So What If It's A Filipino Economist Who Tells You Protectionism Is Good, Economic Liberalization Is Bad?

It's very easy to argue now that so and so is an economist, right? I was thinking of who to make the est poster person of this blog post. The first "logical choice" could've been Vice President Leni Loud Robredo. The next "logical choice" would be Sonny Africa of IBON Foundation since he got his degree from the London School of Economics. Since there's the erroneous belief that seniority builds "credibility" - I think the best poster person for this post is Solitas "Winnie the Pooh" Collas-Monsod, the wife of Atty. Christian Monsod who helped frame the 1987 Constitution. Unfortunately, the 1987 Constitution was written in such a hurry. Fortunately, it's NOT illegal to make amendments to it when necessary such as amending excessive restrictions against foreign investments.

I remembered how often I spoke about the need for economic liberalization. I was told, "STFU YOU AREN'T AN ECONOMIST!" Fortunately, the late Lee Kuan Yew left his legacy with the book From Third World to First which I believe should be in the library of every university, should be read in portions in middle school and high school, and that economics should be taught in middle school and not just on the graduating year. Lee Kuan Yew mentioned in his book on "Chapter 4- Surviving Without a Hinterland" the following words:

The accepted wisdom of DEVELOPMENT ECONOMISTS at that time was that MNCs were exploiters of cheap land, labor, and raw materials. This "dependency school" of economists argued that MNCs continued the colonial pattern of exploitation that left the developing countries selling raw materials to and buying consumer goods from the advanced countries. MNCs controlled the technology and consumer preferences and formed alliances with their host governments to exploit the people and keep them down. THIRD WORLD LEADERS believed this theory of neocolonialist exploitation but Keng Swee and I were NOT IMPRESSED. We had a real-life problem to solve and could not afford to be conscribed by ANY THEORY OR DOGMA. Anyway, Singapore had no natural resources for MNCs to exploit. All it had were hard-working people, good basic infrastructure, and a government that was determined to be honest and competent. Our duty was to create a LIVELIHOOD for 2 MILLION Singaporeans. If MNCs could give our workers employment and teach them technical and engineering skills and management know-how, WE SHOULD BRING IN MNCs.

Before that, Lee Kuan Yew also mentioned that Singapores' best hope was with the multinational corporations of America. Taiwanese and Hong Kong came but they didn't bring much. Lee Kuan Yew had to deal with the ECONOMISTS of his day who taught the dangerous idea that "MNCs were exploiters". It turns out that he had to deal with the same type of B.S. that promoted the idea that "foreign investors are foreign invaders". It was the economists of his day that made the same lie. What Lee Kuan Yew did was to DEFY them when he practically relied on better economists. Later, Lee Kuan Yew invited the late Albert Winsemius, a Dutch economist, in the creation of the Singaporean economy. So, Lee Kuan Yew knew which economist he could trust and which he couldn't. Winsemius served the role for 23 years until 1984.

Being an economist doesn't mean you're right about economics. I'm amazed that Sonny graduated from the London School of Economics yet he endorses obsolete ideals that Communist China and  Communist Vietnam have long rejected. Winnie graduated CUM LAUDE at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in the school of economics. Guess who also graduated CUM LAUDE? It's none other than the famous (or infamous) mutineer Antonio F. Trillanes IV. Sarah Jane I. Elgago also graduated cum laude from the same school as Winnie. Raoul Manuel is also a cum laude. Yet, you can think about how these cum laudes are fools in real life. Talk about the story of the Scholars and the Lion from India! This also shows how the Philippine education system SUCKS. Even some people who did well in high school dare to point out the problem of the Philippine education system. 

I bet a lot of the economists that Lee Kuan Yew had to deal with (all the while his son Lee Hsien Loong served as a member of the parliament later on, hence showing political dynasties shouldn't be an issue at all) graduated cum laude. Lee Kuan Yew knew an economist from a first world country, the NETHERLANDS (where Joma Sison is hypocritically hiding), would be better than the cum laude economics graduates. What's the use of having a cum laude in economics if you promote the obsolete ideals of economic protectionism? I guess Winnie is still too arrogant due to her cum laude status or that she knows she's lying. 

Meanwhile, Kishore Mahbubani the ex-dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Relations had said that foreign investments create jobs. The economists of the Philippines can brag about their cum laude status but Mahbubani got a cum laude at Harvard University. Though, I wouldn't build the credibility of Mahbubani based on his being cum laude but on the fact he defended the truth of Singapore's economic boom. That's why I even want to say that Filipinos should only vote for Leni Loud and Kikoman Pangilinan IF Hilarious Davide Jr. should prove to Mahbubani that the 1987 Constitution is the "best in the world".

So what if that economist who says protectionism is good is a cum laude or has a prestigious degree? IBON Foundation has done nothing to really help the country's economy or is fond of biased data. I think Africa only created the think tank to mislead people (so he can continue to fill out his pockets or remain relevant) than to guide them. It's been more than 30 years after EDSA yet there's not much gains. One can argue that I can't blog like this if the late despot, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., wasn't overthrown. Yet, excessive libel laws still exist which can be easily used by the government to avoid criticism from the press. The "gains" after EDSA aren't much to think about. What's the use of overthrowing Marcos Sr. from power if people still adhere to economic protectionism? It's no different than Marcos Sr. protecting his cronies from competition. Sorry, but F*** Check PH is dead wrong about that while they present important truths about the Marcoses. 

The best economist you can listen to are those who helped build up a good country. Later, economist Daim Zainuddin encouraged former prime minster Mahathir Mohamad to invest in MNCs and privatize inefficient state owned enterprises. Zainuddin and Winsemius helped create first world countries. Obviously, the best economist is the one who took part in creating a real economic boom and not the one who flaunts their degree but never created any significant economic reforms.