I remembered some time ago when I wrote a blog entry concerning following simple guidelines. One of the success stories of other countries is not only because they advocate free trade or economic liberalization -- it's also because people know how to follow simple guidelines. Unfortunately, some people think that "It's more fun in the Philippines" because of having a dysfunctional sense of freedom or a culture of impunity. One of these many areas is driving on the road especially on workdays, Christmas season or when it's the October 31 jam today -- that time when many return home to the province to pay respect to their deceased relatives.
I think about how driving on the road in the Philippines without running into stupid drivers is a real challenge. Now some idiots whine about the increasing prices of gasoline but here's what -- they don't have the right to complain because many of them have no right to drive. I think about heavy traffic for this reason and many of them involve road accidents. Many road accidents could have been prevented or impacts minimized if people drove at minimal speed or if people learned to settle impacts without fighting. Many motorcycle-related incidents could've been avoided if more of these motorcyclists would just follow simple guidelines along the road!
If you refuse to follow simple guidelines on the road then you don't have the right to drive. Does that sound harsh? The logic can be seen as this. Would you give an immature toddler or a rage-induced teenager a self-defense weapon? The same should go for driving. If people are too immature to follow simple guidelines like No-U Turn, drive at a certain speed limit, not crossing double yellow lines then why should they be given a car to start with? Worse, rather than learn from the incident when they get into one -- they still continue to do so. It reminded me of how I took a wrong turn and later ended up hitting someone at slow speed -- I decided to learn from those incidents and paid more attention on the road! The problem is not about having a flawless traffic record but not learning from one's incidents. It's like someone who drives drunk, got an accident that nearly claimed his life and still continues to do so!
So how would regulating the sales of cars help? It would help minimize having the problem of people who buy cars when they can't afford gas or afford maintenance. The increasing price of cars is also one reason why some countries like South Korea, Japan and Singapore have lesser traffic. China's big mistake wasn't putting extra taxes on cars or regulating the sales of cars. That's what Noynoy Aquino also failed to consider during the time his 29 economic amendments helped improve the Philippine economy. President Duterte could consider suspending excise taxes while retaining extra taxes on cars to lower traffic. This should also have it that people who don't have a garage should have no right to buy a car either or that car loans shouldn't be given to people who can't pay it. That way, sales of cars can be regulated because not everyone has a right to do so.
So how would regulating the sales of cars help? It would help minimize having the problem of people who buy cars when they can't afford gas or afford maintenance. The increasing price of cars is also one reason why some countries like South Korea, Japan and Singapore have lesser traffic. China's big mistake wasn't putting extra taxes on cars or regulating the sales of cars. That's what Noynoy Aquino also failed to consider during the time his 29 economic amendments helped improve the Philippine economy. President Duterte could consider suspending excise taxes while retaining extra taxes on cars to lower traffic. This should also have it that people who don't have a garage should have no right to buy a car either or that car loans shouldn't be given to people who can't pay it. That way, sales of cars can be regulated because not everyone has a right to do so.
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