Corruption not population

By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D.

“15 Million Pinoys Live on $1/Day”—thus reads and rings the recent headline of a known broadsheet as a finding of the World Bank. A likewise known survey made earlier said that a big majority of the respondents favored the use of contraception for the country… and as expected, vote-hungry politicos hurriedly aligned themselves with anti-population advocates.

Irrespective of their political affiliations, ethical persuasions and/or social beliefs, it can be rightfully said that all anti-population crusaders sing one and the same song: the bigger the population, the more is poverty. The lesser the population, the greater is prosperity.

This is a good example of superficial thinking, quick-fix mentality and a pitiful perception of the nature, dignity and value of human life. The perceive people merely as mouths to feed, bodies to clothe, heads to shelter. Conclusion: the less people there are the more food, clothing and shelters there will be—plain and simple logic!

Wrong!

Were it not for its big populations, where would this Administration get its big multi-billion E-Vat money to fund its glorious plans and super programs? Were it not for its big population, could this government have its big multi-billion OFW remittances to keep the country financially afloat and to enable it to borrow even more and more money from the World Bank—for the citizens to pay from one generation to another?

The poverty in the country is not on account of its population but due top the endemic graft and corruption in government. The Filipinos are poor because the Philippines is the most corrupt country in the whole Asian continent. Honesty in government is what brings prosperity. Thievery therein is what makes the citizens live in poverty.

Human persons are not merely heads to count but potentials to develop and wealth to care for. When their government steals what lawfully belongs to them, it is then that they become a social liability. Every single Filipino pays direct and/or indirect taxes from birth to death. They pay for government services they do not get, for public education they do not receive, for the common welfare they do not enjoy. No wonder they are poor!

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/viewpoints/)

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