This concept of supply has existed since early age of the Chinese and Indian civilization; it is here to stay long after we pass from mortality to immortality.
This supply and demand is even more acute in election time in this republic of over 7,000 islands. Its relevance in time and location becomes a big attention-getter when the issue of poverty is broadcast many times in the media.
There are many causes for the oversupply of poverty-stricken people, qualified by time and place. Nevertheless in the observation of this writer since the decades past such phenomenon shows an ascending pattern rather than in a decline. The main cause of large-scale poverty as indicated by the history of China and India is too many people with too little demand for their economic use.
In the latter centuries the Philippines and Mexico can be cited as examples of oversupply of people. As to how that oversupply came about can mainly be attributed to the doctrine enunciated and intensely implemented by the cardinals and popes in the eternal city of Rome. They insist on the natural method of population control which in itself is very unnatural.
Why? Because they could not prove as working fathers who have to commute to work and back three hours a day, wake up at six in the morning, go to bed tired after taking care of the young kids. They could not prove their sexual experiences as to when they are ready for sexual relations as to the urge of the female counterpart. They could not practice natural birth control so what they preach is naturally unnatural.
As a consequence of lack of effective, realistic, practical population control, there is an oversupply of children going to cramped if not unavailable classrooms, oversupply of students whose oversupply of parents do not have the means for their uninterrupted education. There is an oversupply of graduates whose skills are impossible to be accommodated by far less demand. There is an oversupply of expectations from applicants whose pride and sensibilities are not acceptable to many employers.
So ,no matter how many Ph.D.s in economics are in the role of governance, large scale poverty would always be around. So then the non-economist politicians can make substantial reduction to the scale of poverty? This can be said about them, especially those who are "ngalngalero nang taon": "To be the best among the worse is the consolation of a fool!"
Ros. T. Brillantes
Fernan Hall of Justice
Cebu City