Be a prick, make someone bleed!

Written on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 8:10 am | by benign0

I’ve had quite a number of reactions to my piece The Ultimate Poverty Framework™ (keep in mind folks that all these insights will be harvested and incorporated into the proper article here).

I’ll start here with what Mr. TWC had to say as it encompasses a whole class of “insight” that needs to be dispensed with as quickly as possible so that we can move on to more interesting stuff:

When it comes to reforming a nation, the treatise presented […] represents only a portion of an aspect of a nation. It does not even lie near the very foundations of its basic structure. Our nation’s problems do not only lie in that framework presented above. Most of the problems lie in very foundations that supports that “Ultimate Poverty Framework” treatise.

This simply begs the question: Who’s talking about “reforming a nation”? The scope of this exercise is to reduce wealth and poverty into a framework. Inherent to such an approach is (1) the loss of a bit of detail and (2) the ringfencing of the issue into a manageable scope.

Without doing so, you just end up like all the rest out there who chase their tails exchanging little factoids on the latest shawarma topic.

This kneejerk response to attempts to build structure — limited in scope and detail as such exercises tend to be initially — is relevant with regard to a challenge Jon issues:

I would argue that the ideas are there.

The problem is that there’s just too much chaff. How does a needle in a haystack reveal itself?

And I think mlq3 makes a pretty good response (revealing a bit more and more of the “getrealist” in the man)…

well, benign0’s answer: be a prick, make someone bleed.

…which brings us to a key concept that sets apart the winners who take all and the losers who are destined to a pathetic life of “doing their best” in a “blessed” sort of way:

Differentiation

It’s one thing to focus on detail (get in line along with the rest). But to focus on detail in an unstructured way (not much different from tabloidesque reporting) actually has the effect of reducing understanding because one’s attention gets pulled in deep and narrow into very limited portfolios of over-discussed but non-value-adding topics.

As we see thus; …

The venerable thinker Nassim Taleb makes an interesting assertion: that regularly reading a newspaper (or any source of current events) follows the law of diminishing returns. With every detailed update and bulletin you take in from such sources, you actually gain less additional information for your trouble. Indeed, with the explosion of on-line content on people and events, the average schmoe now spends more time scouring a multitude of references to get the “full picture”. Yet the rate at which an avid follower of current events actually adds to his knowledge and understanding becomes smaller and smaller as ever more trivial chunks relative to the base he is adding to is soaked up. The tragedy here is that people who are imprisoned in this race to keep “up-to-date” on what they think are the “issues” increasingly miss out on opportunities to gain real groundbreaking insight.

… something that brilliantly frames a snippet mlq3 had contributed which provides a two-fold insight; it: (a) provides the essence of the real challenge we face as an electorate and (b) describes much of the essence of what imprisons the Pinoy mind; that is …

to forget politics, essentially to try to leapfrog the political pros because playing by their game is always a losing proposition.

… though he stops short of making a bold leap forward and does a classic cop out:

fair enough though as jon asks, how do you leapfrog over the pros?

Which brings us to the truly interesting stuff. Here we are faced with an obvious solution; Step back from and out of The Game so that one is no longer subject to the key players, and our response to the challenge is “Too hard!” It’s an instance of a mind conditioned by its environment to find comfort in a zone where it is in its element to go deep and narrow. Lawyers cannot see beyond the Law, political commentators cannot see beyond the politics. And yet we do nothing but gripe about bad politics and sly lawyering. Hey, for all I know, I myself cannot see beyond my brilliant frameworks.

The point is, we need to do something different. And from my simplistic standpoint, we’ve done everything except for one thing: to be structured in the way we approach the issues.

And in fairness to mlq3, his last question is where it might all start:

How do we leapfrog over the pros?

When the media and the Senate discuss Joc Joc, the blogosphere is abuzz about Joc Joc. When it is about Meralco and ABS-CBN, we are inundated with blog posts about Meralco and ABS-CBN. When the Church turned reproductive health into a hollowheaded “morality” issue — on cue, FV, just one of many others, turned it into a blogo-circus.

It’s ironic that the very people who fancy themselves as “independent thinkers” are actually those who are the first to jump at what are esseentially the publicity and media exposure stunts of the very characters they detest. Like pigeons that swarm all over a few breadcrumbs tossed out by a clerk strolling in the park on his lunchbreak, we analyse to value-crushing-detail the soundbites thrown out at us by the ringleaders of our political circus — distracting us from the underlying, the really important, and the relevant. You guessed it: the shawarma topics; the fodder of the undifferentiated blog in all their droll and unintelligent, focused on the trivial or the irrelevant glory.

Here is what is truly underlying, important, and relevant which TWC brings up:

But do we know what and where are the very foundations of our nation? Now this is really basic — and perhaps simple.

Other than happening to be a bunch of rocks united by colonial edict and named after a religious nut of a Spanish king, what does “the Philippines” actually mean???

…scratch head…

…scratch head…

I give up. Sounds to me that this thing we call “the Philippines” is nothing more than a mere historical accident. The author of that article actually goes further to make this observation (which also seems to come across as a recommendation):

Many filipinos wish some kind of acceptance and recognition from other cultures as basis of their own self-acceptance. What happens is that, because of a lack of some clear, stable, objective, and independent benchmark, they measure themselves in terms of criteria relative and workable to other cultures. Sometimes, they think that assuming the native traits of people of other cultures would be route towards universal acceptance, thus, lose themselves in the process. Filipinos have to redefine themselves. We need to reinvent ourselves in terms of a clear ideology or ideal, sufficiently universally acceptable to all filipinos regardless of subgroup, subculture, or other inherent diversities.

In other societies, the agreed aspects overwhelm the conflicting ones. While in some societies such as ours, it appears that, the conflicting aspects overwhelm the agreed ones. And when we do agree, nothing uplifting and progressive seems inherently sustainable, stable, or enduring.

This was written waaaaaay back in 2002. It may as well have been written today. If that ain’t proof enough that all the ocho-ocho circuses and lofty platitiudes exchanged in the “national debate” in the SIX YEARS from that time until now have NOT changed the dynamics of the underlying, the important, and the relevant, I don’t know what is.

Get Real Philippines!

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About The Author: benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.COM and has once been described as "one of the most enthusiastic hecklers of the politically-passionate" by a respected journalist.

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14 Responses to “Be a prick, make someone bleed!”

  1. leytenian on November 18th, 2008 9:56 am

    I would recommend to read organizational behavior, management, (psychology, Industrial) and corporate culture. And economic or foreign policy ( theory and practice)

    Without this background, one will always blame our culture- the culture of the filipino people. So what happens to education? If i’m not mistaken, majority of our political leaders are highly educated. Since they took the job, it is their responsibility to create policies according to our culture. In ethical management , its organizational behavior or corporate culture. I don’t believe that it’s the people’s fault alone. The theory of democracy came from the feelings of revolt against any tyranny and corruption. We’ve been there done that. For me that was enough education and awareness to our people. I strongly believe that we are stuck with these bunch of crooks. Democracy can only be felt by the people when there is NO EXPLOTATION. Every person has a certain minimum requirements in life which must be guaranteed. If you are employer, you use your people to grow and in return, you guarantee them salaries. It’s simple, really. :)

    But I do agree in this blog , that we have too little socialization but too high of individualization. Collectively it creates rebellion. What we need is high socialization and high individualization to have a creative environment-Not be a prick and make someone bleed. That’s not civilized. :)

  2. leytenian on November 18th, 2008 10:13 am

    Our leaders are intellectually bankrupt not the people. They should know how to manage this country. Look at them on TV. My god, I feel like they are still treating this country as if the people are still living up on trees. :)
    kung sa bisaya : nakaminos. tagalog: walang dangal. kung waray : waray upay , kung ilonggo: ginapiko ginapala gid. it’s embarrassing how they are managing our country.

    I believe in our culture. It’s way better than Obama’s country. Trust me folks, we are not shallow people but way deeper with great potentials. Listen to benigno. He knows too much. :)

    My last question would be? who is responsible to take advantage of that potential? the people or our leaders who are paid by the people. Otherwise, government of the people, by the people and for the people will only mean government of fools, by fools and for fools. :)

  3. Karl Garcia on November 18th, 2008 10:27 am

    So no one can define what a country named after a so-so king of Spain is. a head scratcher, eh.

    Why are the Americas named after Vespucci?it is also because of a so called accident,pinadpad yung barko nya duon eh.

    If i misunderstood accident,then you tell me what it means.

    Your beloved Australia is a result of an accident as well, the brits were looking for a place to put their criminals dun din inanod ang barko nila.

    let me go to my favorite commenter;Leytenian.
    you really are into your managing that non profit org thing of yours right?
    I can always see that you always try to inject text book management theories in every opportunity.But scratch that I still remember you saying that you cannot bring culture in the workplace and now that you know that culture is indeed in the workplace,you now segue to education.

    I would like you to comment on what the contributor to getrealphilippines said about, we must reinvent ourselves,and to paraphrase things adapting to your adoptive culture is not enough,so as to define our ideology.

    It is a headscratcher for me,but for
    you having staff who are black,latino,filipino can better explain this without having to mention text book stuff.

  4. leytenian on November 18th, 2008 10:41 am

    KG,

    Culture at the work place means corporate culture. It is the rules and regulations that every worker must follow. It is the foundation of a system. A system that should be able to adopt to changing political and economic environment. Individual culture is different. I can microwave my “pansit” and no one can tell me that I can’t. No one can also tell me that I have to dye my hair blonde to fit with their culture.

  5. TWC on November 18th, 2008 12:02 pm

    “This simply begs the question: Who’s talking about ‘reforming a nation’? The scope of this exercise is to reduce wealth and poverty into a framework. Inherent to such an approach is (1) the loss of a bit of detail and (2) the ringfencing of the issue into a manageable scope.”

    ***

    Oh, I thought the primary objective of posting ideas in Filipino Voices is to help our nation change for the better. What’s the point of spending time and effort blogging ideas if it is not meant to be applied for the betterment of mankind?

    If abstracting the concept of wealth and poverty into a framework results into an alternative idea that could be useful for the nation, then let’s develop it objectively — otherwise it will just be a futile exercise of intelligence.

    Maybe I have eaten too much of your offered Shawarma that is perhaps why I am starting to have the same effect as what the rest of us are experiencing. :-)

    Cheer up brothers!

  6. leytenian on November 18th, 2008 12:15 pm

    KG,

    ON “we must reinvent ourselves” from getreal.

    “we must reinvent ourselves” is not the solution but is the problem. There are many solutions, in fact, it’s already in place. It is now the duty of our public servants to implement those policies. Filipinos are already max-out of what’s left for the country. What is there to reinvent? The result of implementation is below standard. There’s too much demand from the people and yet supply is scarce. This is basic economic and managing a country do not require an economist. Even Juan knows the basic but he couldn’t find an opportunity, even if he walks from the province to manila and even if he gets a PHD or a master’s Degree. There are just few opportunities for many. There’s not even a fair competition of talents. We have no where to run except to live by what’s available within our environment. This is unsustainable. Every citizen requires a guarantee not a promise. So how are we going to reinvent the people on management? They are our burden.

    Try giving Juan a job, I can guarantee that Juan will succeed.

  7. benign0 on November 18th, 2008 12:25 pm

    Try giving Juan a job, I can guarantee that Juan will succeed.

    Actually, this is not the issue as the OFW phenomonon attests to. Once employed Pinoys excel. No problemo.

    The real challenge is in the creation of said employment.

    The ability to create employment is what differentiates rich nations from poor nations. Poor nations go by excuses such as what I quote above.

    If only we had employment opportunities…

    Boo hoo.

    No amount of hoping much less wishing for employment (and even much less expecting the Government to produce it) will actually see us having this employment served to us on a silver platter.

    It takes thinking and imagination to create the capital that then generates this employment. Obviously those faculties are present overseas and not within the islands — which is why Pinoy workers are going abroad. Employment is present where capital is created. And capital is created wherever a bit of thinking is applied.

    It’s simple, really™

  8. leytenian on November 18th, 2008 1:08 pm

    Benigs,
    “Obviously those faculties are present overseas and not within the islands — which is why Pinoy workers are going abroad. Employment is present where capital is created. And capital is created wherever a bit of thinking is applied.”

    Capital are people too. Even if one has the capital in financial term, without people, it won’t grow. Private entities in our country may not be aware of human capital as their biggest assets, instead they invested their money by paying bribe, gifts or donations to political candidates , hoping they can consistently influence policymaking. Well too bad, when people learns , we can actually boycott their businesses in the long run. This type of bad corporate culture will not last long.

    “Supply and demand of corruption: The supply side of corruption is the private sector that provides bribes, gifts, and kickbacks to the government officials who, in turn, are the demand side
    of corruption.”

    On growth and employment, one should try to read this link.
    Private Sector Perspectives and Solutions

  9. Karl Garcia on November 18th, 2008 1:09 pm

    Thank you leytenian!
    And thanks to benign0 for expounding on (/correcting)it.

  10. benign0 on November 18th, 2008 2:06 pm

    Even if one has the capital in financial term, without people, it won’t grow. Private entities in our country may not be aware of human capital as their biggest assets, instead they invested their money by paying bribe, gifts or donations to political candidates , hoping they can consistently influence policymaking.

    But in a free market money gets invested in where returns are pereceived to be highest. If businesses favour “bribes, gifts, and donations” instead of “human capital”, well, we that simply indicates where the bigger returns are.

    I do agree that “Capital are people too”. It becomes a question of how valuable said capital is and to a large extent The Market determines this as well. So I put forth this argument: if Pinoys are paid the amount they are paid, in a free labour market what does that tell you about what Pinoy labour is worth?

    And as to this quaint insight of yours:

    Well too bad, when people learns , we can actually boycott their businesses in the long run. This type of bad corporate culture will not last long.

    I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.

    Pinoys cannot even unite their way out of a paper bag much less “boycott” Big Bad Business. Pinoys will succumb first to their culturally-ingrained need to out-japorms their neighbour before they will even think of boycotting their neighbourhood Starbucks or Bench outlet.

    Big Bad Business only need to spend a couple of million to hire Sharon Cuneta to do their next cutting-edge ad campaign to crush any hollow-headed call for a boycott of whatever product. In a nation of star-struck ignoramuses, that’d be money well spent. :D

  11. thenashman on November 18th, 2008 4:46 pm

    wow, it even has a trademark.

    and nice graphs.

    Michael Porter, he of the $1M/powerpoint slide be shivering in his boots.

  12. The Ca t on November 18th, 2008 9:53 pm

    The ability to create employment is what differentiates rich nations from poor nations. Poor nations go by excuses such as what I quote above.

    if your treatise is correct, how come US, Singapore and japan are into recession?

    How come the “battlecry” of Obama is still create employment?

  13. The Ca t on November 18th, 2008 9:55 pm

    Capital are people too.

    OR people are capital too? Human resources capital.

  14. leytenian on November 19th, 2008 7:37 am

    Ok, thanks Cat for correcting: People are capital, no problem.

    Benigs,

    “I do agree that “Capital are people too”. It becomes a question of how valuable said capital is and to a large extent The Market determines this as well. So I put forth this argument: if Pinoys are paid the amount they are paid, in a free labour market what does that tell you about what Pinoy labour is worth?”

    There is a close link between human development and economic growth. There should be more economic growth. Human development should be the center of policy management. Economic growth puts people at the center of economic development policy. Our policymakers must focus on a strategy for economic growth that emphasizes people and their productive potential. It is the only way to open opportunities where people can participate in growth and benefit from it. For rule of thumb, our policymaker must focus on growing per capita income of the poor at least 3% annually.

    On your link: the balikbayan from california. his foundation ( as pinoy) comes from an economy not properly managed.

    economic growth, if not properly managed, can be futureless, jobless, ruthless, voiceless, rootless and vacuousness ( your favorite) thus hinders and detrimental to human development. The quality of growth is as important as its quantity in reducing poverty.

    Benigno, it’s no longer the fault of our people. Our people have not benefited at all. Our country has invested billions of dollars to policies that are not beneficial to majority. Policies are not implemented according to priorities.

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