0 The Maoists and the Indian State

In 1947 when India was given freedom by the British it was thought a new dawn of development and prosperity would be launched. However Nehru with his zeal to copy the British carried on the age old British policies as far as the tribal lands were concerned.

The British who were the paramount power and wished to further their rule had no interest in integrating the tribal areas with the rest of India.Thus they formulated policies where the tribals were left to themselves with only a loose form of government control. So much so that to visit the tribal areas of Assam and Nagaland an inner line permit was required.They effectively insulated the tribal areas from the rest of the country.

The Indian Government under Nehru continued with these British policies even after 1947 when independence was granted. Thus the inner line permits remained and very little effort was made to integrate these areas with the mother country. It did not help as racially these tribals were not from the main Arayan or Dravidian stock.

0 Lito Atienza: The Most Accomplished City Mayor Of Manila

A lot of homeless and impoverished Manilenos were given free shelters under Atienza's housing and land acquisition projects. Lito Atienza together with non-government organizations such as Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity have built thousands of houses in the 50-hectare Baseco area, all of which were rightfully awarded to the homeless city residents. Atienza has also started affordable housing projects for the middle class during his term.The former mayor has established the Nagtahan Housing and UN Gardens which have benefited many homeless middle class families.

To address the healthcare needs of the city residents, Atienza launched Sama sa Masa, a program which provides every barangay with free check ups, free medical services and medicines. Public city hospitals also benefited from a bigger budget allocation for the procurement of medical equipment and medicines.During his administration, Manila's crime rates were at their lowest levels in many years.This is due to Atienza's massive effort in ridding the entire city of drug traffickers and syndicates, which he believed as the main roots of all crimes in the city.

0 Government Reaction to Crises

There is a lot to be desired when it comes to our government general reactions to new threat models or to implementing new procedures in reaction to an event (remove shoes, no liquids on flights). When I served as a federal agent two decades ago, we were taught to think on our own, to come up with solutions to problems without having a series of nonproductive meetings and to "anticipate the movements of others". This anticipation of actions of others was a mantra of the Secret Service. We had posters illustrating the importance of this concept.

I can speak from personal experience, albeit in general terms, that we did prevent potential attacks against the president and others under our statutory authority to afford protection from harm. Most agents did so because of their superior training and ability to spot a potential disaster before it manifested itself.

0 Buyahin Nating Muli Ang Maynila And Providing Livelihood And Employment

The program "Buyahin Nating Muli ang Maynila" of Lito Atienza echoes the former mayor's dream of providing the Manilenos with a city that they can call their own, and which they will care for. To realize this goal, the former Manila mayor has pledged to continue his livelihood and economic projects which are dedicated to improve the living conditions within the city. Atienza has also promised the city residents a better chance of improving their lives through job creation, livelihood programs, decent shelter, and education and learning opportunities. Moreover, Atienza has promised to exert all the necessary efforts to help the city's unemployed residents and provide them with employment opportunities. "Buyahin Nating Muli ang Maynila" is centered on the city's economy which is seen by Atienza as the effective antidote against poverty and can help in instilling self-reliance among the city's poorest residents. Among the primary economic programs of Lito Atienza is providing employment opportunities for the city's unemployed and providing the necessary financial support for small and medium enterprises which can fuel job creation. The economic program is composed of a number of projects, all of which are dedicated to improve the quality of life of the people of Manila particularly those who are impoverished.

0 Creating a Political Campaign Theme

A campaign theme is the message used by a political campaign to communicate why a candidate is running for office. It is also shaped by an overall campaign identity. The goal of this campaign theme is to influence voters and gain the support needed to win an election.

At its essence, a campaign theme is simply a message that states why voters should elect a candidate. This message should be carefully crafted. It should be detailed enough to not only tell a story, but to also provide campaign 'sound bites' that can be used throughout the race.

Here are a few examples:

"Facing financial woes and a decaying infrastructure, we need leaders who will restore fiscal accountability and rebuild our state. Joe Jones is that leader."

0 All For One Has Failed One For All

Recall the Three Musketeers battle cry: "All for one and one for all"? Today our modern economic system serves half this axiom - "All for one." Our system is at full production concentrating wealth in unprecedented measure. As power shifts from the many to the few "all" pay the price. The single greatest cause of the worldwide economic unraveling is our propensity for consolidating power and concentrating wealth. The "system" now functions to elevate a few at the expense of many.

We find ourselves in the midst of the most challenging economic times since the Great Depression. Even in the "depression" though, the world kept spinning, the sun rose each day, men and women married, babies were born, people started businesses - life went on. Those who focused on life's simple pleasures remained resilient and perhaps found joy even in the most trying of times. Faith in a brighter tomorrow carried the day - like it always does.