Bloggy Business Today

After officially being adjudged the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama’s true colors have finally been revealed. He has had a mapped out plan from the start and mind you, unless you are in a country where the U.S. will benefit, consider yourselves in trouble.

Countries in Asia are not in the prime list. They are actually second on his agenda. Among the main countries that Obama has talked to are the ones who he will have certain itineraries, most notably helping lift the economy of the U.S. back on its feet like France, the United Kingdom and so on. As for the rest? No one knows what his real intent is.

The Philippines is far from the list. Not that I am siding with controversial Philippine President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo but it seems that Obama knows that the Philippines will only ask for aid and help from them. Apparently at the moment, the U.S. would rather save it for their own countrymen which is understandable. But is that fair? Isn’t that discriminating? You can just imagine one of his ignorant staff could have asked: “Where is the Philippines?”

Well, we have to wait and see in 2010. But from the things that are happening now, it doesn’t look good. I hate to say it but it looks like the motto of Obama right now is if you don’t have anything to offer, you are the least of my problems.

“I think [an Obama-Arroyo] meeting is unlikely because the president-elect, as I understand it, is not yet meeting with foreign leaders. He is busy assembling his Cabinet,” the US ambassador said.

The sidelining of the Arroyo call gave a glimpse of the importance of the Philippines to the United States at a moment of change of administration.

It is clear that the Philippines stands on the outer perimeter of US concerns in world affairs.

The first telephone conversations reveal the Philippines is not within the charmed circles of the Obama administration. It is a leper outside looking in.

It is imperative that Manila should rearrange its priorities vis-à-vis Washington. Obama is not our friend.

Source

Technorati Tags: philippine_president_gloria_macapagal_arroyo, barack_obama, 44th_president, countries_in_asia, president_of_the_united_states_of_america, motto, philippines, economy, united_kingdom

Bookmark It

Financial aid is being extended all over the world. For Asia, there is no word yet and one false declaration can ignite expectant people even if they are not factual. As far as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is concerned, her initial announcement of the World Bank or the IMF providing $10 billion dollars in Asia was a big blunder.

It is obvious that her statement raised expectations and many people heave a sigh of relief. But apparently the message was half-baked. There is no financial aid coming and now the consistency of the Philippine government has been severely questioned.

Of course, the scapegoat will be the succeeding meeting to which was never really announced. In fact, I don’t recall hearing it in the news. Such a sensitive issue is bound to be announced. So where did the second meeting take place?

It may be a matter of misconception and President Arroyo is only human. But considering her place in the government, a leader at that, she knows that a single mistake is entirely costly to her credibility.

Finally, expect the government sharks to have a field day hitting the Philippine president. It is an opportunity that they can use to further bolster political issues such as impeachment or even cause a large dent on how the country is really being run.

Technorati Tags: president_gloria_macapagal_arroyo, false_declaration, initial_announcement, philippine_government, sensitive_issue, philippine_president, half_baked, scapegoat, sigh_of_relief, blunder, misconception, impeachment, billion_dollars, sharks, credibility, financial_aid

Bookmark It

The financial crisis we are experiencing today is something I liken to biological warfare. For the record, biological warfare is defined as:

A BW weapon may be intended to kill, incapacitate or seriously impede on an individual as well as entire cities or places. It may also be defined as the material or defense against such employment. BW is a military technique that can be used by nation-states or non-national group. In the latter case, or if a nation-state uses it clandestinely, it may also be considered bioterrorism.

Source

Does it make sense? We are all tied up trying to build business but in the process, we were much too inclined with profit, trying to overwhelm our competitors until they close shop. Through the process, some have succeeded and has brought the world alongside with it.

So is the financial and economic crisis today a form of biological warfare or bioterrorism? It certainly looks close to it. Nations are falling and businesses faltering. What is the main ingredient in it all? Interest and receivables.

Lastly, has anyone wondered what happened to terror reigns? Is this not the great time to strike? Thank God they have not thought of it. Pair it with the crisis we have today and only God knows what man will do!

Technorati Tags: biological_warfare, main_ingredient, economic_crisis, nation_states, bioterrorism, nation_state, latter_case, receivables, financial_crisis, great_time, terror, god

Bookmark It

The global meltdown continues as stocks continue to dip in the World Market. Actually, all countries are suffering and apparently this is the worst financial crisis that the world has encountered since the last decade.

The financial bailout has been set but from all indications, it seems that it has not done any good. It has helped the banks in need but its impact on the business sectors has really be a rocky ride. And to top it all off, you would think that the bailout plan would have put a halt towards corporate shakeups but why is it that companies today are still seeking new investors or worse, offering their companies for sale?

Notable names have been in the news lately. Among them include AIG and Morgan Chase. Now while they are still standing, you know that a slight tilt can push them overboard. So to avoid the debacle, some are pulling down rates to entice consumer loans. Are they feasible?

If banks cut down interest rates, it can help entice lending growth. But what assurance do we have that such a recourse would pry us away from experiencing the same crisis we are in now? Going deeper, how can we be sure that such a move would not push us towards a worst situation than where we are in right now?

Consumers are getting wiser and basing it on their past experience with financial issues, it is apparent that they are trying to avoid securing loans. It may be a tougher ride towards living normally but it is indeed better than being swarmed with demand letters and subpoenas regarding your debt. So do you really think they would bite the interest rates cut offered by banks all over the world? I think not!

Technorati Tags: financial_bailout, bailout_plan, global_meltdown, business_sectors, morgan_chase, consumer_loans, demand_letters, debacle, subpoenas, world_market, aig, recourse, financial_crisis, interest_rates, banks, stocks, consumers, investors

Bookmark It

If you’re interested in going into home business or have already done so, chances are very good that one of the things on your mind has to do with financing your home business. The internet is the key in most cases in that respect because starting a business on the internet can be done for a few dozen dollars as opposed to the thousands you usually need to get something similar done offline. At the same time however, financing your home business is not easy to do.

One of the ways in which you can finance your home business would be to look around at government websites and see which of those websites have grants that you can apply for. In most developed countries people have three levels of government they deal with on a regular basis and each level of government usually has some kind of support for small business start-ups. The federal government always has a very big investment in this area, as can be seen by Canada’s Small Business Financing Program.

Other countries have similar programs for small business, because entrepreneurship and innovation tend to go hand-in-hand. Don’t be afraid to apply for and utilize these programs, because that is exactly what they are there for.

Technorati Tags: small_business_financing, business_start_ups, most_developed_countries, financing_program, government_websites, levels_of_government, home_business, federal_government, grants, innovation, canada

Bookmark It