Causes: time warp, selective history, failed governance, greed, apathy, stupidity.

Flawed solutions: Brute force, selective history over reality, gun over reason, a theocratic state.

Immediate response to on-going atrocities is one thing. Going after criminals is another. It is police work. Not the AFP’s or the PAF’s. Is it worth killing a criminal when an innocent one dies with him? Collateral damage. Are we at war? With whom? Who minds the refugees? The displaced children?

For decades we have virtually left our people to fend for themselves. Even when people get wrapped in flags, we still do. We are too busy importing rice to notice that Mindanao is not producing enough because nobody is buying its produce at the right price at the right time! Now, how can they farm when they’re on the run?

Federalism is pushed precisely to address a clamor for a Muslim state. You are against it. Or, at least, you will not allow it to adopt and practice Muslim laws. You said, “It bothers me to see such a great and noble religion dragged through the mud by its own. It is notable how differently Sharia law is implemented throughout the Muslim world. It seems women are more often punished than men. Also, corruption and cheating are seemingly not punished at all.”

You also wrote, “Lower levels of elective office can constitute an arena for training and recruiting new political leaders, including women and young people who have not previously had a role in political life. And these lower levels of democracy provide a more accessible means for citizens to become active in public affairs, such as to question their local officials, monitor what they do, present their interests and concerns, and learn the skills and values of democratic citizenship.” This is not applicable to states, only to provinces and cities.

You wrote, “… the revenue of our country is smaller than Orlando and Miami. Both city of Orlando and Miami is only run by a mayor. We don’t need useless congress.” And yet, you want to put up lawmaking bodies in every state. Also departments. Oh, I’m sorry. You said senators and congressmen will not make laws. They will be managers. Right?

I would like to assume Federalism of 11 States as branches rather than provinces or regions. Provinces and regions are too many and too diversified in terms of getting information, auditing financial records and consolidation of data. A State will consolidate all such information in one place. Managing 11 States rather than too many provinces and regions is actually a sound policy in terms of Management. It doesn’t have to be called the “State” . In Business Management, the 11 states are more like the branch offices, functioning with the same rules and regulations ( The constitution) like the head office/malacanang Therefore, understanding the State as a branch office requires a Managers in each branch Office. These Managers are the job description of a Senator. Congressman and a Governor.
Today… Malacanang cannot monitor all the provinces and regions because senators have no direct access to real issues coming from the bottom- the people. The middlemen- congressmen and governors are supposed to be in the middle to gather information from the bottom and report this information to the top. The Management style of our system has always been from TOP to BOTTOM, instead of bottom to TOP.

What’s in a name? If this were the case I’d also go for federalism: shared powers between central government and its constituent political subdivisions. Only, I won’t call it federalism. Also, I won’t refer to the political subdivisions as states. Instead I’d call them as they are: provinces and chartered cities. It may not be constitutionally mandated, but it is allowed.

Sharing powers with lgu’s rather than states is not just about working within the parameters of the 1987 Constitution. It has its intrinsic merits. It is doable now or anytime, it is less expensive and disruptive, and it can go for the fruits promised by federalism while deflecting the dangers poised upon our poor country be federalists. Senator Nene Pimentel says that his federalism will cause the speedy development of the entire country by unleashing the forces of competitiveness among the States. Nothing is farther from the truth. The real competition is between and among cities and municipalities, not even among provinces. Most businesses are either city or town based. It is there where businesses get their permits. States cannot and should not alter this arrangement.

Val Abelgas disputes the Senator’s claim in his article entitled The Folly of Federalism, thusly: “It will create additional layers of bureaucracy that will lead to even more red tape, corruption and confusion. Businessmen and investors will be the most adversely affected as they will have to contend with conflicting and confusing laws from various states/regions. Can you imagine 11 states with their own agencies on commerce and industry, housing, health, transportation, education, etc. and the federal government having its own, too, all with their own sets of rules?”

Another claim by Senator Pimentel is that his federalism will dissipate the causes of rebellion in the country, Mindanao in particular. The opposite is true. His kind of federalism will enhance the causes of rebellion in the country: poverty through failed governance. The shift towards federalism is so expensive and disruptive that it will aggravate the sufferings of our people leading to further destabilization. It will eat up resources that otherwise could go towards poverty alleviation.

In an article entitled Financing Federalism Leonor Magtolis-Briones wrote: “Students of public finance have been pointing out that the creation of an additional layer of government—namely the state—will inevitably lead to higher levels of expenditures. This is because the machinery of the states has to be maintained, along with that of the federal government and the local government units. Pressure for higher levels of expenditures will inevitably lead to pressure for increased levels of taxes.” This concern does not even mention the added cost of maintaining 75 Senators and 350 Congressmen. Senator Nene Pimentel probably thinks that we are overjoyed with the antics of our do nothing Senators and Congressmen that he wants to create and create more and more of them!

It not just federal financing that will aggravate the causes of rebellion. Mere creation of states also will. It will create diversity and conflict where there is none. I believe in unity in diversity. But creating a union to create diversity is another thing. This is what happens when provinces are formed into a state. To be able to understand this point better, please take a look at the proposed State of Northern Luzon. It shall comprise the provinces of llocos Norte, llocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tuguegarao City shall be the capital of the State. Even the seemingly homogeneous Bicol region would experience one form of inter-provincial conflict or another. Wait ‘til they start defining the rules. Wait ‘til Masbate and Catanduanes start fighting it out for the state’s attention!

But nothing so bad will happen in Luzon and in the Visayas compared to what Mindanao would go through if it tries to organize and operate a Muslim state. I don’t know why anyone would promote the organization of a state based on religion, more so if it is done at gunpoint. I would not want theocracy for even the worst of my enemies. I would not will it for Muslims or Christians. I shudder at the specter of another MOA-AD, a version far more bloody than one can ever imagine. The Muslim problem sprung from years of government apathy and neglect. It is a condition shared by Christian settlers as well. It is neither political nor religious. It is economic, stupid!

Senator Nene Pimentel succeeded in getting the support of ULAP and other local government organizations by using a bait called 20/80. They can see the figures, but not the hook! History will be repeating itself once more as when Congress devolved the functions of agriculture, social welfare and health services. It conveniently forgot to provide the necessary funds. The curses of the aggrieved devolved personnel are still on the lead man, Senator Nene Pimentel. Now he wants to strike LGU’s a more lethal blow. Actually very little of the 80% state share would reach the LGU’s because its 30% share will likely be not be enough for its own maintenance and other operating expenditures. The result will be more confusion, wrangling and hardships.

Federalists brag that opposition to federalism springs from ignorance. The contrary is true. Many people support federalism because of ignorance. They will reject federalism if they know what it is. One supporter thought that there will be a state for Ilocanos, Cebuanos, Bicolanos, etc. Alas it is not to be so. A blogger who posted at MLQ3 blog wrapped in a flag as justice league has this to say:

“… just in case you want to pursue a federalist cause without the ability of defending it; you have my permission to use the battle cry below in its totality!”

“Gusto nilang gawin! Kaya nilang gawin! Pero hindi nila ginagawa! KAYA ANG TANGING SOLUSYON AY PALITAN ANG SALIGANG BATAS!”

How do you want this done? How many states does Mindanao want? How will this resolve the Mindanao conflict?

Local autonomy is practiced throughout the country, not just in the provinces and cities you mentioned. I just want to give them more.

1) “the constitution defines the procedure on how to revise it, and if the proponents of the revision comply with all of its requirements, we are bound by the same constitution to entertain them, aren’t we, cost and all”

Yup. I’m not averse to revising the Constitution per se. But that “cost and all” goes hand in hand with issues you can’t defend as not achievable in the present Charter.

2) “the purpose of giving autonomy to the regions is to address the complaint that their is an unequitable distribution of government resources and services among the regions.”

Read the Constitution and read the laws. Congress seems amenable to give more autonomy by revising the Charter so there should be little reason for them to deny it in the present one so they should be agreeable to amending the Local Government Code etc…….

3) “the question is, why would there be more desire to secede if this source of discontentment is removed, than if this discontentment remain?”

I looked up Senate Joint Resolution #10 which embodies Sen. Pimentel’s proposal.

If Sen. Pimentel didn’t entertain the possibility of any desire to secede even if ANY source of discontentment has already been removed; why is there an article on “Dissolution, Secession or Separation of States”?

Did you bother to read Senate Joint Resolution #10?

4) “you made it sound as if i don’t care about the these people, when it’s you who don’t care about the aspirations of other people.”

Oh I do care enough.

But I’m not the one unable to justify that those aspirations can’t be attained with the current Constitution.

5) “can you prove that it’s their federal form of government that’s causing them to break up, and that had they been unitary they wouldn’t have broken up”

I never claimed that their federal form of government that’s causing them to break up.

What is definite is that their federal form of government was unable to prevent it and that runs smack against claims that a federal form of government will prevent secession.

And that in certain instances it makes it EASIER to secede. Read Senate Joint Resolution #10. Read about Quebec.

6) “which among the 26 federal countries do you have in mind that’s undergone/undergoing considerable danger?”

Is that a serious question?

There’s Canada with Quebec, India with Kashmyr and Jammu, Pakistan with Bangladesh, USA with ………………..

7) “i think you fear is unwarranted.”

Not based on above.

Well I already told you to cash in on all that BLAH BLAH BLAH by politicians by demanding them the deconcentration of power and resources WITHIN the present Constitution.

I THINK I WILL BE MOVING ON NOW.

But just in case you want to pursue a federalist cause without the ability of defending it; you have my permission to use the battlecry below in its totality!

“Gusto nilang gawin! Kaya nilang gawin! Pero hindi nila ginagawa!

KAYA ANG TANGING SOLUSYON AY PALITAN ANG SALIGANG BATAS!”

Bye. And thanks for explaining the smiley.

” A changed federal system
India has moved a long way from co-operative federalism, where states and the central government jointly plan and carry out programs, to competitive federalism – where individual states compete in terms of services offered, including lower tax bases. The country still has a strong central government, but it does not have the same clout as it once wielded in the days when CONGRESS was the dominant party .”

http://www.forumfed.org/en/products/magazine/vol7_num1/india_cajoling.php

Here are some lessons we can learn from the american federalism:

“Vesting power in two levels of government, dividing it by making each level supreme in its separate sphere, was one solution to the problem of how to grant necessary authority to government without creating such concentrated power that liberty would suffer.

• Federalism’s ability to accommodate local issues also contributes to democracy by decentralizing policies and politics. States can adopt widely varying policies on the same problem, thereby providing the means for citizens to live in a state where the policy suits their moral or cultural values.

• The states often are called laboratories of democracy, and for good reason. Innovative programs and policies from welfare and educational reform to health and safety regulation repeatedly have come first from state governments. Long before the national government acted, a number of states abolished slavery, extended the right to vote to women, African Americans, and 18-year-olds, and provided for the direct election of U.S. senators, among other reforms.

• A federal system also expands participation in politics and government: the more levels of government, the greater the opportunity to vote and hold office. Many of these offices are training grounds for future national leadership.

• Additional levels of government also increase access to decision-making in ways other than holding office. Interest groups blocked from influence at one level of government may find a better reception for their ideas at another level. During the 1950s and 1960s, civil rights advocates faced strong opposition from Southern states that opposed racial integration, but they found support in the national government for their efforts to achieve racial equality.

• Finally, federalism enhances democracy by providing a platform for effective criticism and opposition to governmental policies and practices. A political party out of power nationally still may capture state and local offices that allow it to challenge national priorities or decisions. ”

http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2007/January/20071128094357abretnuH0.8318903.html

“How can 11 States be content with the same constitutional status?” it can’t”

yes it can. devolution of power under One Constitution, subsidiarity and delegating tasks. Management of the Law

Local autonomy has been practice by many cities already. Your proposal is not NEW. It’s been implemented by Cebu, Davao, Quezon City and other major cities in the country. What’s setting us back in our country is the conflict in Mindanao. Give them the State they want and give the Visayans State they want. Our management style of local autonomy scares foreign investors. FDI is not attractive in our country. e don’t have clear rules and regulations.

“How about Japan and China? Are we in any way more diverse than any of them?”

You are comparing apples to banana. China is not as stable as you think.