Much Less Monkey Politics In The Parliamentary System

Just reading the news that Senator Unggoy Estrada wants to ban K-Dramas is no different from Representative Nalito Atienza. Two years ago, we had Director Erik Matti who also complained about the rise of Korean entertainment. Later on, it seems Unggoy himself started to make a bit of a u-turn regarding K-Dramas probably because of the boos he may have received online. This just reminds me of how Unggoy is a classic example of how monkey politics is very common thanks to the presidential system. What good did the late Noynoy Aquino's crackdown do? So much for calling Noynoy's model a global model. I wouldn't give that award to former president Rodrigo R. Duterte as well. If there's any real global model - the award should go to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia or the late Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. 

This really proves the problem of the presidential system. We have plenty of monkey politics. That's why I call Jinngoy UNGGOY. Unggoy is the Tagalog word for monkey. Unggoy's latest arguments are simply a result of the presidential system which tends to encourage the creation of dumb laws. 

I remembered the argument of Jason VOORHEES wrote in a post in Get Real Philippines - something that makes me LOL at the thought he could be a boomer resistant to change:

Again, parliamentary system of government will not work in the Philippines. It is presidential since 1900 and to shift to parliamentary is an unfamiliar territory plus the Filipino politicians are only after corruption even to the expense of taxpayers. No matter how you change the branches of tree, if the same monkey mentality that will manage the system, they will find a way how to corrupt and corrupt absolutely through conspiracy in committing a crime. Just look at the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue in the Philippines, the system in those bureaus was modified several times but employees still find a way how to commit a crime through bribery and corruption of public officials. It is all about the ways, means, and mentality of officials that will really need to change first. National leaders should lead an example. We need strict leaders to lead the way. But BBM is someone not capable. He cannot even absolutely axe his former Executive Secretary. Philippines has a long way to go. We need mature voters first who will choose substance rather than famous familiar names and faces.

I guess the guy never realized that the late Lee Kuan Yew already debunked him. I even dared him to go to Singapore and tell Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong this and that. He hasn't responded to my latest comments on a post regarding the Philippine "opposition". It would be interesting to think about how many arguments he makes yet he hasn't proven them. Singapore was once more corrupt than the Philippines. Mohamad had to fight several decades of corruption. Both Lee Kuan Yew and Mohamad have been the real role models - not Noynoy nor Duterte. It would've been better if both Duterte and Noynoy served as two voices in the parliament - that is a DDS vs. Dilawan parliament.

The argument is that it's simply changing the branches of the tree. Jason VOORHEES argues that politicians will somehow find a way to manipulate the system. Excuse me. The big problem with the presidential system it gives so many branches for monkeys. Cut down those branches and you get fewer monkeys. Replace the whole system and you'll start to see some changes. Right now, I bet Lee Kuan Yew, Shinzo Abe, and Margaret Thatcher, are all laughing at him from the afterlife.

Now, let's imagine what if Unggoy was in a parliamentary setup. I did remember writing about how Unggoy's father Joseph Estrada may not fare well in a parliamentary debate against Jose De Venecia. Let's think of Unggoy as a Member of the Parliament. I guess Unggoy wouldn't last long if ever we had a parliamentary system. Maybe, Noynoy would've been voted out if he kept answering "Hindi ko alam!" during the weekly question hour. Noynoy may have even had the decency to resign over Mamasapano. However, the current system's lack of any real grilling (and the press conferences aren't enough) contributed to what Jason VOORHEES calls shameless politicians. 

Let's say that Unggoy managed to survive long as a Member of the Parliament. Now, Unggoy has decided to pass a ridiculous law to ban K-Drama to protect the local industry. What happens next is that such an idiotic reaction can trigger fellow Members of the Parliament. This would probably cause multiple facepalms regardless if he was in the Government or the Opposition. Chances are either he has to retract his statements OR get a vote of no confidence. Chances are he might get a vote of no confidence over stupid statements he keeps making. His stupid proposals should be more than enough to call for a vote of no confidence.

Under a parliamentary system, maybe Unggoy would now be voted out. Unggoy, having no monkey bars like the presidential system, will have the choice to either honorably resign OR get voted out. A vote of no confidence works better for this reason - candidates can be removed without committing a crime. A candidate only has to show he or she is inept to get voted out. I think Bobong Marcos would've already been kicked out right now if he were prime minister. Bobong's actions have been anything but admirable IMHO. The same goes for Unggoy - people like him will not last long in a parliamentary system.