Posted on 02/25/2014 7:26:55 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Manila, Philippines - It’s all about oil. U.S. interest seems to be shifting from the Middle East to Asia, particularly the oil-rich waters surrounding the Philippines, China, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Tension has been rising among and between the governments of these countries over territorial claims in around South China Sea and the Spratly Islands.
Overtly, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Philippines to try to ease tensions between the Manila and Beijing governments, urging China to go easy on imposing no-fly and no-sail zones over the disputed territories between the two countries.
Covertly, as confirmed by latest tweets from suspected American security secrets leaker Edward Snowden, Kerry is in Manila talking up the Aquino government to seriously consider becoming the 51st state of the U.S. Kerry said that becoming a U.S. state would be in the best interest of the Philippines because it would essentially put the American military at its disposal in its dispute with China. Of course, what Kerry is not saying is that it would grant the U.S. full access to the area’s rich oil resources.
The Filipino sentiment against American colonialism has significantly changed since the U.S. military bases were practically driven out of the Philippines in the early 1990′s. There is a growing displeasure with the Manila government. Filipinos are fed up with political dynasties, incompetence, corruption and all that kind of stuff.
Is it time to add another star to the stars and stripes?
Lame Story
Synthetic really
Since when do Philippines want to be US Citizens?
They already learned how to sing “My Way” at every Karaoke Bar and have a adopted it as their national anthem....
The only time poverty isn’t somebody’s fault is if they’ve been born into it or if it has been imposed upon them by statists.
Anybody, or any society, that stays poor has chosen to do so by the values they have. Yes, poverty is a chosen condition in life.
That is not to say that I don’t think Filipino’s aren’t wonderful people, as they are.
Remember the Maine!
I don’t think the Filipinos are the same as Puerto Ricans, except for the Catholic thing.
That was Cuba.
We got that here, right here in River City.
So are you saying we need more??
I’m saying I’d rather have the P.I. than New York state, most of California or Massachusetts at this point, wouldn’t you?
I take neither Alex for a thousand dollars,
Talk to John Kerry! [snort]
“They aren’t staying in their country because it’s paradise on earth.”
__________________________________________________________
It can be paradise on earth for one with a modest income.
For example, my wife, child, and myself have a very nice life on a beach in the best part of our town, and spend less then $1000 per month. That includes rent and EVERYTHING else. Most anything one would want is available.
I am the first in my neighborhood to get the new 60+ ch TV cable, replacing my satellite system which is now at my in-laws.
For a native, however, wages can be very low.
For example, a girl working all day in a market shop makes about $3 per DAY. Many men, however, seek international wages as seamen, or oil workers. Women take international jobs as domestics or hospital workers. The people here are quite happy, and enjoy life.
Every afternoon a small group of us expats meet to have a few San Miguels in our shaded garden above the beach.
My life is a permanent holiday.
In my five years here, I know of only one expat that left. He was a Swed with a Philippine wife. They are now on the Canary Islands.
Not feasible. A new state with 100 million people, 90% poor by US statistics, all eligible for all of the US entitlement programs? Nope, it cannot possibly work.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.