How true friends can help Du30?

The presidency is a difficult job in any country. The degree of difficulty may vary depending on the size of the country, the mode of government (whether democratic or totalitarian or socialist or some variation), and the level of economic development and economic problems. It needs a balancing act of addressing a multitude of interests, some of them conflicting with each other. Continuing with this circus analogy, it is like juggling so many items or issues up in the air and making sure that none of them falls to the ground. Now I know why politics and politicians in government are sometimes referred to as a circus.

The Du30 presidency is nearing its 100 days and there are enough mistakes and gaffes that the main media and the social media are abuzz. The bloody war on drugs, the backtracking and clarifications on the policy statements of Du30 and his senior officials, the diplomatic missteps, and unnecessary initiatives that cannot be justified or supported with evidence are making the task of Du30 governance more difficult.

It is a given that running a country needs a level of competence, intellectual and emotional capability, and experience. It is not a truism however that the most brilliant presidents ran the most successful governments.

History is full of examples of rulers of superior intellect that failed in their tenures. In the Philippines, Marcos would probably rate as one of the brightest presidents yet he failed the Filipino people.

Moreover, no one can really have a monopoly of bright ideas because of human and time constraints. There are only 24 hours a day, so no matter how bright you are you can only really think at most 16 hours a day. And as a human being your well-being and health will only function so much and you are only one. To expand and to lengthen your ability and capacity as a ruler or a president he has to have advisers.

King Solomon who succeeded his father David as ruler of the twelve tribes of Israel/David, was the wisest of all the pre-Christian rulers. Aside from having hundreds of wives he also had hundreds of advisers.

When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam took over ruling the twelve tribes, and because of listening to the wrong advisers, he lost ten of the twelve tribes. He inherited the council of elders from his father Solomon, but he followed the counsel of his...