| Second-Round Vote
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on March 25, 2009 For the Standard Today, March 26 issue The framers of our 1987 Constitution were not thinking when they prescribed a multi-party political system but failed to provide the mechanism for making that system function more democratically. I am referring to the absence of a run-off or second round ballot. We have been so used to the American-style two-party system, in which one party usually gets 50 percent plus-1, or the numerical majority of votes cast, that when we switched to the more democratic multi-party system, our constitutionalists failed to make provisions to make sure that the elected president enjoyed the support of the majority. In the 1992 presidential elections, the first under the 1987 Constitution and marked by massive cheating, Fidel Ramos was elected president, if memory serves, with only 26 percent of the votes. Runners-up were Miriam Defensor-Santiago with 22 percent, and Danding Cojuangco with 18 percent. The remaining 34 percent of the votes were split up among four or five other candidates. In the 1998 presidential elections, Joseph Estrada was elected president with only 38 percent of the votes, defeating Jose de Venecia who won 17 percent. The remaining 45 percent were divided among four or five other candidates. In the 2004 presidential elections, also marked by massive cheating, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was elected president with, again if memory serves, 41 percent of the votes. Fernando Poe won 36 percent, Panfilo Lacson 11 percent, Raul Roco six percent, and Eddie Villanueva six percent. This means that in 1992, a whopping 74 percent of the voters voted against Fidel Ramos. In 1998, 62 percent voted against Estrada. In 2004, 59 percent voted against Gloria Arroyo. Is it any wonder that there is so much sniping and griping against every sitting president, even from Day One? If our constitutional geniuses had thought of inserting a run-off or second round vote in the 1987 Constitution, every president elected since then would have enjoyed the support of the majority of voters from Day One and, perhaps, would have governed with more consensus and support from the electorate, instead of the endless bickering that marks every presidential term in this country. In the 1992 elections, Fidel Ramos would have had to go into a second round with Miriam Defensor-Santiago, to get a mandate from the majority. So also would Joseph Estrada and Jose de Venecia in 1998, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fernando Poe Jr in 2004. Would the results have been different, especially in 1992 and 2004? I do not know. But a second round would most likely have negated or reduced the cheating in the first round, and the second round winner would have had a clearer mandate for the presidency than the winner of the first round. I had proposed this run-off or second round vote several years ago, but no one paid any attention to me. But it may be time to seriously consider it this time. Wikipedia says that a run-off or second round vote is used, when necessary, to elect the presidents of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Zimbabwe. In France, a run-off or second round vote is used to elect not only the president of the republic, but also the members of the legislature or parliament, as well as in local cantonal elections. In Canada, a run-off or second round vote is used to elect party leaders. In Australia, it is used in elections for members of the Lower House in parliament. Because we follow the American political two-party model, most Filipinos have never heard of a run-off or second round vote. But we no longer have a two-party system. We have had a multi-party system � which is more democratic than the two-party model - since 1987 and we should have correspondingly adopted the run-off or second round vote. But the constitutional convention delegates appointed by President Cory Aquino apparently did not consider this dichotomy when they were deliberating the fine points of the 1987 Constitution. This oversight can be remedied, not necessarily by a constituent assembly or another constitutional convention � which can be used to sneak in President Arroyo�s desire to switch to a self-serving parliamentary system � but by a mere resolution in both the Lower House and the Senate, subject to separate voting by both chambers. And it can be in place before the 2010 elections, to reduce electoral fraud and to have a president chosen by a true majority of the electorate. You cannot have a real democracy if the sitting president is chosen by only 26, 38 or 41 percent of the voters. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in acabaya.blogspot.com. Tony on YouTube in www.tapatt.org. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Second-Round Vote� More Reactions to �Dark Horse?� On Revolutionary Government On Paramilitary CAFGUs A 97-yr old Doctor�s Advice The issue of having a runoff is important in ensuring that the elected President has the support of the majority of the voting population. The Philippines is the only country with a multi-party system that has no runoff system. This is a major proposal that global Filipinos have been advocating. We are on the same page on this issue. Victor S. Barrios, (by email), San Francisco, CA, March 27, 2009 Global Filipino Nation, San Francisco/Manila wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very good idea:) Tnx! Genevi�ve B�atrice Huang, M.D, (by email), Makati City, March 27, 2009 Dermatologist-Allergologist Diplomate of Dermatology, University of London Fellow of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology Member of the Philippine Dermatological Society wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, how do you compute for the expenses to be incurred, that would be another budget for that. Dominador Co, (by email), March 28, 2009 (Best to ask the Indonesians who are even poorer than we are but who have a run-off in their electoral process. They will have presidential elections (with run-off) sometime this year. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, That two party system you are discussing is only applicable to those countries mentioned. I do not think it will apply to us, Filipinos (You did not understand what I wrote. The countries I mentioned have multi-party electoral systems as well as run-off elections in their political systems. ACA) . Why do we have trapos. Because of that mentality. (This is a non-sequitur. We have trapos because political office is seen as a passport to fabulous wealth through rent-seeking, not because we have or do not have a run-off. ACA) During Quezon's time, he said "my loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins". This is an expression of statesmen, a non-trapo. But in current times, do we have this kind of statesmen. In fact none. Remember the election in the US between VP Al Gore and Bush. Al Gore was actually the winner, but he did not file a protest, because as he said, just think that a number of days, the US has no President or words to that effect. (Al Gore won in the popular votes, but Bush won in the electoral college votes. The US president is elected by the electoral college votes, not by the popular votes. ACA) Will that happens in the Philippines? This is one reason why there is killings during election period. People were so focused on their "manok". If there is round 2 in an election, I think these followers of the losing candidate would not support anyone of them anymore, probably except us, who truly understands what election is. But the wailing masa? My point is, it would still be the same. Yes, he would get the majority, but not the full majority. (There is no such thing as a �full majority.� Even in the late, unlamented Communist states, the Communist candidates got �only� 99.5 percent of the votes. ACA) Get my drift. Thanks and more power. Bert Celera, (by email), March 27, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony (ACA) Why didn't we use this Run-Off or second vote before? I think this will solve problems in our system. First and foremost, those candidates whose intentions to run in an election are meant only to fracture and divide votes for 'personal insidious reasons' will not succeed. We know that 'some' are there only to make money because from the start they know they won't get elected! These are the worst people. But in our system even a 'monkey' can run for office! Funny but true! Jose Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City, March 27, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Run-off or second round ballot, so that the two highest vote-winners shall run-off is one good option. The Philippines shall still need a more enlightened and well-informed electorate. The other countries you mentioned with run-offs are not much better. Ben Oteyza, (by email), March 27, 2009 (How can you say with a straight face that Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Portugal � all of which have run-offs or second round votes in their electoral process � �are not much better� (off) than us? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww This run-off or second round vote in a presidential election should be looked into by our legislators and based on your explanation that " a second round would most likely have negated or reduced the cheating in the first round, and the second round winner would have had a clearer mandate for the presidency than the winner of the first round " , there is no question that this will be for the good of the country. Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, March 27, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony Abaya: Thanks for the high quality analysis. There really should be a second voting, unless a candidate wins a minimum of 51% the second time around. Kudos. A concern: what are your thoughts on a UNICAMERAL legislature? I am for a single house. Previously, there was a National Assembly, which became a bicameral. My father, Gabriel F Fabella, was a member of that body, from the lone district of Romblon. Only Nebraska, in the U S has unicameral. It seems to work. Imagine if we eliminate, 24 "senatongs" for the legislature. Thank you so much. Maybe, we can also ask Nonong Quezon III. It was his grandfather's party who changed it. That would be billlions of pesos less in campaigns, and less bribe takers. Max Fabella, (by email), Florida, March 27, 2009 (But if we had no Senate, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would long have had term limits to her presidency removed or, alternately, we would have shifted to the parliamentary system (so that she could remain in power as prime minister) as her flunkeys in the Lower House, led by then House Speaker Jose de Venecia, tried to maneuver through a constituent assembly in late 2006. Have you forgotten? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Greetings Mang Tony, I am amazed at the seeming simplicity and relevance of this idea. Not only will a run-off or secondary vote ensure a mandate for the winning candidate, it will probably negate any cheating from the first round. As usual, you are correct in putting forth this idea (again) and I hope this time somebody takes notice and considers this for the 2010 circus. Hindi lamang nababagay sa ating sistema, napapanahon din. Thanks again, Tony Abaya, more power to you, sir. Victor S. De Padua, (by email), March 27, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww We should go back to the two-party system. Recent presidents were elected not by a majority of the people but by a simple highest score, yet a minority. We therefore have never ending protests and the people never really get to respect the elected one because a majority dislike him/her while the rule says he/she won. Our fault in having corrupt officials is because of the way we vote and our party system. Thank you, Tony, for your topic today, adding the second round idea. I always enjoy reading your articles. Victor Ma�alac, (by email), March 27, 2009 (But if we were to go back to the two-party system, our choice would be between the Lakas-CMD, which Cong. Teddyboy Locsin refers to as �the party of thieves,� and the Kampi of Gloria Arroyo, which I like to refer to as �the party of prostitutes.� Is this a democratic choice? (We should stay with the more democratic multi-party system, but make it function better with a run-off or second round vote, so that the winning president is always supported by more than 50 percent of the electorate. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir; Your description of the US election system is simplistic in the extreme. Every state has its own constitution and election systems. My sovereign State of Washington uses a run off system that ignores the previous power of the two parties to determine candidates. Syllabus WASHINGTON STATE GRANGE v. WASHINGTON STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY ET AL. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT No. 06�713. Argued October 1, 2007�Decided March 18, 2008* After the Ninth Circuit invalidated Washington�s blanket primary system on the grounds that it was nearly identical to the California system struck down in California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U. S.567, state voters passed an initiative (I�872), providing that candidates must be identified on the primary ballot by their self designated party preference; that voters may vote for any candidate; and that the two top vote getters for each office, regardless of party preference, advance to the general election. Respondent political parties claim that the new law, on its face, violates a party�s associational rights by usurping its right to nominate its own candidates and by forcing it to associate with candidates it does not endorse. The District Court granted respondents summary judgment, enjoining I�872�s implementation. The Ninth Circuit affirmed. For presidential candidates the selection process is divided between a primary system and the votes of people who show up for local caucuses. In no case does the political party control who attends the caucuses or who runs for office in the primaries. Consider the implications. An interesting consequence in Washington State is that radical libertarians of the Jeffersonian democrat bent have gained a near majority influence in the county party organizations, by means of popular vote, something deemed impossible in the not to distant past. All of this, is, at the least, great fun, and is giving the Ivy League traditional power brokers ulcers. Hopefully this will become a national trend and head off the pending armed revolution against the fascist Republicrats and Democans. Consider, all this was made possible by the implementation of initiative and referendum, a popular vote legislative process widely extent in the western states but not in the east. Perhaps initiative and referendum would serve your Republic well. John Long , (by email), Seattle, Washington, March 27, 2009 (When the US passed on to the Philippines its electoral process of choice, it chose the US national or federal system � two parties, no run-off � not the quirky systems in individual states. Our 1987 Constitution also allows a People�s Initiative and a Constituent Assembly subject to a referendum, which were tried by the party in power in 2006, to allow Gloria Arroyo to stay in power beyond 2010. Both attempts were defeated, the first by the Supreme Court; the second by an enraged public opinion. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww How tru, Sir Tony. But in the case of the Philippines and any voting body in this country whether it be barangay, corporation .... majority votes win.. as in who gets the most number of votes regardless if its 50% plus 1. (Less than 50 percent is not a majority, only a plurality. ACA) Seldom is the 50+1 system used unless its a "controlled" group or a manageable number of voters but in the case of an entire country.... it would be very hard to accomplish - but not impossible if those who sit in power had the will to make it so. Quorums are unheard of in most places that is not remotely corporate so the most number of "raised hands" wins even if the votes are spread far and wide. The fact that there is a multi-party system here - unlike before when it was just KBL and Laban, Liberal or Nacionalista - people only had 2 options to choose from. But in recent history wherein everyone's battle cry has been the song "Everybody wants to rule the World" by Tears for Fears - multi-party system is actually encouraged to spread opposition votes and not be generated into one single vote against the incompetent incumbents. The more the merrier for them. The more candidates there are for one position, the more chances for the incumbent to win. Why? Who has the machinery to cheat? Definitely not those who are not currently in power. And if you've also noticed - in our elections, there are only two types of candidates - nandaya at dinaya.. no one will actually admit defeat to make the lives of Comelec people easier. (But if there were a run-off or second round, the plurality winner in the first round will have to face the strongest rival who can potentially defeat him or her in the second round because more voters voted against him or her, than for him or her, in the first round. This can also reduce his or her opportunities for cheating since more people will be watching out against cheating in the second round ACA) So until the opposition unites and come up with one candidate to run in 2010, expect the administration's candidate to win without even trying... unless the masses wake up and not vote for anyone from the incumbent's list... which is a long shot either way because the opposition will not choose a single candidate and the masses will always vote for the popular even if the popular isn't competent enough. He/She who hires the most popular celebrity during campaigns are the most remembered candidates of all. Either that - the candidate who makes a total jackass of himself/herself during campaigns are remembered for their stupid antics and not for their list of achievements or lack thereof. "Intelligent" campaigns are not popular in remote areas and in provinces. Its a sad twist of election history. I dread the next elections and those who will win it. Best regards, Jenifer Xavier, (by email), March 27, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, The real issue is, we elected weak leaders, with many corrupt practices under their administrations. If we respect the results of elections, it really does not matter whether we elected a President with a majority vote or less than 50% vote. Col. (Ret.) Hector Tarzan Tarrazona, (by email) March 31, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You wrote that you have already written about this subject several years ago and nothing happened. Perhaps, we could re-introduce the subject more vigorously now before the 2010 elections. We could re-package the subject with four other factually erroneous provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Attached herewith is such repackaging. The subject of the 2nd Round Vote is item no. 4 in our list. ACC4CC or PROJECT AGAK, as it is called would become very relevant alternative if GMA and Allies railroads their shameless ChaCha. We need to learn from the experience of Indonesia. Like us they too had three successive plurality presidents after Suharto - Habibe, Wahid and Sukarnoputri - until they changed the rule and adopted the second round voting system as was the case between SBY and Megawati. Indonesian Democracy under its first majority President SBY is now rated as STABLE. Best and God Bless! Roman Rama Guerrero, (by email), April 01, 2009 (The coalition in power � Lakas-CMD, Kampi and Nationalist People�s Coalition � who control the Lower House, would never agree to a run-off or second round because it would threaten their stranglehold on power. We would have to wait for a revolutionary transition government to make this basic change. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Dark Horse� (March 17, 2009) We talk as though electing the right people will bring relief. It won�t. The Philippines is the murky waters of Pasig River. It cannot be cleaned-up by a thousand or two Pachecos or Panlilios. Who are they, anyway? Jointly, we can do the job better! All we need to do is create the structure that would enable us do our share, beyond just blogging with ACA. Our problem is that we give so much power and wealth to the high and mighty so that when they abuse their powers or misuse the wealth, all we could do is cry and cry until we die. For starters, why don�t we give the funds for agriculture, poverty alleviation and social welfare to our city and provincial officials? This task is very well within the power of Congress. Many of us will balk or squirm at the thought. How could we be so na�ve as to entrust so much funds to those trapos? Well, who else can we turn to? Besides, at that level we have a china man�s chance of being heard or listened to. The houses of local officials are likely just to be a stone�s throw away from us. So if we allow them to steal the money intended for us, it would be our fault for not being concerned enough. Yes, we do need a revolution. We need one for Congress to do its job. Eustaquio Joven, (by email), April 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww On Revolutionary Government Dear Dan Mel and Jim/Dan Jimenez, and Tony, As one of the original leaders of the idealistic officers and one of the members of the 11-man Ad Hoc Steering Committee of the Reform the AFP Movement or RAM, I have the following comments: Based on our unwritten covenant, we did not ask for any medals or any reward after the peaceful and successful EDSA I February 1986 Revolution. (Which was what installed Cory Aquino to the presidency in 1986, not the �democratic process.� ACA) In my case, I went back to barracks as we agreed. But you know that most of us did not go back to barracks. I did not join any of the coup attempts after 1986 because I knew that changing our leaders is not the main solution to our problems. The solution is to change our hearts and minds, leaders and followers alike. The solution is to correct our damaged culture. The solution is to recognize that we have a morally bankrupt society and that we must restore the positive moral values in our society. As a supposedly Christian nation, the only one in Asia as we proudly claim, following the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ is the answer to our problems. A true Christian does not steal, kill, tell a lie, cheat, etc. (Just as a true Muslim does not kill innocent people with suicide belts, car-bombs and, hijacked airliners; does not prevent girls and women from getting an education; does not practice or condone female circumcision: does not kill his own wife and children as a matter of �honor killing�? (Besides, in case you haven�t heard, Catholics and Protestants � true Christians all - massacred each other by the hundreds of thousand during the religious wars in Europe. ACA) Let us not encourage others to go against the government UNCONSTITUTIONALLY. Let us not give any idea to the Chief of Staff of the AFP to be the caretaker of the government. Power corrupts, no matter how saintly the leader you will put there. How sure are you that the leader you will put as caretaker will relinquish power after tasting it? But I do agree with you that the Filipino people must organize now to prevent the rapists of the Filipino nation from pertuating themselves in power. This forum can be the start of it. And let us renew our love for our God, our country, and our people. Our true love for them will prevent us from doing foolish things that will displease or hurt them. Lastly, let us give the democratic process a chance. (But you did not give the �democratic process� a chance in 1986, when you and the RAM plotted against President Marcos. ACA) Sincerely, Col. (Ret.) Hector Tarzan Tarrazona, (by email), April 06, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. On Paramilitary CAFGUs Gloria Arroyo celebrated her 62nd birthday by swearing in hundreds of new members in Pampanga of the CAFGU, a paramilitary unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Does that tell us something? Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, April 06, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Fil Juntereal) At the age of 97 years and 4 months, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing. After World War II, he envisioned a world-class hospital and college springing from the ruins of Tokyo; thanks to his pioneering spirit and business savvy, the doctor turned these institutions into the nation's top medical facility and nursing school. Today he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at both organizations. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself. A 97-yr old Doctor�s Advice Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime. All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common:None are overweight... For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work.. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat.. Always plan ahead. My schedule book is already full until 2014, with lectures and my usual hospital work. In 2016 I'll have some fun, though: I plan to attend the Tokyo Olympics! There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65. The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100... Share what you know. I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong. When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure. Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine. To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff. I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving. My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler." My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance. Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: We all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes. Don't be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place. Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. We designed St.... Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives. Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones. Life is filled with incidents. On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis. Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do. My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at Duke University in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem. It's wonderful to live long. Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours seven days a week and love every minute of it. ***** OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to [email protected]. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |
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