Human Rights in an Ever-Changing World

If you really think hard about it, human rights is one of the concepts that humanized the capitalist system and made it acceptable to the rest of the world. Without this concept, we would probably reject this system outright because of its isolationist and dehumanizing nature. However, even how hard we see human rights as an equalizer, the fact is, it is just there to protect those being marginalized by the system and make them feel as if they are not losing something, when, in truth, they are being denied the opportunities by the very system they so choose.


For example, take this universal right to do business everywhere. It seems democratic at first, but if you think hard, you'll find that this is not a universal thing. Yes, you are free to set up your business, but these are just for those who already have capital. When the State grants you that right, it only means that it is recognizing that right but it does not free you from the repercussions of exercising that right.


Another one, the right to self-expression. You can write anything you want within, again, the limitations of the law. Libel is a crime. Slander is another. That right, though it exists, is, in actuality, delimited by the very state that grants that right.


The right to self-defense is also limited by the very laws a system or a state implements. The right to gainful employment is also limited by the number of jobs existing in a state. 
Of course, it depends really on the number of jobs the superstructure allows. If you're a man who milks cows, chances are, you are limited by the number of open jobs in the market and even if you shout this right to the world, it will never be exercised simply because of its very nature.


So, anyone who sees human rights as universal or at least encompassing other concepts is probably wrong.


For the past 50 years, the world has been celebrating Human Rights day. The more we celebrate, the more cases of its violations happen. 


One glaring fact is the more we celebrate this, the more imbalance the world becomes because these rights are,just illusions, to make us feel that we are living in a democracy when in truth and in fact, this democracy only applies to those who have, and simply illusions to those who haven't. Exercising such rights even entail resources. 


The right to enjoy the world's resources can only be exercised by those who have the resources to explore and exploit those resources. 


Am I right? Read this link: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/05/381984/oecd-income-inequality-increasing/

Monopolitics: The politics of Monopolies

Government is supposed to be a big monopoly corporation. Remember that government was established mainly to provide for the well-keep of its citizenry. Government is supposed to provide services to its constituents. It is supposed to be the lead agency in protecting and promoting the rights of the people. It is also supposed to dispense justice and protect the people from predatory practices. In exchange, governments are allowed to impose taxes. 


Government, likewise, is supposed to create the necessary environment for people to live and prosper. Those who then want to do business, do so within the limits imposed by government.


Those limits are reflected in a country's laws. The laws dictate the kind of relationships of corporations and individuals. 


The laws, they say, verbalize the kind of environment created by people's interactions. The laws either reflect these interactions or create them. 


IN the scheme of things, governments are supposed to be the "Big Boss". A government should actually be bigger than any corporation, for two things: one, a big government dictates what actions are allowed and what are not; second, a big government can protect the interests of its citizens.


When corporations become bigger than governments; when basic services are being run by corporations instead of a government, that's when problems arise.


For example, when a government sells its stake in the power sector, electricity rates are at the mercy of greedy corporations out for a fast buck. You can't blame corporations because the nature of corporations are like that--they are built to amass profit. Governments are built to serve; while corporations are established to raise profits. 


When utilities are sold to corporations, expect the value of the service to rise while maintaining the level of service once previously dispensed by government.


Corporations usually lord it over weak governments, such as ours. We, the people suffer the brunt of government ineptitude at two levels: first, direct when government itself dispenses the service and two, indirect when corporations themselves do the service.


That's why corporations become huge monsters when governments are weak because they become substitutes. It is to the best interests of corporations for governments to remain weak because a stronger government restricts their movements through regulations. 


It is even more dangerous when government itself encourages corporations to enter and manage services and utilities considered as traditional services of governments.


We, as a people, already experienced how oil firms abuse the franchises or rights given to them by government. We already know how Meralco abuses its franchise by raising its electricity rates every single time it wants to. And we already know how certain companies, like telecommunications firms, generate billions from us, without government intervention.


As more corporations enter as government substitutes, the less secure rights and priviledges of the people become. How can government protect the rights of consumers against stronger corporations who now substitute for government? It is like government fighting itself. The more governments allow the intrusion of corporations into the social and collective life of the people, the more likely rights are violated.


Hence, we as a people must resist monopolies and fight its politics (or what I now call monopolitics)

Video of Cops Torturing criminal in Tondo Manila: A slice of reality

I watched the alleged video showing a cop torturing a notorious criminal snatcher. The alleged video was shared by a concerned citizen with TV Patrol. The citizen says he also got it from another source, and the source had already gone into hiding, for fears of reprisals from cops in the Tondo Manila who took part in the alleged torture.

See the video here.

This video comes at the time when people are still discussing about the death of a young carnapper by the name of Ivan Padilla. Padilla, as some alleged, was killed by cops.

Torture, really, has no place in civilised society. Cops, especially, should not get involved in such a thing. Sometimes, however, you can't really blame cops for doing these things. I covered the police beat for years and I know how cops get frustrated every single time they catch somebody stealing someone's items and they see these thieves again on the streets.

Habitual delinquents should be taught a lesson. For example, in India, cops are known for being brutal especially to habitual social deviants. Cops curb crimes in a particular area by "sampling", meaning, they get some notorious criminal out there and make a sample of him either by killing him or torturing him. That significantly lower crime rate by 80%.

Cops assigned in highly urbanized poor communities such as Tondo Manila, try to cope with the culture of the place. And the culture is rooted in dominance. You need to dominate the people to earn their respect, that's what Tondo sub-culture is. You can't effectively curb crimes in the area without sending a clear message to the habitual delinquents in the area.

Such practices are tolerated in the police establishment because it is an effective deterrent against crimes. When a series of reports showing bodies of notorious criminals floating along the Pasig during General Alfredo Lim and General Robert Barber's time in Manila, crimes significantly eased back then. The strategy is simple--violence is the only language notorious criminals know, and to earn their respect, cops should speak their language.

I am not rationalizing what these cops did. I am just presenting an alternate viewpoint. Most people would definitely agree with me, especially those living in dangerous areas in Manila. Some, however, would not. 

That criminal, notorious or not, enjoys some rights in a democratic society. Those rights are enshrined in the Constitution. Sometimes, however, people themselves negate the very exercise of these rights for one simple reason--their very acts. When they habitually harm the populace with their illegal acts, and get away with it, they negate these rights. Rights, as defined, have an attached responsibility in them. When people act in an illegal manner, they negate this responsibility and sometimes, society, through its instrumentalities, has equal right to withdraw these rights from the perpetual social deviant.

For those Filipinos Who Want To Hear

"Only he is truly a patriot who, whatever his post, high or low, tries to do the greatest possible good to his countrymen. A little good done in an humble position is a title to honour and glory, while it is a sign of negligence or incompetence when done in high office. True honour can be discerned in the simple manifestations of an upright and honest soul, not in brilliant pomp and ornament which scarcely serve to mask the deformities of the body.

True honour is attained by teaching our minds to recognize truth, and training our hearts to love it. The recognition of truth shall lead us to the recognition of our duties and Of justice, and by Performing Our duties and doing justice we shall be respected and honoured, whatever our station in life. Let us never forget that we are on the first rung of our national life, and that we are called upon to rise, and can go upward only on the ladder of virtue and heroism. Above all let us not forget that, if we do not grow, we shall have died without ever having been great, unable to reach maturity, which is proper of a degenerate race."

--Apolinario Mabini in his book, "The Philippine Revolution"

Written more than a century ago, Mabini's words continue to find relevance. In our society today, honor is interchanged with positions of responsibility in government. We, the Filipinos of modern times, find honor in pompous titles. We give leis to those who bear the title, " president", "Congressman," Senator", etc. We honor them with streamers whenever they visit us in relocation centers or in depressed areas.

Honor, as written by Mabini, cannot be found in brilliant pomp and ornament, which he says, "scarcely serve to mask the deformities of the body".

True honor rests in the truth lodged in one's soul. It is through the liberation of the mind from apathy and ignorance that we find truth. When we find enlightenment, we then recognize our duties to pursue justice and human rights, even at the cost of our very lives and futures.

Greatness comes when men of enlightenment stand up to fight for other men's rights. It is that action that define honorable men.

As a postscript to Mabini, let me add that those of us who want to hear these things and resolve to ourselves to act in defense of the Motherland, let us act with enlightenment. Let us shatter this political patronage system that represents our bondage as a people.

The first act that we must do as enlightened individuals is to liberate ourselves from thinking that those who are in government, who think of themselves as honorable or excellent due to their titles, ought to be given what is due to them. Those who are tasked with the delicate duty of government should be held accountable for the ignominy that they wrought against the people.

Those who seek honours but have ugly souls should be purged from government and replaced with those whose souls are pure and seek not honor but justice.