socialist success stories, the countries had been wealthy before they became Socialist?

How are you going to become a Socialist state when doctors report that they made what they paid their maid for the month even though there is a new Fortuner in the drive? Bad news is that the Philippines IS NOT even organized enough to become a Socialist state.

I seriously doubt China is going to raise the standard living condition of the average Filipino above that of the average rural Chinese citizen and I don't believe that is going to be satisfactory. More like Cuba in the late 70's and early 80's when they had 100k troops in Africa that they couldn't bring home because they couldn't feed them.

The Philippines needs industry, to employ Filipinos so they can lift themselves and provide a tax base to pay for public works. How much you want to bet they are just going to get public works from China? If China really does spend any money at all?  Nothing will change.

Japanese motorcycles and Samsung phones will flood the country to soak up any spare pesos that might be floating around, Tanduay and San Miguel business will do even better.

Call centers are doomed, AI technology is getting better and I generally end up saying US tech support a few times and I will be connected to US tech support.

Tourism may well become more important than ever.