On Fri, Jan 07, 2005 at 12:10:07AM -0800, Mhac Janapin wrote: > This thread has actually seen posts delineating actions that are > civilized and in accordance with our law. Many gave their advice on > how we can deal with this situation.
What you see below is a good idea. But let's expound on this a bit. Here's where we differ. The problem is: 1. There are a bunch of free CD's that are going to rot unless someone picks them up. To do that, they have to figure out a way to get around a tremendous tariff that isn't legal. 2. A corrupt official is trying to get a little "take-home-pay" out of the deal by making up a huge tariff and hoping that you'll simply offer him a bribe. You want to fix problem #1. I want to fix problem #2, which will fix problem #1, also. If you don't fix problem #2, you'll just have to keep fixing problem #1 over and over again. I know I'm stepping on a lot of toes here. Let me explain my viewpoint a bit more. Of course, as a reputed "ethnocentrist" (somebody's been reading the dictionary) you may take it with a grain of salt. When I first started reading about the Philippines, I kept finding incidents like what you're talking about here. Then I got to see it first-hand. I've been all over this country and to quite a few other countries, including others in the region there. I have never- NEVER- seen anyone ask for a bribe until I went to the Philippines. And even there I expected it to be in hushed tones, not a normal part of life. Now, I said it doesn't happen in the US, right? Well, I was partially right. It does happen. The people who do such are pretty much all in jail, and their job prospects when they get out include McDonald's or Burger King. We don't put up with it. Read our news and you'll occassionally see it. In many other countries, such actions as I saw at the Aquino airport would end with the execution of the official, probably after a 10 minute show trial. This isn't a secret, either. The Wall Street Journal, one of the most prestigious publications in this country- indeed, the world- ran an article about the Philippines. Anyone want to guess what they said the number one impediment to economic growth in the Philippines is? I'll give you a hint: it starts with "C" and ends with "orruption". Don't believe me. Put "philippines corruption" into Google and see if I'm making this up. I'm not dumping on the Philippines. I just want you folks to feel empowered to do something about this guy. He's not treating you right, he's breaking the law, he's probably making a lot of money by doing this to other people, and if you let him get away with it you'll likely have to deal with it again. Even if you don't, someone else will. Corruption can be fought and the fight can be won. There's a new graft & corruption law, the President is making a big deal out of it, there's no better time to act. Maybe this guy can be an example to others. This is my last post on the subject. Call me names, I don't care. If you don't want this fight, then I understand. But at some point, something's gotta give. > Here's a quote of Orly and Paolo's suggestions > ==================================== > On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 17:35:56 +0800, Orlando Andico <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > here's an idea. > > > > get the SEC registration number of PLUG as a non-profit organization. > > write a letter stating that the CD's are for PLUG redistribution. get > > a letter from the PLUG secretary requesting the release of the CD's > > and explaining that, as a non-profit, PLUG is redistributing the CD's > > at nominal cost and will not sell them. > > That can be arranged, right Marvin? :D > ==================================== > > So you see, we still have some options before us. I am just saying > that let us try first the peaceful way before we resort to *making a > scene*. > > This I think, is our way. > > Peace to All! > Mhac Michael -- Michael Darrin Chaney [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.michaelchaney.com/ -- Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List [email protected] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) Official Website: http://plug.linux.org.ph Searchable Archives: http://marc.free.net.ph . To leave, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/plug . Are you a Linux newbie? To join the newbie list, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/ph-linux-newbie
