Liberalism, German Politics and FNF in the Philippines

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Liberalism, German Politics

and FNF in the Philippines

Jules Maaten

Country Director Philippines, FNF

May 6, 2014 Rotary @ Rockwell

Presentation at a joint meeting of

Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio,

Rotary Club of Makati Pio del Pilar, RI District 3830

Metro Club, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Philippines

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Liberalism

It is the philosophy of liberty

It is a philosophy of empowerment

Origin in protecting the individual

against institutions of power


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Liberalism

“The only purpose for which power

can be rightfully exercised over any

member of a civilised community, is

to prevent harm to others. His own

good, either physical or moral, is not

sufficient warrant”

John Stuart Mill (1859)


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Liberalism in politics

Protection of individual rights

Equality of all human beings under the law

Balance and separation of powers

Belief in liberal representative democracy

Balance between majority rule and the rights of the

minority

Weary of (state) authority, but state is rights guarantor

Limitation and decentralisation of government powers

Separation of church and state


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Liberalism

“Our faith in freedom does not rest

on the foreseeable results in

particular circumstances but on the

belief that it will, on balance, release

more forces for the good than for the

bad”

Friedrich A. von Hayek (1960)


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Liberalism in economics

Belief in free enterprise and free markets with many

players

Protection of private property

Support for free trade

Privatisation of services better provided by the private

sector

Competition, no private monopolies

Role for state where market does not function

(education, environment, culture, social policies)

Don’t leave debts to future generations


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Liberalism

“The end of law is not to abolish or

restrain, but to preserve and enlarge

freedom. For in all the states of

created beings capable of law, where

there is no law, there is no freedom.”

John Locke (1690)


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Liberalism in society

Protection and expansion of civil rights and liberties

Free speech, religious freedom and freedom of

association

A free, strong and active civil society

Personal freedom, social inclusion and tolerance

Equal rights for everybody

Protection of our environment and that of our children


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Liberalism

“Liberalism is trust of the people,

tempered by prudence.

Conservatism is distrust of the

people, tempered by fear.”

William E. Gladstone (1866)


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A way of life

Trust and confidence in people

Responsibility

Tolerance and respect

Question authority

Unconvinced by violence and extremism

Conviction and argument

Optimism


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A way of life

It’s all about freedom!


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FNF Philippines


Human rights

Economic freedom

Good governance

Climate change

It’s All About Freedom

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German politics

The Merkel era (2005-)

Beacon of stability

FDP in extra-parliamentarian opposition


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European politics

Germany at the centre of most successful international

project ever

Economic

Monetary

Political

Dissociation from Europeans

European Elections May 22-25 2014


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In conclusion: political craft

Politics is the art of the possible.

(Otto von Bismarck, 1867)

Politics is not the art of the possible.

It consists in choosing between the

disastrous and the unpalatable.

(John Kenneth Galbraith, 1962)


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In conclusion: political craft

The challenge is to practice politics

as the art of making what appears to

be impossible, possible.

(Hillary Rodham Clinton, 1969)


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Maraming salamat po


www.fnf.org.ph May 6, 2014 Rotary @ Rockwell








Liberalism, German Politics and FNF in the Philippines

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