On political dynasties and conmen

THE CORNER ORACLE

- ANDREW J. MASIGAN

The dynasty-filled Marcos administration likes to brag about the country's relatively high economic growth as an indication of success. This is misleading. Because while the economy is indeed expanding, it is not because of the workings of government (outside massive spending) but rather due to the resilience and hardiness of the private sector.

You see, corruption is so imbedded in Philippine bureaucratic culture that government has become an impediment to national development itself. Corruption has also made the country the least competitive among ASEAN 6.

Let the statistics speak for themselves. Among ASEAN 6, the Philippines is the great kulelat (laggard) in per capita income, in industrial output, in exports, in foreign investments, in innovation, in education, in economic competitiveness, in tourist intake, in health care quality, in military firepower (fifth of six), in peace and order, in diplomatic gravitas and in effective governance.

For this, we have our political leaders to thank, past and present, and the political system they created. Because in the end, it was/is their leadership that put us in this position.