Are politicians at the root of our deep poverty?

ties that say that politicians and political dynasties, bad as they are, are the root cause of the deep poverty in the country, in particular the Club 20 provinces?

Nothing. Zero. A Congress that writes redistributionist laws is not a Congress that creates the environment for mass and deep poverty. In fact, it is the body of laws that these corrupt lawmakers have been writing and continue to write that provides relief and support to the marginal sectors.

It was also the dogged effort of these corrupt lawmakers that was behind the creation of those public hospitals that cater mostly to the poor. And the so- called “point of care” programs that provide free surgeries. Their recommendations, threats etc. have been forcing the aid agencies of the executive branch to intensify their efforts to help the sick and the needy.

Politicians rig those public works contracts to force the DPWH to award the public works contracts to their favored contractors and suppliers. Politicians were the architect of Napoles-type violate the Government Procurement Act. All true.

And every time an opportunity to make money comes along, politicians giddily take advantage of that.

Yet, there is no empirical evidence that they are to be blamed for the country’s deep and intractable poverty. The evidence, through the redistributionist and Keynesian laws they love to write, prove otherwise.

So, why are the elite universities blaming the politicians? Two reasons. First, adherence to an orthodoxy. Second, they have to cover up for the Top 1 percent that sucks up most of the national wealth and are the real reasons behind the deep inequality and poverty.