Saturday, December 10, 2005

brain stuff

http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR12778.html

Brain activity of Risk taker entrepreneur and non risk taker, of course.

Friday, December 09, 2005

Capitalism and Democracy, Filipino style

Capitalism like Democracy did not originate in America but capitalism and democracy fits American individualistic psyche. One adjunct the other and vice versa. Leash and brake is God. Profound belief in Almighty God's power over all, the one and only source of authority in natural laws.
The three islands Spain relinquished to the USA after the Spanish-American War were Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Blessed by Pres. McKinley, USA paid $20m for the Philippines, kept it a colony with promise of independence sometime, gave immediate independence to Cuba and kept Puerto Rico a commonwealth colony.
Today, Filipinos ably rid itself of a dictator, a corrupt, gambler actor president and tries every year to impeach or overthrow the elected president. Independence granted Cuba had dictators for about the same timeline. Cuba imports medical personnel but only if the dictator want to. Filipino doctors and nurses with their private interest, self-interest, enlightened self-love immigrated and still immigrating to the US and overseas since the 60's. Puerto Rico is still a commonwealth with no personality of it's own, unable to decide whether to become a state of the United States of America or an independent nation. Capitalism and Democracy, Filipino style, in God's mercy, independent and self sufficient.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

'rubber barons'

In 1800's America,'rubber barons' were Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Morgan or Carnegie. Some capitalist may not be in Adam Smith's classic model. They were important in the economic progress of USA in 19th century. Not much written in American history books by elite academics and liberal leaning writers. All started a business from meager beginnings to business empires. Today's 'rubber barons' are Gates, Buffet and Walton.
19th century Filipinos 'rubber barons' names like Lopez, Soriano, Osmena, Durano and today...
Capitalism works and it will work for Filipinos. Everyone work to increase three fold our God given talent and coin, in faith and God's mercy.
Increase profit and capital stock in each one of us increases the prosperity of the Philippines as a nation.
God Bless the Philippines...

first stage Filipino capitalist

In my book, all Filipinos that landed in the shores of USA are first stage capitalist. A few are on the second stage of reinvesting the Profits they acquired through their Labor, Money they spent acquiring knowledge in the Philippines or US and Pricing their God given talent in whatever endeavor suits the competitive market in the USA. The third stage is the hardest. By nature, we work as hard as what our needs and wants are. If you want a Lexus or a Humvee, you will work double to afford it. But a Lexus or a Humvee do not generate Profit unless the market value increase in the future. That Profit did not generate any Labor on your part, only Money and Price. Thus not an Adam Smith capitalist endeavor. However, if you work on that Lexus or Humvee to improve it in some way better than when you bought it, it is a capitalist endeavor. Sell it and buy another one with your original capital and part of the profit, then you are a capitalist.
God Bless Filipinos.

Capitalism in Filipino life

Attention: Filipinos exposed to good consequence of capitalism! First, be capitalist in the Philippines. Be entrepreneurs and employers in the Philippines with Capitalism as model.
Capitalism is contrary to what is natural. Man by nature only wants to earn enough to satisfy his want and need whatever that maybe and that's contrary to what capitalist do.

True and classic Capitalism

True and classic Capitalism never live in the Philippines. Filipinos and Philippines as a nation stagnate or digress in prosperity as a result. Capitalism principles are opposite to what is natural for us, catholic, guilt ridden, family honor priority, patriarchal, tradition bound and dependent Filipinos.
The good news is, many work and live abroad, since the 60's, exposed and assimilated to multi-cultures away from family influence and grew up - independent, self-reliant and self sufficient.
'To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.'
1 Corinthians, 11:7

Capitalism promotes individual responsibility

Individuals, left alone will find ways to improve his situation. Filipinos has been doing and are doing exactly that. Filipinos migrating outside the comfort and familiarity of the Philippines for their own need and want. From major professional brain drain of the 60's to present OFW. No Catholic guilt, a patriotic and Christ like endeavor. Bible verse provide rationale and needed critical thinking skill. Matthew 25:29, The Parable of the Talents For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. By itself, Matthew 25:29 is incomprehensible. To understand it's meaning one has to read the whole chapter 25. Reading the whole chapter, each one understand or absorb into heart different meaning. The knowledge you acquire reading 'The Parable of The Talents' will merge with what you already has stored in your cerebral system. Basic critical thinking.
For me 'The Parable of The Talents' is individual moral responsibility to increase what is given by the Lord.
Capitalist according to Adam Smith is not about accumulating money but individual passion to produce Profit by Labor, Money and Price. Each principle need the other to produce Profit. Profit is wealth not only to the capitalist but also to the community he lives in and the nation as a whole.

Capitalist Filipinos can change the culture of corruption

I am an optimist and I am optimistic of Filipinos and the Philippines as a nation. I see a cup half full not half empty. I am a realist and believe that the only behavior I can change is my own. Whether others believe and follow what I say and do is God's mercy. I believe that risk taker entrepreneurs are the real people power engine for real economic prosperity. People preoccupied in an economic business activity do not have time to subvert or be part of a useless rally and demonstration. A business undertaking is an all consuming endeavor especially the first 5 years. As Entrepreneurs organize as a group, their self interest will dictate those corrupt officials behavior and laws, for there will be more of them than government officials.

Capitalism for Filipinos

Filipinos are right for Capitalism. Filipinos have several capital. We need to revive and resuscitate dead capital.
Dead capital are properties not earning any rent, money in mattresses not earning interest or not circulating as a business capital and highly educated brains with no independence and self confidence to take risk starting a business. Capital is not only money or financial assets. The most important capital is your head, your brain, your thoughts, ideas, creativity in putting thoughts and ideas together for a business venture and 'lakas loob'. Starting a business is taking risk.
Filipinos are literate enough to educate themselves to minimize risk. Filipinos are Christian enough to curb the evil of capitalism - greed and prayerful enough to ask for God's mercy.
A capitalist in Adam Smith's mold look after his self interest. He make a profit from his capital, then spend the capital and a portion of the profit to improve his business. Filipinos understand the number one mantra of Adam Smith - Division of Labor. Finer definition of division of labor is specialization or repetitive work. Machines invented to relieve the boredom or burden of repetitive work. Filipinos must learn and apply the finer definition of division of labor.

Capitalism in a Federalist government

Capitalism is the engine toward middle class prosperity.
'Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.'
The Federalist No.51, 1787-1788. The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments
For a nation to feel progressive and prosperous, majority of individuals living in the nation, must be economically middle class in thought and action.
A Capitalistic mind is the engine toward middle class prosperity.
A Capitalistic mind think of profitability not money or asset accumulation.

Capitalism, Filipino style

Capitalism as define by a dictionary is an economic system, characterized by a free market and open competition, in which goods are produced for profit, labor is performed for wages, and the means of production and distribution are privately owned.
Capitalist Filipino is the 'invisible hand' instrument for peace and prosperity.
"For democracy to achieve lasting and sustainable success, it must also be nurtured by a vibrant economy and an ever growing middle class," Condoleeza Rice, US Secretary of State.