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Pacman Politics

Discussion in 'News and Weather' started by Rye83, May 4, 2015.

  1. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Last month on Deadspin, Diana Moskowitz argued against viewing Saturday night’s super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and unrepentant serial abuser of women Floyd Mayweather as a good-versus-evil contest. Pacquiao is a Philippine congressman and, as Moskowitz noted, his political views on contraception, gay rights, and other topics actually have the power to affect the laws of an entire country and hurt people in ways that Mayweather hasn’t. The good news is, Pacquiao doesn’t appear all that interested in exercising that influence.

    The reigning WBO welterweight champion—and part-time professionalmusician and basketball player—is currently serving his second term in the Philippine House of Representatives for the southern province of Sarangani. His wife is also the region’s vice governor. But according to thePhilippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, while he’s the country’s richest and best-known politician, Pacquiao showed up for work only four days last year, the worst attendance record in the House.

    When asked by reporters about his record in February, Pacquiao pointed out that he was training for two fights last year. “I don’t want to boast about what I have done in my district, but you can see my accomplishments in my district. It’s important that you help your constituents and not just sit in Congress,” he said. “[In Congress] all you do is file bills, but the bills have no benefits to the people.”

    It’s true that he and his wife have been generous in sharing their personal wealth with their home district, but the comments suggest that perhaps legislative work isn’t for him, and that he may not understand exactly what it is. This attitude also reinforces the entrenched system of personal patronage that has long plagued the country’s politics.

    Pacquiao’s truancy has prompted some of his political opponents to call for his resignation, but the fact that his political career is more of a hobby than a job doesn’t appear to bother the majority of people in the Philippines, where he’s a revered national hero and his fights are unofficial national holidays. And given the Philippine legislature’s reputation for corruption, the bar is set pretty low for elected officials.

    So what are Pacquiao’s actual politics like? As with many Philippine politicians, he’s switched parties several times—the country’s parties often serve more as patronage networks for individual politicians rather than ideological coalitions. He’s filed about a dozen bills, though none has ever passed through committee. His most notable accomplishment as a legislator may have been a much-praised 2010 speech on human trafficking. But that same year, he was criticized for appearing unprepared and ill-informed in a debate over a controversial reproductive health bill. The conservative Catholic-turned-evangelical Protestant opposed the bill on the grounds that it used government funds to make contraception more widely available.

    Considering the difficulties many poor Filipinos faced obtaining safe birth control before the bill was passed, Pacquiao should probably continue to take off as many days as he needs.

    Manny Pacquiao is a terrible congressman: Good thing he never shows up for work.

    I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this blogger is not a Pacman fan. lol
     
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  2. Oz-Roger

    Oz-Roger DI Senior Member Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Fair comments,:thumbsup: now that he is at the end of his boxing career, or so it would seem, he definitely should decide if he wants to contribute to the Country through Politics or not. If not, resign, if yes, he should "extract the digit" and take it on 100%, and learn the nuances involved, and be successful for "his people" in improving their lives.:cool:
     
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    Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    I really don't think that the people voted him into office because of his political ideas (some might have but I doubt it played any major role in his winning). He was elected simply because of who he is.
     
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  4. Oz-Roger

    Oz-Roger DI Senior Member Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    So what ? No Politician cares how they get across the line, as lont as they do. :smile: And if he develops the attitude of using it to do something, nothing lost. Time will tell if he has that. Maybe he could think it too hard ?:cool:
     
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    Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Jose Rizal is probably turning in his grave. I highly doubt this is the Philippines he envisioned. He was the first Filipino.....and it appears that there hasn't been another since him.
     
  6. Oz-Roger

    Oz-Roger DI Senior Member Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    You are right, for sure, problem is he ended up facing, or more correctly had his back to, the firing squad unfortunately.:frown: What a waste of a good man. :frown: Would-be Politicians since then have probably never taken their minds off that for fear of going the same way.?:thumbsdown:......Aquino still has a bullet in his neck. ......So whoever takes the top job on here, and tries to clean the Country up, has raised the odds against living til old age.:cool:
     
  7. Andrew

    Andrew DI Member Showcase Reviewer

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    Legislation does help to get things done. Pacquiao doesn't need to enter politics to effect change, and although loved, he's unqualified and naive in the workings of 'the system'. Sometimes you have to sleep with the enemy, engage in dirty tactics and go against the consensus. Things I really don't feel he is cut out to do. He's too genuine to play the system. Sure he could be a popular 'figurehead' (otherwise known as a puppet) as we've seen that before (e.g.Ronald Reagan?) but that's not ideal.

    First & foremost - he needs to ensure that he doesn't get ripped-off financially. Boxers' track records in this respect are particularly poor. Then he can use his financial muscle to effect change. How? Who knows? But you do find that determined individuals from any country can effect change, even in the face of hopeless odds. He's had some experience there - so he's well placed to 'get stuck in' and kick some butt.
     
  8. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

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    :thumbsup:That would be nice to see, But when the mud starts Flying I am not sure he will handle it well. That could be his downfall.:cool:

    JP :bag: :wink:
     
  9. Canadianized

    Canadianized DI Member Showcase Reviewer

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    The problem is that the seat in Congress is mostly empty. It is a seat that someone could be sitting in who truly cares about the Philippines and not just an ego boosting thing. I am sure that he helps many people out. But taking up a seat in Congress where he is mostly absent is just wrong.
     
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  10. Andrew

    Andrew DI Member Showcase Reviewer

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    I can't disagree with any of the above; although I am yet to evidence any .PH decision maker that isn't keeping one eye on their own self interests/balance sheet...
     
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