Raffin

In Britain the highest proportion obese 55 -75 years both sexes. Fat builds up year after year. After that a sharp decline so there the life stopping diseases maybe kick in. Here it may peak a bit earlier. 60 is old here, for now anyway, and I think most will waddle in to the office to get their Senior card.

Raffin

The Manila Baptist pastor sponsoring this bill has a career showing he cares about human rights. He was one of the few voting in favour of a new ABS-CBN franchise. So him putting forward this bill is at first somewhat surprising:

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2...ransferred-doj

Of course he's been in politics long enough, a representative for 20 years, so he must know that passing current legal cases to the Dept of Justice will mean they will get nowhere, for at least 6 years anyway. So in a way his bill could be argued as a sensible one recognizing that. But the ignorance he shows about PCGG accomplishments suggests to me he's just succumbed to the pressure of the Super Majority to get something in return for himself.

Stokkevn

But it is politics and pretty well regardless which country you are in there are only 3 people who are in a politicians life and that is me, myself and I. Followed by what to do to get re-elected.

Raffin

A view often stated by people when asked about politicians in general. But I think they are usually referring to money and power. Maybe the most common motives, especially in countries where other ways to get on are limited. I would agree with it as long as you take a wider view of what people who get into politics are after.
In every country there are "conviction" politicians. But sadly in many they end up being convicted themselves.Or much worse.Then there are those that regularly change their opinions. I suggest one example is the new UK PM. Of course she would say that flexibility is a good thing and may have genuinely changed her mind as facts changed. Or she may just have seen changing as a way to progress.Then some do a U turn, say start on the Left and change to the Right.
Here in the Philippines there is very little Left left in mainstream politics and so we see since 2016 a Centre and Right "Super Majority". The call from the top is "Unity" and that is what you need to show to get on. The lawmaker trying to end the PCGG looks more likely to have been promised something by leaders of this very dominant Majority bloc, maybe some position, to float a proposal which will catch the eye of the President. Because what he is proposing is so out of line with his previous long record in Congress. He may have calculated that in this country once you get elected the system does not subject you to much accountability. Respect is high mostly because of your position, not so much what you do. And he will say that backing a proposal to end a body which won't now be able to do much anyway was not such a big price to get, say, the chairmanship of some committee in an area dear to him.
Then there are other motives for being in politics. Some very rich people get bored with running their monopolies, real estate empires and put themselves up for election and government positions. Already super rich but yes, it also consolidates their position and their family's.
The not so rich can also get bored. Listened to a biographer of the ex NY Mayor Rudy Guiliani being interviewed on CNN. He was asked why someone who was a long time successful prosecutor of the Mafia,widely praised after 9/11, ended up working for Trump. Who has used Mafia tactics in business and politics and encouraged the breaking of laws. Answer: according to his wife he got so bored after being NY Mayor that he was willing to overlook all those things just to get himself back in the limelight.

Raffin

Another classic bill of over regulation. ."...motorcycles P30 for the first 3 hours and another P2 per hour for succeeding hours"

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/169918...or-motorcycles

Author Sen, Bong Revilla jnr. actor son of action star Ramon. With a very chequered history. Best known accomplishment to date after many years in the Senate a law making helmet wearing compulsory for motor bike riders. The Revillas along with the Remullas the two main dynasties ruling Cavite. The most populated province. Allied with other dynasties from Mindanao and Ilocos.

Raffin

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.n...81565179792732

Now the above mentioned Senator Revilla, 56 wants to reduce the age Filipinos become Senior Citizens to....56!
Also wants restaurants to reserve them the best seats.

Bealinehx

Well they infamous Senator needs to revisit his proposed Bill. Who is going to fund whatever pensions this increase in the number of Seniors during their ever increasing life span?

Raffin

I think it's just the age for getting discounts he wants lowered, not retirement. But the discounts are paid by businesses, many of them small.

Gazza-d

Apart from one or two exceptions like prescription drug the discount is a waste of time. We spent 11k the other day supermarket shopping and discount came to 65 pesos. All the faffing about to claim it, life is too short.

Stokkevn

I was going to say the same thing, off about P13k spend her-in-doors got P68 discount.

Raffin

Every day it seems a new gem from a house representative. Not a bill but a comment on an appointment.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/170251...mation-hearing

Marcoleta was a main mover in the demise of ABS-CBN.

Gazza-d

I wonder how many hundreds of dollars each astronaut meal costs.

Raffin

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/23/...roads-highways

De facto in main cities here motor cyclists already usually occupy the far right. In a procession at rush hours. Then elsewhere, especially in tourist areas, that lane has already been marked for cyclists. Out of town other road users may be at risk of injury or death if fast moving motorcyclists are restricted to the far right. And not all car drivers want to drive fast in the far left lane but they will tend to be pushed there. Surely there are many other things on highways that money can be better spent on?

Gazza-d

Motorcycles can't even use the lanes going in the right direction so what makes anyone think they will stick to their designated lane for one second.

Stokkevn

For SB 1256, Imee Marcos urged the government to establish a pineapple development council. Sounds like a repeat of the coconut and fertilizer ones.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2...it-salad-bills