National Conversation topic

One major topic to be addressed in the National Conversation is the amount of authority to be given to an elected govt of a 5 year term. A democratically elected govt with a short life span of 4 to 5 years is very different from a dictatorship or a dynasty where the country in a way belongs to the dictator or the royal family. The people living in a dictatorship or a dynasty have no choice but to live with whatever decided for them by the dictator or the royalty. They can do whatever they want with the country without the consent of the people. They owned the country, not the people.

In a democracy, the country belongs to the people and the elected represenative govt is only a caretaker govt that can be kicked out of office in the next GE. Should such a govt be given so much authority to decide the future of the country and its people without the latter's consent? Issues that will affect the people for a long time is the population, property ownership, freedom, the people's savings, the national reserves, among other things.

This National Conservation should look into the power of a democratically elected govt and remind such govt that the country belongs to the people, not the few elected representatives, and major and far reaching policies must have the consent of the people, preferably through a referendum. Bringing in so many foreigners as new citizens, selling land and properties to foreigners are critical issues that should not be decided by a few without the consent of the majority shareholders.

Of prudence, prudence and prudence

This funny word seems to be appearing more often on the lips of people in authority. Prudence is taking on the image of a good word. It used to be a good word to the old and wise. Prudence or being not wasteful, careful in words and money, not extravagance, is an old value of goodness.

Prudence can be practiced by the govt, by organizations and by individuals. Prudence in the layman’s view is not overspending, or spending within one’s means. Extravagance is just the opposite, spending beyond one’s means, spending without a care of tomorrow or spending every cent one has.

How is this word prudence being practiced here? Are the govt’s policies based on prudence? Is the govt extravagant, encourages over spending instead of prudence in its own spending and in policies dictating to the people to over spend, or to be prudent?

Think of hospitalization and mean testing? Are they policies of prudence or extravagance? I think they are of extravagance than prudence. Any disagree?

Similarly, housing policies, despite all the crap calls about affordability and buying within your means, it is all about extravagance, buying at max with what one has in the CPF or according to one’s income. See the hypocrisy? The pricing of public housing cannot be prudence, and the income ceilings dictating one to buy more and more expensive flats according to one’s income, are all about extravagance.

Prudence, anyone talking about prudence? If prudence was the intent and purpose, why are people now finding that they savings are not enough for retirement? It must be the result of extravagant spending. It cannot be otherwise. If the people are prudent in their spending, they must have a lot of savings for retirement. What has gone wrong? Prudence? Yes it must be prudence that has gone wrong.

Developing properties for investors

I was kind of, er, uneasy when I heard someone from the property industry talking about developing properties for investors as the next big thing. This statement came after the announcement on changes to allow banks to manage the conveyancing money of buyers. We had a few too many cases of honorable lawyers running away with their clients’ money.

Properties are perhaps the only local produce that we can sell to foreigners for huge profits. We cannot prevent the property developers or anyone who want to make big bucks from selling this product. But we need to be very careful as land is a very limited resource here. Once sold, especially in freehold properties, it is sold forever, like selling Alaska to the Americans by the Russians. We need a policy to limit how much land and freehold properties can be sold to foreigners. If not, all will eventually be sold. The foreigners have all the money to buy up everything on the table.

The other main concern is the public housing market. In the absence of a long term policy to protect housing for the citizens, we may plunge into a deep hole and unable to climb back up. Like it or not, when private property prices shoot to the sky, they will drag prices of public housing along. Good huh?

For now, everyday we are hearing people trumpeting that our public housing prices are affordable. Even so, there are already people living without a roof on their heads. Blame them on their stupidity, losers, misfortunes, luck, etc, they are still citizens of the country and they need a roof over their heads.

And as the prices hit the roof, the number of homeless will only increase. Not everyone is born lucky to be a minister’s son, not everyone is able to inherit a fortune, not everyone is born with super talents. Then there will be the silly ones, the couldn’t care less ones, the ones that live for today and think about tomorrow when tomorrow comes, and the irresponsible ones. Still they need housing.

At the moment the problem is small and a few of these homeless can be kept away from sight. When the problem snowballs, they will be in every corner, every void deck, and the parks and beaches. Someone selling a 4 rm flat the second time could still downgrade to 3rm flats. Those selling 3 rm flats can only hope for a rental flats as the money could not buy them anything in the resale market and neither would HDB sell them a third time.

There must be safeguards and protection of the people’s housing. Public housing must be sheltered from the greed of developers and speculators. If public housing is also thrown into the ring, many will become victims of circumstances and their own wrong doings. In a sea infested with hungry sharks, the hapless will quickly fall victims to the predators.

The superficial huge profits to be gained by some will soon be the misery of many. Don’t play with people’s homes and run people to the streets or the beaches.

The APEC Meeting in progress

Leaders of Asia and the Pacific rim countries are huddling in Vladivostok for their annual powwow to solve the contentious issues in the region. There are territorial claims stretching from the Sakhalin Islands in the north, Dokdo, Diayu and the Spratleys and Paracels in the South China Seas. These are potential flash points that could be ignited by the provocative acts of any party involved in the disputes.

In other parts of the world, the flash points that are boiling in full heat are the Middle East, that somehow is in a perpetual state of warfare. When one flash point died down, another would somehow start to burn.

In South America, the last flash point was in 1982 in the Falkland Islands that somehow belong to the British and not to the Argentines. This is part of the legacies of colonialism and finder’s keepers past.

What is amazing and coincidental is that these flash points are away from Europe and North America. Anyone cares to guess why North America and Europe are free from such flash points but were always involved in one way or another with such conflicts?

Maybe the rest of the world are countries that are contentious, belligerent and enjoying bickering and war. Maybe they are foolish and cannot establish good neighbourly relations. Or maybe there are some other reasons.

And now we have the Americans, in the form of Hillary Clinton, working so hard, flying everywhere, trying to prevent these flash points from bursting into flames. She and the Americans are really the angels, and the saviours of the quarrelsome Asians. Without the Americans, these countries would have gone to war many times over.

In another way, the Americans are like a dog owner with several dogs on leash. Every now and then the dog owner would release the dogs and let them go people chasing. Then they would pull back the leash and those being chased by the dogs would be so grateful that someone is there to control the dogs. The dog owner is the good guy.

Myth 231: The Inclusive Myth

An inclusive society was broached as a national policy only quite recently, perhaps during the last election or the one earlier.  When inclusiveness became a national policy, it was like an acknowledgement that exclusiveness was being practised before. So there is a change now, to include all Sinkies as one people, no alienation, no one is left behind.

For how long and how many people were excluded by govt policies and in what areas are difficult to account for. This morning’s paper confirmed that 4 groups of citizens have been excluded and fell victims to govt policies in public housing. But only 3 groups were mentioned and the fourth group is conveniently not spoken of and would probably be left out again, excluded in an inclusive society when no one is left behind, except this group.

For the mismanagement of the public housing policies that victimised many citizens financially and in a way also the fate of baby making and TFR, 4 groups of people were not eligible to buy HDB flats on the false justification that the supply was not enough. The real reason for the shortage is not building enough. But the daft Sinkies ended up fighting against each other for priority and seeing other groups joining the queue as their enemies. They are so daft that they would not think or could not think, and would not see that the real culprit for not building enough public flats for the people is not the demand but the supply. And they blamed themselves, the buyers, and accused each other, and to exclude others from the queue to protect their own interests and priority.

The 3 groups identified as victims of systemic discrimination are, ‘those who have never married, single parents and those married to foreigners’. The fourth group is silent and would remain as the victims of a system that bragged about inclusiveness but excluded them. The pain is greater when foreigners turned new citizens are favoured against them. Who make up this group?

How could a govt policy exclude single parents from buying HDB flats and did not think it is nasty? It really describes the kind of people formulating such policy, totally devoid of compassion. Are the single parent families not human beans and need a place to stay as well? Do they have any alternative if they could not buy HDB flats? Imagine how long this group has been leading their lives like lepers? They have been written off, no one wants to know of their plight till now. Can our caring govt be so uncaring?

The same kind of inhuman touch applies to those who are married to foreigners. They too need a place to stay. For the family to be half citizen, there could always be a formula to differentiate the level of subsidies and this need not be the same as citizens, but they must have a chance to buy a flat to stay. They can’t camp at the beach or Vivian will come visiting.

The singles may see a reprieve. But it may not be much of a reprieve at the end of the day. Don’t forget that there is a $10k income ceiling in place for households. Would this mean singles can qualify if his/her income is $5k? And quite a big number of these singles are professionals and high income earners, due partly because of their jobs and partly because they cannot buy when younger when income was lower. Many could still be excluded by the income ceiling like those newly married couples who married late and ended with higher income that kicked them out of the system.

Nobody, single or married couples, started work with income exceeding the $10k limit. They have to work their way up. So if they married earlier, or buy their flats earlier, they would all be eligible. But for one reason or another, definitely not their faults, they ended up with higher incomes and become victims of an inclusive myth. It was a systemic failure that would not be admitted and would likely not be put right.

Out of the 4 groups, one is forgotten, the singles will hardly be a solution, those married to foreigners who are high income earners too may still be excluded. The solutions may still be found wanting with many still excluded from the public housing scheme.

Did someone say every young married couple, first timer, will be able to buy a flat? The inclusive cry is mainly for foreigners who have become new citizens. They are the ones that benefited most at the expense of original citizens.

My National Conversation Thread

I seriously want to engage seriously in the National Conversation, either here or wherever that is fitting for such a conversation. I have only one caveat. Would anyone want to pay me for doing so? Time is money, effort cost money, and one cannot really do justice in a National Conversation without putting in serious time and serious effort which don’t come free.

It would really be nice, very nice, to engage in a National Conversation, for a month or two, I could dedicate the whole blog to it, if I am paid to conduct the conversation. I will really enjoy conversing with anyone on anything national, with pay of course.

They say talk is cheap. But National Conversation cannot be cheap right. How nice, being paid just to conduct a conversation here.

The new transparency game rule

After all the cry father and cry mother about not being transparent, there are positive signs that transparency is the new game in town. And some elite of the society have started the ball rolling, starting with the public airing of medical reports and diagnosis of client’s condition.

We have a case of a client’s mental condition being read out in the media. And as the nature of the condition was so life threatening, I presume, that the recommendation to put the client behind the doors of a mental institution also became public knowledge, with a public warning to act against the client/patient. I am not sure if I am comfortable with this kind of transparency, but transparency it is. And the public now are deserving to know the details of client’s medical condition if deemed fit by the doctors. At what point would a doctor openly make his findings public is not specified in details yet. But patients must now be prepared for laundry washing at the prerogative of the professionals they are seeking help.

Then we have this old man telling his MP how racist he was, his thinking and attitude. Of course it is always good for the public to know that such racist odd balls are living among us and to be guarded of their twisted views. People with such tendencies are bad and should be sent to the psychiatrist for an assessment and tested for suitability to become permanent residents in Woodbridge. It is not just quipping about their idiosyncrasies and thinks nothing of it. Follow up measures must be taken to keep the problem under the lid. I just hope that this guy did not have bipolar sickness or other psychiatric problems. If he does, better to put him away for good.

Then there was a couple who wanted their MP to tell lies. How thoughtless and unreasonable people can be and demanding an MP to tell lies. Got shadow or not? 有影别？There seems to be a new level of transparency in the profession of MPs as long as no names are mentioned. No one will know who the party was and no one will be wiser. 

This kind of transparency practice is good. It is a good start. The people can now expect to see more and more transparency in all fields of activities. The bloggers also must discard their anonymity, those anti establishment and those insurgents planted to discredit bloggers as well. It must be both ways right? Cannot be transparent for some and not transparent for some.

There must also be some caveats to this road to more openness. Conversations that would be otherwise confidential and could now be divulged would need cautionary notes pasted at the door so that people understand the new rule before entering to confide with another party. Me thinks of confession to the fatherly figure and whether it is also applicable to this new transparent norm. And there are certain things that no matter how, cannot be transparent. Things like construction cost of public flats as these could fall under the category of national secrets. The people should understand what can be transparent and what cannot be transparent, particularly things relating to money matters.

Other than these exceptions, let’s all be more transparent, like wearing transparent clothes.

Asean farting nonsense

Asean lately is preoccupied with its quarrel with China, and the main issues stated are freedom of sea navigation, territorial dispute and Asean’s unity. Let me just deal with the strawman within Asean, its unity as a regional bloc of countries trying to present a single view or position to other blocs or big countries.

The differences within the Asean bloc of countries need no further clarification, from social, political, economic and religious angles, Asean countries are like oil and water. For Asean countries to come together, the glue is at best the lowest common denominator. The only area that Asean could ever think of gelling together as one in a lose way is economic cooperation. Politically, with the entry of Vietnam, another ambitious regional power, the level of complexities increases by leaps and bounds.

Vietnam and the Philippines have territorial claims with China and their willingness to drag in the Americans will only raise the temperature and tension in the region. It is increasing daily with the Americans fanning the fire and waiting to make the most out of this regional dispute. Asean unity is now in the frying pan. Can Asean countries afford to take sides as a united bloc on such national and territorial issues? Fat hope. But some Asean countries seem to differ and wanted Asean to be united as one in its negotiation and claims against Chinese territories. Only foolish govt will think that the Chinese will allow their territories to be taken from them because some jokers decided to make a claim for it. The Filipino mentality of claims did not fade away with the Marcos. And they really think that with the American gunboats behind them they could succeed. The same kind of thinking applies to Vietnam. China will go to war with the US if its territorial sovereignty is challenged. They are tolerating the Japanese to maintain good relations, but some Japanese are seeing this as a weakness to be exploited. Think of the eventualities if there is a war between China and Japan today?

The most silly issue Asean is farting around is freedom of navigation. This is an issue that has never been an issue until the Philippines and Vietnamese started to harass and arrest Chinese ships. Funny isn’t it? The trouble makers are pointing the fingers at the Chinese. But when the real devil has its fingers in the region, tension will rise and non existence conflict will simply flare up.

The real threat to freedom of navigation at one time was the Malacca and Sunda Straits. But with regime changed, pragmatism and common sense prevail and the two waterways are now free for ships to cross as international highways.

What about east Africa? Is there a problem that threatens freedom of navigation? Why is there a problem and the Empire with all its resources is unable to quell it? Why are the 6th or 7th Fleets of the world’s most powerful navy not there to clear the waterway to ensure freedom of navigation? Where is Hillary? Still cooking her soup in the kitchen?

There is a clear and present danger, and threats to freedom of navigation in the east African sea. Instead of defending the freedom of navigation there, the Americans are harping up a threat in South China Sea when there was none except when the Vietnamese and the Filipinos start to behave like pirates. And Asean, as usual, have to act on someone else’s agenda, acting on an imaginery threat that is non existence before. And they are blowing hot and cold, from Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, Hanoi to Beijing. The ill wind actually came from across the Pacific Ocean in the guise of peace and stability, and the hegemonic umbrella of the Empire. So Asean now has a monster to fight and the Asean countries are having sleepless nights, sharing the same bed and the same nightmare. The threat of freedom to navigation is as real as they make it and want to believe it in, or as spun by the Empire.

Asean can go on farting and act important. It is as good as NATO in credibility in forming a united front against any super power. Its agenda in the annual Asean Summit Meeting has been hijacked unceremoniously without it knowing what has happened.

What constitutes a racist word

Lately the word keleng has appeared more often than usual and quoted as a racist term used by the non Indians on the Indians. The Indians have also often been called mama or mamak, also seen as racist by some Indians. Are these words really racist in intent? What were their origins? Actually I don’t know. Some relate the word keleng to Kling, a battery of Indian soldiers during the colonial days. Today I heard it was from the word Kilinga or Kaligina, an Indian warrior tribe, which cannot be derogatory. I could still remember a long long time ago when I heard my mother referred to the Indians as kelengna. And when she used the word, there was not the faintest trace of racism or dismissal. It was just a word to call the Indians by the illiterate.

Many tend to forget that the early immigrants here were mainly from the uneducated peasant class who knew of very few things and words. They just adopted and made use of whatever words in their limited vocabulary to get by their daily lives. And in those days, people were simply hungry and had no time for anything but just to work and sleep. Racism was not in the mind of hungry migrants. It is not a luxury of the pseudo affluence or nouveau riche.

Just like the word mama or mamak. It was just picked up in the pasar by the non Indians without even knowing what it meant, a convenience of ignorance. Fortunately when I later found out, it was meant to be uncle in Indian. But the illiterate and unschooled would not know and would not know if it is intended to be racist. And it is unbelieveable that some Indians took offence for being called mama or mamak. I hope some can enlighten on this perception.

I used to call the Hongkongers Hongkie for convenience. But Hongkie was used by many with a tinge of insult. I used it for convenience just like I substitute Singaporeans, a tongue twister to Sinkie, sometimes with full innocence, sometimes with a tinge of mischief.

You are so cheena. Now that word is used in the right sense, not very friendly. The word China was traced to all kinds of origins by apologetic scholars not to offend the Chinese, linking to Chin Dynasty and some other craps. But it was used by the Brits to insult the Chinese as a people as breakable as clay. And since they wrote the maps, they conveniently used it, China for a country that the Chinese used to call Zhongquo or by dynastic names, never China. China was never a Chinese word except used by the Brits to describe a kind of porcelain. Likewise India was likely to be a British creation like they called the American natives Red Indians. Some said the word Indian is derogatory too. Of course the same apologetic scholars will link it to something like the Indus River or something like that.

Many words were created or used by users without knowing what they originally meant. But to the receivers, depending on how sensitive or highly sensitive they are, they can be offended and think that it is an insult or racism. Hongkie is in a way less naughty than chinky or chink. Chink or chinky will definitely fall clearly to the derogatory category and more so than Keleng or mama or mamak.

How many Chinese are called PRC chink or Sinkie chink and just ignored it without screaming racism? Many a time, such words were uttered by an individual against another, and yes, sometimes with racist bias. A laundry tag is racist mind you, if one understands its origin and the context when it is used. The Brits have a lot of racist terms incorporated into their dictionary as acceptable usage but really racist in origin and intent. Yellow culture, yellow press and turning yellow are their racist terms for anything Chinese. But many banana Chinese are using these terms happily without knowing why.

So, what is a racist word will depend partly on how racist a person is, the user and the target. Sensible people would not relate every word said to racism. Often it may be due to ignorance or density.

The enlightenment of Tharman

Front page ST material. Tharman says, ‘Inclusive growth needs govt hand…Market forces will only widen S’pore’s wealth gap.’ Many of his colleagues could not see this. And it is refreshing and promising to see Tharman finally came to this realization, that market forces can not be counted on to take care of the people across the board. I hope this light of wisdom will spread to his equally brilliant and well meaning peers so that they can now find the answers to serving the people at the lower end of the economic strata, to tilt in favour of those with less.

‘Singapore’s social compact cannot be left to market forces because these will only widen disparities in wealth and income.’ Tharman added. Obviously they could not see anything like this in Lim Chong Yah’s shock therapy which is exactly about tilting in favour of those with less. Maybe Tharman could impress among them that what Lim Chong Yah said made sense. Let the light of his enlightenment embraces those that are a bit duller or a bit dense, and viola, the govt will bless the people with more people centric policies.

Tharman is now convinced of goodness of a more equitable society when wide income gap is not meant to be a necessary evil. Govt intervention can close the gap and there are four components to make it happened. ‘First, an activist govt focused on social mobility and on guarding against extremes of wealth and income.’ For Tharman to raise this point means that he has some misgivings about this, that there were lapses in this area. His second point about childhood education when some had a head start is valid only partially. The head start can only get them up to O level. Pass that the intellect embedded in the child will take over and no amount of head start can do much subsequently. But it is good that every child should have an equal footing to start with. His third point is individual effort and responsibility. Today wealth is gained by many by not working but sitting on inheritance in property. The rage of property prices is killing not only enterprise but draining the resources of the ordinary Sinkies through high cost of living. The fourth point about community initiative and activism is a bit wishy washy and is like those youthful idealism.

The crux of the matter is still his enlightenment, to finally realize that market forces have to be curbed and not be the master of the people’s economic well being. It is so difficult to understand this perplexed idea but good that he now knows. Please enlighten your dull and dense colleagues and Sinkieland could be a better place for the lower half of the population.

PS. Shit, I deleted this article at the same time.

Hongkong oldies having a good time, with pension from the govt.

The folks in HongKong are enjoying the longest life span in the world.




“If you ever wonder why, here are the reasons:

1. Seniors in HK have truly world class government health care which is virtually free by world standards

2. Seniors enjoy a very active life-style in their daily get-togethers with other fellow seniors to do voluntary social work, because public transport for all seniors is very heavily subsidised

3. Every senior is rewarded with a no-means-test-required monthly stipend of HK$2200 in recognition of their past contribution to build up HK.



How is the HK government able to provide all these benefits even with absolutely zero percent GST?

The answer is because the bureaucracy does not charge astronomical salaries for the services of ministers and top civil servants.



One senior minister in HK has put his own view very clearly:

“Just being given the opportunity to work for my fellow citizens is already a

great honour for me that does not need to be waxed with any high salary.

I cannot bring the high salary with me to my grave, but I can leave this Earth

with the greatest satisfaction that I have helped my fellow citizens, and I will

leave behind my humble honour in Hong Kong’s history books.” “

I received the above in my email. I was kinda uh, true or not? Ubelieveable leh, where got so good govt? And Hongkong is not even richer than us, with lesser national reserves. We are the richest country in the world. If Sinkieland cannot afford it, who else can? Mind you, while we have been on the path of the people paying for their own welfare with their savings and dished out by the govt like it is from the govt, the Hongkong govt has been paying for it for all these years. Must not be true huh? If like dat, our govt will definitely want to outdo Hongkong and be number one also.

Even if it claimed that the high salary for our govt will mean that it cannot provide such benefits, I disagree. We have so so many billions or trillions in our reserves, sure can one. If not, raise the GST, raise the ERP, COEs, transport fare, and what more, sure can one. KNN, does Hongkong got GST or not, got ERP or COEs? And their public transport fares are even cheaper than ours. It is thus a matter of only got heart or no heart to want to do. Or at least put some money into the special account or retirement account lah, long long time cannot touch never mine, but can feel shiok also good what.

Maybe Hongkong govt not very smart and cannot attract the top talents without the top salaries. So they stupid stupid, give free money to the seniors. And one joker political leader said it was an honour to serve the people woah, greatest satisfaction and no need high salary! Must be a nit wit. Must be too idealistic. Come Sinkieland sure kenna reject from standing as a MP.

PS. My apologies. I accidentally deleted this article with all the comments while trying to delete another article that crowded the blog.

Japan pushing the limits of China’s tolerance

The Japanese govt is pushing ahead with its farce buying of Diaoyu Island from another Japanese whose fictitious claim to ownership of the island must the height of Japanese trickery. They did this kind of shit over and over again during Imperial Japan to bully a decadent and weak China. It is trying to do the same today to a China that could give them a bloody nose any time.

Japan is forcing the hands of Beijing and the latter has no choice but to respond robustly or it would lose its credibility in the eyes of its citizens and would also encourage adventurism in South China Sea. China would now have to mount a military force to protect its island, like it or not. This could lead to a military confrontation that China has chosen not to oblige for a long time.

The world, the Asean countries and the US are watching how China would respond to this aggressive act against its territories. Backing out and allowing the Japanese to continue in its heady encroachment of its islands is a no option.

Japan has made the first offensive move. The ball is now in Beijing’s court.

 International ties

China's new face in the global arena

Updated: 2012-09-04 16:20

By Aaron Jed Rabena ( chinadaily.com.cn)

Comments(1) Print Mail Large Medium  Small 0

China has changed a lot since its opening-up policy in 1978. China is now the world's second economic and military powerhouse. As China continues to rise, so does the wrong misconceptions and deceitful stigma about how it will continue to waltz out and evaporate.
China's approach now is with a strong emphasis on economic diplomacy, stern professionalism, and cultural exchanges. In the common parlance, it is known as "business is business" or "strictly business." Political liberalization is gradually following economic liberalization. An American scholar, Michael Roskin, once said "You have freedom here (China)."
What makes China different from other rising or emerging powers is that is has peppered itself with a strong emphasis on bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and international commitments. This is evidenced by their strong participation in international governmental organizations. No other emerging power in history has done what China is doing in terms of a very wide reach of economic linkages and activism in international affairs and global responsibilities which actually signals to the world they have no ulterior motive.
China has also committed to engaging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the East Asia Summit among others.
Key to this success is the profession of the leaders and bureaucrats. In China, the most popular professions are engineering, business, architecture, IT, and the like. All these point to the fact that the leaders orientation will be reflected on the things that they do in society. This has been evident in the grand implementation of the national high-speed railway system, towering and magnificent mega-infrastructures, stretching flyovers, and booming high rise residential buildings – which are all aimed to provide for the needs and comforts of the people.
Leaders in China do not like to talk as much as leaders in "democratic countries." But rather, they devote their time for talking about the creation of material and tangible outputs for the benefit of the public. Most of the statesmen in China do not belong to the law profession, but what they have done for their country to achieve perpetual success is truly praiseworthy and has already been palpably embedded to improve people's lives. In China, their actions not their words are what achieves democracy -- which is done by a strong and overdriven government.
It is by the provision of efficient public services at a fast pace in which other democratic countries are not able to deliver due to much political bickering, partisanship, and squabbling. "Democracy" is just a nomenclature, what is important is a strong government that can effectively cater to the needs of its people in a swift and willful manner. There is no demagoguery in China, only productivity and non-stop activity managed by leaders that possess wisdom.
This goes to show that there is no best political form of government or political system. Every country has its own reception and perception towards its own constituency and nation-building. All nations must discover for itself what is good for it. This is what makes China flag their "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" which bespeak that everything shall be adapted and dealt with on a case to case basis.
The Chinese are now becoming the top source of tourists and foreign students abroad especially in many Western countries, bringing along money that can contribute to the economy of the country where they are going.
Football player Nicolas Anelka and NBA idol Stephon Marbury among others have come to China to grab the opportunities that can be realized. So, from the US version of an "American Dream," there is now seemingly an emerging "Chinese Sensation" where more and more people are starting to join the bandwagon. The world is changing, where Asian states are rising, and on the forefront of that comes China's new face to the world.

The author is an overseas student from Philippines mastering in International Relations with a Holistic Law Background and Service Experience at Shandong University in China.

The opinions expressed do not represent the views of the China Daily website

China cancelled meeting with Hillary

I was expecting this to happen for a very long time. There is no reason why the host of a country would want to discuss his neighbourhood problems with his guests, and definitely not one from the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Why should Hillary or the Americans be dictating the agenda, on what to discuss and what not to discuss, and what more, the disputes between neighbours? Who do the US think they are to tell the neighbours how to behave and what to do? Oh, I forget, the Empire.

It is about time that Asian and Southeast Asian countries decide what they should talk to their guests and not be dragged along by the guests. And this is what happened in Beijing today.

‘BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sat down Wednesday with Chinese President Hu Jintao to press Beijing to agree to peacefully resolve territorial disputes with its smaller neighbors over the South China Sea. But as she began her meetings here, China questioned the stated neutrality of the United States.

At the start of the talks with Hu, Clinton said the U.S.-China relationship is strong. "We are able to explore areas of agreement and disagreement in a very open manner, which I think demonstrates the maturity of the relationship and the chance to take it further in the future," she said.

There was no immediate comment on the talks, but a scheduled meeting with Vice President Xi Jinping for later Wednesday morning had been canceled by China "for unexpected scheduling reasons," said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.’

The next time China may not even want to see her, or maybe no next time unless Obama is reelected. The host country should determine the agenda of the visit and not about meddling with other countries’ affairs.

Send her home.

Social media versus commercial media

I would like to use the term professional media to describe the main media but that would have given them far too much credit than they deserved. The only thing professional is probably its recognition as a profession. Today, many professional journalists or even academics are far from neutral, objective, and many try to pursue their private agenda for personal or financial gains. This is particularly widespread among the much hyped and considered respectable big names in the western media. Many have proven to be writing fictions created to suit their personal motive.

Cherian George wrote a hefty piece of material in his article, ‘Press Controls and the Myth of Online Bypass’ in Journalism.sg. The title itself suggested where he is coming from and he did not hide much to be seen as being neutral. The main media or commercial media is the still the cornerstone in the collection and dissemination of news. This I cannot disagree as long as it keeps to these roles. Once it strays towards opinion and commentaries, to set an agenda, the horns are raised. The main media will play its part to serve its master’s interests and agenda. Period. How many professional journalists could touch their hearts and say, I am saying this, writing this, strictly from a neutral, professional and objective point of view? Not that bloggers and social media are clean and objective either. There is a contest, a war, by both sides trying to tell their truths or version of truths.

The intrinsic biases in Cherian George’s position to favour main media are understandable. This can be reflected in his comments here,

‘Professional journalism

There is, however, a third role that newspapers play that online media show no signs of taking on. As much as our blogs claim to be monitoring the powerful, the reality is that their capacity is extremely limited. One limitation is their lack of training and experience, in making ethical judgment calls and in separating reliable information from gossip. This gap may be overstated. Journalism is not rocket science and I think it is possible for bloggers to develop professional journalism skills.

However, there is a bigger – and so far unbridgeable – gap that we need to take far more seriously. This is the gap between what can be accomplished by large teams of professional, full-time journalists versus small collectives of part-time amateurs. No matter how intelligent, talented and sincere the latter are, there are simply practical limits to what they can accomplish without sufficient time and the organisational back-up.’

His assumption is that the main media and professionals would do the necessary, to accomplish that idealism, that aspirations, that the media as the Fourth Estate should do or expected to do. The expectation and hope by the public are very high, but often in vain when the professionals failed them. If bloggers are assumed to lack the skills and intellect to make ethical judgements, so professionals will have the skills and the will to do so? The assumption is too naïve and simplistic. How many professionals are strutting their stuff and bulldozing their ways under a power halo over their heads? And in so doing, totally ignore the ethical calling of their professions and their conscience?

Cherian assumed that by virtue of their training, their numbers and organization resources, the professionals will do good for the sake of good and ethics, to say the right stuff. Really?

How many would agree to this assertion?

USA,Japan, Vietnam & Philippines have divergent agenda and motive against China

USA, Japan, Vietnam and Philippines have divergent agenda and motive against China.



The Evil  Empire, USA, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines all have different agendas, interest and motive in pushing against China.  For some unsound moronic reasons US tries to stop China's peaceful development by various ways and means because it fears of losing its number one position to China. What better way to achieve its evil agenda then by pitting Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and India against China. America will be happy to see Asia in turmoil with Asians fighting Asians. In this way with China tie down in perennial wars with her neighbours the Evil Empire thinks it will thus be able to preserve its number one position forever.

Japan has a different agenda and motive in hoping to involve America in a war with China. Japan believes that when USA and China fight it will result in mutual nuclear destruction and thus serve her secret agenda and motive of proxy revenge against USA nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in the Second World War while at the same time prevent China from her peaceful development.

The Asian parasites of Vietnamese rats and Philippine vermins hope to nib at Chinese territorial lands and seas when China is busy fighting the Evil Empire, USA.

America will be smart enough not to involve in a long war with China especially both can annihilate each other with nuclear weapons. America's sinister agenda and motive is to stir shit and let Japan, India, Vietnam and the Pinoys fight its proxy wars against China. Hope these stupid Asian countries will see through the evil agenda and motive of the Satanic Empire, USA  and stop  being make use of as sacrificial pawns by that Evil Empire.

Southernglory1

Tuesday, 4th September, 2012.

Homes-for-Hongkongers plan will extend to their resale

Homes-for-Hongkongers plan will extend to their resale

“Policy to help local homebuyers by barring non-residents from buying some flats will also extend to their resale, housing minister says

Tuesday, 04 September, 2012, 12:00am

Joyce Ng

A much-awaited scheme to restrict sales of some new homes to Hong Kong buyers will be extended to the resale of those flats, the housing minister said yesterday.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said the sales ban would be extended to safeguard the policy dubbed "Hong Kong property for Hong Kong residents". Otherwise buyers could quickly defeat its purpose by immediately reselling the flats to mainlanders.

Cheung was elaborating on Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's announcement last week of 10 measures to cool the property market. Leung said the sales ban would be launched after legal drafting was completed and the new restrictions were added to land leases of new sites for sale to private developers.

"The purpose is to cater to Hong Kong residents' aspirations for home ownership," Cheung said….”

At the rate property prices are spiralling out of control with a shrinking world and money being printed like toilet papers, the whole paradigm of home ownership for citizens would need to be seriously looked at, especially in little countries or cities like Hongkong and Sinkieland. They just have not enough for sale, and there are just too much money looking for a good buy. And where else to put money into properties than in land scarce little cities? The only risk is for the little cities to sink due to the weight and overbuilding. Other than this, the prices of properties can only go one way, up and up. And anyone who sold will only see the prices going higher and higher, like the Tower of Babel.

Given the new set of parameters, what should the govt of a people do to protect the interest of its citizens? Selling out is a very attractive option and everyone hanging to a piece of property would only wait for his turn to cash out to the next richer buyer. It is a nice monopoly game to play and to exit very rich as long as one does not bother about remaining in an ever pricier little city.

The Hongkie govt has realised that the property game cannot be played under the same old rules or Hongkong will be sold to the highest buyers in no time. The curbs will come down real hard, and the game will be changed. Properties will no longer be traded freely, or some at least, and be determined by market forces alone. Govt intervention is a must to keep the ship from hitting an iceberg of Titanic proportion.

Maybe the Hongkie govt are just plain silly. It would be better to sell everything on a willing buyer willing seller basis, and everyone will be smiling to the banks. Why is Hongkong losing touch with its free spirit and free enterprise philosophy?

No more cheap shots, Hillary!

In his article in mypaper today, titled No China ‘cheap shots’ please, Clinton, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat is perhaps the first Asian journalist reporting from The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network, to call a spade a spade. The hypocrisy of the Americans is so thick and slimy that their hosts from Mongolia down to Southeast Asia and to the Pacific Islands were too polite to wipe it off Hillary’s face. This farcical face of the Americans were lifted again in the front page of the ST by Zakir Hussein, another Indonesian correspondent who quoted what this woman said, ‘The United States does not take a position on competing territorial claims over land features but we believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively together to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats and certainly without the use of force.’

Now, which country has been drumming up territorial claims overtly and supporting them covertly to raise tension in Southeast Asia? Which country has been applying coercion, sanctions, intimidations and threats of war or use of force against smaller and weaker nations across the globe? This woman thinks that the Southeast Asians and the rest of the world are daft. Her arrogance to preach peace while conducting wars openly and subversively trying to start wars must be the height of vanity and stupidity.

Well she thought she is the Emperess of the Empire or the plenipotentiary of the Emperor and could fire cheap shots at anyone she pleases without batting an eyelid. The tensions in western Pacific and around the world are solely the works of the Americans.

Last few days the Australians were wallowing in self pity when a few Aussie soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. Why did the Ausssie soldiers get killed in that country? What have the Afghans done to the Aussies for the latter to send their soldiers to kill them and in turn be killed? The Afghans have no quarrels with the Aussies and have nothing to do with the Aussies. What is the link for Aussie soldiers to kill Afghans and for Afghans to kill them?

It all boils down to a country that needs to have enemies at all times and to have to fight wars at all times to keep its war industries in the pink of health. Yes, the USA is a warmongering country, a country that wants wars and will keep the flames of war burning bright for its own economic and political interests. They still think they are the cowboys and need Red Indians to satisfy their thirst for blood and killings.

And Hillary Clinton is telling everyone that she is the angel of peace. That she is the saviour of the poor and unthinking Asians and the Pacific Islanders. She came for peace, to broker for peace, but with all the soldiers behind her. Did someone shout her down for firing cheap shots?

PS. The stability and economic progress under the Susilo Yudhoyono presidency have seen Indonesia rising in confidence and stature as the de facto and dejure leader of Asean, and as a growing regional power. The Indonesians too are striking out to put their own marks and views on regional issues independently and standing clear of the shadows of big power hegemony. Indonesians will see things in their own perspective and in their own interests, and in a wider context in the interests of Asean and the region.

A matter of extreme prejudice

‘PARTY AGAINST PEOPLE:

September 3, 2012 at 12:11 am (Quote)

It is rumored that the actions of law society has the implicit approval of the PAP government. Ravi is the only lawyer among the 3000 lawyers who dare represent the downtrodden and opposition clients against the government. The rest of the lawyers, as we the public view them, are in the profession for LOVE of the money and sucking up to PAP. I wonder with the many Senior Counsels in Singapore, who among them will dare represent Ravi, probono, of course. Any lawyer willing to step up?’



Why is it that the finger will be pointed at the PAP? The above is a comment posted in TRE on the persecution of M Ravi. It claimed that it is rumoured, nonetheless, why should it be a rumour against the ruling party? Practically every comment in the thread and other blogs would also look at this witch hunt in the same manner, and guessing who is behind it. Are the rumours/assumptions right that the party is behind it is the party behind it? Or are the assumptions wrong, and the perceived party to be behind it is not the party behind it? No one is wiser though everyone knows who is wiser. All the circumstantial evidence and logic only point to one direction. But since these are all conjectures and not facts, and no one is brave enough to stand up to make the claim, it is at most rumour mongering. And PAP, or any organization, would not respond to rumours. It would take someone to call a spade a spade and be ready to meet in the court of law to prove his case.

For the time being, it is just the Law Society versus M Ravi. The fact is, it has nothing to do with the govt or the PAP. While many would put one and one together, sounds so logical and real, but could be unreal and not the truth. In the same manner, any blogger that is being spammed or attacked will also think the same. It is like whatever is wrong or bad, it must be the work of the devil. The poor devil becomes the fall guy for whatever is sinister, and people use this to capitalize on the suspicion.

In international relations, the false flag formula always works as it is difficult to prove, and the real culprit will take a very simple step to cover his track. In local politics, is the covering of one’s track that simple? I doubt so as it is so easy to trace back to the very culprit if one has the resources. The PAP could easily take the rumour mongers to task and sue them for libel or intentional harassment. The inconvenient truth could easily be put right and should be put right for the good of the PAP. It should be in its interest to right the wrong, clear the wrong perception, and clear its name.

It must have its own reasons not to do so, not to want to do so and keeps everyone guessing. Or is there a need to guess? Is it wrong for the public to have such negative perception of the PAP? Is it fair for the public to regard the PAP as the devil to take all the blame? Whatever, the PAP has a perception problem and saboteurs could use this credibility gap to fly false flags with PAP ending up carrying it. The more bloggers are attacked, the more damage control needs to be done even if PAP is totally innocent. Cyber insurgency is proving to be a double edged sword and can cut either way.

What do you think?

A matter of value, a matter of life

Many countries retire their senior citizens at 55 or 60 or maybe 65 for them to live their lives in a more casual pace. Even communist countries do that. With or without pension, govt handouts, etc, life goes on.

In Sinkieland, the oldies are encouraged to continue to work as a healthy way of living, with or without pension or govt handouts. The oldies keep on working to 70, 80 or maybe more. This is seen as liberation, freedom from financial dependency, and a lot of dignity. The type of jobs does not matter. Some could be directors or chairman of corporations and sipping tea in board meetings, and be chauffeured around. Some of the oldies could be cleaning tables or picking cardboards off the streets. Both are equally financially independent. Not a burden to the state or their family members. Both equally dignified in their way of life, working and working to pass time.

What a life. It is a matter of value and a matter of what is a good life worth living and working for. We know what is good for the oldies and we know what the oldies want to do with their lives, to work with dignity.

Hongkong concerns over influx of tourists

‘A plan to allow millions more mainland Chinese to visit Hong Kong was delayed Friday as the southern city said it needed to consult with Beijing over its ability to cope with the influx.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying said his government would hold talks with the mainland authorities to discuss the "capacity of Hong Kong to receive these additional visitors".

"I have reflected the Hong Kong people's concerns to the central government and the central government views these concerns seriously," he said….’ Yahoo News

The Hongkies are not that enterprising afterall. Imagine if the tourists are coming to Sinkieland in the millions, we will be smiling in glee. Money coming in, growth, growth, growth. Better still if they take up PR. And even better still if they become citizens. We have so much land to build more expensive flats and Sinkies will also see the value of their flats appreciating even higher. Why can’t the Hongkies see the good stuff?

Sinkieland will soon surpass Hongkong in many things. Highest economic growth, population growth, property prices, density, freest economy, most dynamic nation, must oohm and parties, and most happenings. Sinkieland will be the place to be in, to be seen, to live and prosper, with unstoppable growth.

If Hongkong is afraid of the influx of the Chinese tourists, recommend Sinkieland to Beijing and earn a commission for it. Sinkies will be grateful for this.

Li Ka Shing buying more land in Sin

BusinessWeek, 28 Aug 2012

Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s Singapore property joint venture may seek more land in the city’s downtown to replicate its latest development that attracted global banks including Standard Chartered Plc and Macquarie Group Ltd

Should Sinkies greet this news with glee or with fear? Li Ka Shing is a shrewd businessman with great foresight, to see what and where there is a good deal. His intent to buy more land can be seen as a good sign that the future is good here. People selling land will be very happy to hear this news. But for land scarce Sin, what is it going to cost the locals and property prices, good for those wanting to sell and profit and bad for those needing a place.

Sinkieland can grow more land by reclamation, provide more yield by building higher and digging deeper. But if there is no restraint in foreign buying, there will be not enough land to meet the foreign demands, which are as good as the demands of the rich of the world.

The govt has to seriously relook at this issue of housing and land for its population and industry use. It is very tempting to keep selling at higher and higher prices. It looks so great to let property prices spiral up with all the property owners smiling and feeling so rich.

Come 50 or 60 years down the road when most HDB 99 year lease would be due for expiry and owners would need to buy new flats, what would be the prices then? By then they cannot sell to use the proceeds for a new flat with a small top up fee. The old flats would be worthless or at minimal value. Some could be saved through regular en bloc repurchase schemes, but when the bulk expires at about the same time, it is not going to be an easy thing to do. 900,000 units! 50% is going to be 450,000 units for en bloc and SERS.

The land and housing issue here is not the same as countries with big and near unlimited land relative to their population. Housing as a commodity for trading is dicey if not managed well.

Safe to go nuclear

There was a CNA programme last night on how safe to go nuclear in Southeast Asia. After an hour, the panel over came initial reservations and seemed quite agreeable to the idea that nuclear power is safe and necessary. Fossil fuel will just run out and countries wanting growth and growth and growth just have to rely on nuclear. All the concerns about radioactive fallouts were summarily dismissed. No 911 on any power plant is possible. You would need a nuclear bomb to blow up a nuclear power plant to really cause damage and widespread radiation.

In the Three Mile Island no one died. In Chernobyl, just about a hundred. In Fukushima no one died too, or maybe a handful. Nuclear power stations are safe. There are more people being killed on the road than by a nuclear accident.

The Chairman did try diplomatically to raise the concerns of expertise and discipline of the people manning the plant and also the inconsistency of governance with regular regime changes and change of leadership personalities. These were discussed but should not be an issue. The system of operating a nuclear power plant is so carefully and meticulously designed to take care of everything. Nothing will be allowed to go wrong.

Our SMRT was running perfectly for at least 20 years under the best governance and best trained personnel with all the safety and maintenance procedures observed. We know the story. Equipment ages, people slack, management oversight, over confidence and getting into a routine, could all contribute in their small little ways to build into a crisis.



All it needs is a confluence of little events. A poor quality cable, a technician having a bad day, a computer or system glitch, management having a hangover after a party, no one is assumed to be able to break into a highly secured installation.

When things want to go wrong, it will go wrong according to Murphy. Don’t believe in Murphy. Can a senior technician in the plant be converted by a cause, bought over or blackmailed? I think all eventualities have been thought through and taken care of. Even if Nature wants to take a pee or a fart would have gone into the equation to build a 100% safe plant.

The no choice option is the main thrust for nations going nuclear. They need the growth, and the power, not today, maybe tomorrow. The world’s population must grow for growth’s sake. It is 6 billion today and could go to 10 billion or 20 billion, for whatever reason, I dunno. But grow it must, for economic growth and prosperity. And consumption of all things, resources and energy must go on and on and on. Why there is a need to keep changing mobile phones and add new little games is a complex issue. Once whatever is consumed, next frontier, Mars.

Human beings will just grow and consume for the sake of growing and growing. There is no other option but to grow. And nuclear is the next alternative to support the growth that is needed, for what?

China and Russia : The Growing Alliance that won't be intimidated by US Global Aspirations.

China and Russia: The Growing Alliance That Won't Be Intimidated by America's Global Aspirations


The U.S. government lurches from one war to another and nothing really changes. After a succession of totally misguided wars with relatively small nations, none of which it has "won", the U.S. has now decided that China, a giant among all other nations, is to be its next target. The question is; Have those currently in charge of this government taken leave of their senses since China is the one nation on the face of the earth that, because of its economic and military power, will not be intimidated by the U.S?

The U.S. has made it known that it is proceeding with a new strategy by which to establish control of the Asia-Pacific region, including the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. This is an area over which China has maintained a significant influence for many years; we might call it China's backyard. To think that China will allow the U.S. to move into this region and take control is delusional thinking. China will not accept such an encroachment into its territory without finding some way to oppose it and that could result in a very dangerous military confrontation.

At the same time that the U.S. is setting up this potential confrontation with China, it is also confronting Russia in several regions of the world. It continues to attempt to surround and suffocate Russia by erecting a missile defense system close to Russia's borders; it's known as the Strategic Defense Initiative, or "Star Wars", that President Reagan proposed in 1983. This system will never work because Russia has clearly warned that, if it ever nears completion, swift and powerful countermeasures will be taken to completely nullify its operational capabilities.

Anyone who thinks that Russia and China are powerless against the might of the U.S. military needs to think again. Both of these nations possess nuclear arsenals that could bring massive, unimaginable destruction to America should some ill-advised, out of control regional confrontation get completely out of hand. In reality, there are three superpowers in this world, not just one, and we better hope that it never, ever comes to such a horrific confrontation. But try to warn those bloodthirsty facilitators of war in our nation's capitol to back off and you will get absolutely nowhere.

While China and Russia can't currently be described as extremely close allies I see these two countries as allies of necessity. The more that they are threatened by U.S. militarism and expansion the more closely aligned they will become. In recent times the alliance between these two powers has been strengthening as both have significant interests in Iran, Syria and other parts of the Middle East, and they are not going to let America assume total power over this region.

Russia and China, obviously, still view the U.S. as a very formidable military power but one that is has already entered into an almost reversible state of decline. They see a nation that is literally spending itself into bankruptcy by using its dwindling wealth on perpetual war. They see a nation whose economy is tanking as the purchasing power of an increasingly unemployed workforce is being diluted. They are watching this rapid decline take place and they are well aware that all they have to do is to patiently wait and let America's military spending eventually force it into bankruptcy.

While China continues to rapidly grow its economy, America is doing exactly the opposite; it's selling out its manufacturing sector, piece by piece to China which, in turn, has been given free access to the world's largest consumer market. For every billion dollars that the corporations of America invest in Chinese labor for the manufacture and assembly of American consumer products, that's a billion that cannot be used to help revitalize the U.S. consumer-driven economy.

In this scenario it seems like the American government and the nation's business sector have completely opposite objectives. It makes no sense to be stirring up trouble and posing a threat to China, the nation that has become the prime manufacturer of U.S. consumer products. If this strategy of military aggressiveness leads to a situation that causes a massive disruption in the manufacture and distribution of products from China then the U.S. economy could take a crushing, devastating blow that would send this country into a recession of monumental proportions. That's because many thousands of America's former manufacturing facilities are non-existent and would be difficult to start up again.

China currently does not pose a direct military threat to America. It has not been engaged in wars and military confrontations across the regions of the world and it does not have a network of bases. Its actions show no indication that is has aspirations of becoming the next military empire. China is working with many nations to make agreements to acquire oil and other critical resources it needs to continue to maintain a strong economy; it invests billions in other nations to help them develop their resources; it has not used force to achieve its objectives.

China concentrates on its domestic needs and developing its manufacturing base and economy. And you know what? That's what America used to do decades ago, before it adopted its aggressive military agenda. That's not to say that China or Russia will never pose any threat to the U.S. Without a doubt, the U.S. must be very vigilant and maintain a strong military to deter any serious imminent threat; but it seems like this government has gone completely overboard in entering into the affairs of nations across the world, quite often with military force, when there is no rational, justifiable reason to do so.

China is using its rapidly increasing wealth, thanks to the generosity of U.S. corporations, not on a military empire but, rather, on building many new cities, airports, bullet trains and vastly improving its national infrastructure. As long as China shows no evidence of aggressive intentions, the U.S. government should not continue to antagonize and threaten it lest its government reaches a point where it will have had enough and it shifts its objectives toward a substantial buildup of its military and highly sophisticated weaponry. The last thing that we and the world need is another Cold War and arms race that benefits only the profit-crazed defense industry corporations.

So, in reality, what exactly is going on here? If China does not pose a distinct immediate threat to the security of America, then why has it become the next target for Washington's hegemony? If we dig a little deeper into the mindset of those who lead this nation we will find that the threat that China poses for the U.S. is that it, in the near future, will become the world's #1 economic power; and that fact does not sit well with this government. But this is a dilemma that the government itself has allowed to develop over the past several decades as it has, basically, looked the other way as Corporate America has sold this nation's manufacturing industry to China.

Beneath the surface there is something else, something very troubling that may be fueling this hubristic agenda. Perhaps we can explain it this way; it's becoming quite evident that many of those in this government who have, for the past several decades operated the levers of war are at least borderline, if not full-blown, paranoid schizophrenics; those whose symptoms include "extreme anxiety, exaggerated suspiciousness, aggressiveness, anger, argumentativeness, and hostility, which may lead to violence." This overly aggressive, often uncontrollable demeanor, characterized by a pronounced obsession with the proliferation of war can in no way be judged as normal human behavior.

While it's rarely if ever discussed in any of the media, Washington is largely controlled by bureaucrats who have, for many years, operated at the highest levels of this government and who are dedicated to the expansion of this nation's military outreach across the world. They are an integral part of the Military-Industrial Complex. Therefore, in reality, no matter who becomes president, the direction of this nation will remain in the hands of these embedded individuals who possess the reigning, absolute power.

We the people of this nation are living in what has to be termed one of the most radicalized, dangerous times in its history. Those at the highest levels of leadership of this country, from the government to the masters of Corporatism, with very few exceptions, seem to have lost the ability to judge right from wrong;   rational thinking, and judgments based on a sense of morality have no place in the decision-making of those who worship the gods of war and profit.


The people of America must not allow this government to continue to try to dominate the nations of the world; that has not worked and will not work except to lead this nation further down the road to a financial implosion. The people of America must think deeply to somehow, some way determine the ways by which to remove these disciples of war, that are so obsessed with military power, from this government. They must no longer be allowed to continue their agenda of hubris and empire building that threatens the future of our nation.

The hand of reason and logic has been replaced by the fist of military power and, unless that condition is reversed, it will be the eventual undoing of this nation; one that will have squandered it's potential for greatness.




Michael Payne is an independent progressive activist. His articles concentrate on social, economic and political matters as well as American foreign policy. He is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. His (more...)






 

Scream by Mother Nature

Darkness, this is Mother Nature's version of The Scream: ) This piece is done differently. Every stroke of paint is made by a koi fish. Look carefully and you can see the koi.

Tree of Life (reversed)

A different angle to look at the Tree of Life.

Nuclear power dream or nightmare?

Anyone remembers the report on Malaysia’s plan for nuclear power plants in the ST recently? It seems that among the gungho Asean countries, those thinking too big with their swollen heads and those who think they need to keep growing their populations to achieve economic growth at all cost, there is no other option than nuclear. Oil is going too be too expensive in times to come and the growing demand for more energy with bigger population and bigger appetite means nuclear and nothing else.

What is so beautiful about the Malaysian nuclear plan is the location of their nuclear power plants, one near Penang and one near Sinkieland. Obviously these have nothing to do with the concentration of Chinese population in Penang, Sinkieland and Southern Johore. The main reason for the choice of locations is simply to get them as far away from KL as possible. A nuclear mishap is going to neutralise a sizable area for a long time as can be seen in Fukushima , Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in the US. And the heroes who are brave enough to resettle in the radioactive zone must be praying to have godzilla or ultraman as their offsprings.

Sinkieland is equally deadset on the nuclear option I think. What to do when population growth is a must or cannot be slowed down without affecting economic growth? They must be planning for 10m or 20m population in the future and are seriously investing in research and development of nuclear plants here. And the snake oil sellers would never tell you the whole truth about the risk involved. Even a 0.0001% risk is too high a risk in the context of Sinkieland. We can never think of locating our nuclear plants in KL or Penang for sure. So how far and how safe would it be in Tuas, Changi or Tekong?

If the nuclear madness becomes a reality, one can safely predict that sometime in 2050, 2150 or 2250 Sinkieland could be a declared nuclear hazard zone with no inhabitants. Mathematically the numbers generated must still look good and safe and the snake oil sellers must still be mesmerising their listeners on how safe nuclear plants are in this piece of rock. Technology is so advanced that nuclear power stations are absolutely safe. Have no fear. So lucky that we would not be around to say I told you so or to face the consequences.

Early Autumn

A piece of rar art painted by Mother Nature.

Imposing West's will on China goes against global norms

Updated: 2012-09-01 07:59

By Guo Jiping ( China Daily)

China's continuous gains in strength have fanned the flames of envy, misgiving and even horror among certain Westerners, leading some to slander Beijing's development, squeeze its strategic space and challenge its main interests.
China's fast economic development over the past 30-odd years has not prevented the spread of empty talk about subjects such as "China's collapse", "China's responsibility" and "China's expansion". The country's rapid gain in international influence has been accompanied by a so-called alliance of values, the "return to the Asia-Pacific" strategy and similar Western initiatives.
Certain Westerners are always trying to contend that China's achievements are the "products of a distorted political system". Even Chinese athletes who excelled in the just-concluded London Olympics have seen their praiseworthy performances come under the harsh light of such criticism.
China has consistently walked the road of peaceful development and held high the banner of cooperation. As early as in the 1970s, the late leader Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China's reform and opening-up, solemnly vowed at a United Nations assembly that China will never seek hegemony. The ideals of peace and harmony are upheld in China's millennium-old traditional culture and are rooted deeply in the hearts and minds of the Chinese people.
A country can forge a suitable path for development only by conducting explorations in accordance with its national conditions, instead of by simply following other countries' methods. The Chinese people find no fault in the road Western countries have taken and only ask that the road they have chosen be accorded the same sort of respect. Common sense dictates that the only fit judges of a country's path of development are the people of that country themselves.
The Chinese are satisfied with the direction development has taken them. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, they are now more satisfied with their prevailing path of development and government than many other peoples in the world are with theirs.
Western countries, in one moment, accuse China of hampering the entry of foreign companies into its market and then, in the next, conjure up various pretexts to sabotage plans to liberalize trade and investment.
The Chinese government places a priority on protecting intellectual property rights, knowing well that they pertain to the openness of the country's economy. In the decades since China's reform and opening-up, the country has never slackened its efforts to safeguard such rights and has continuously worked to perfect its legal system.
China has also taken measures to coordinate global work related to energy conservation and climate change. China is committed to being able to say by 2020 that it is emitting 40 percent to 45 percent less carbon dioxide for each unit of its gross domestic product than it was in 2005, and to having 15 percent of its primary energy come from renewable, nuclear and other non-fossil sources of energy.
Despite all of this, some Westerners seem to be willfully ignoring China's unremitting work to meet international accords. Disregarding China's low amount of energy use per capita and low emissions of carbon dioxide per capita, and its efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions, they try to place the entire blame for global warming on China.
Yet they cannot ignore that China's remarkable achievements over the past 30 years have shaken the "moral code" Western countries have attempted to use to rule the world. China's success once again proves that there is no one-size-fits-all method for ensuring a country's development.
China will unwaveringly travel a development road that merely suits its national conditions and is in no way intended to promote "ideological competition". At the same time, China will not tolerate attempts to squeeze its development space and disturb its development process.
With the quickening pace of globalization, China and Western countries should cooperate more with each other in complementary ways. This will not only bring strength to their development, but also improve international relations and make bigger contributions to world peace and prosperity.
To this end, China and Western countries should try to resolve their disputes in a prudent manner as part of efforts to strengthen mutual trust and reduce misunderstanding and misgivings.
At the moment, China's priorities are in finding better ways to handle the country's domestic affairs, achieve development and make further progress along a socialist road with Chinese characteristics.
The author is a commentator at People's Daily and this article was first carried in that newspaper.

(China Daily 09/01/2012 page5)

Assault on the dull Sinkie mind

Unknowingly, unthinkingly, the Sinkies have been under constant and repetitive attacks on their ability and confidence. Today, many Sinkies did not have a sense of well being and self worth. They lack confidence and cower in the presence of foreign talents, even those from the third world countries and working under some with dubious or maybe even fake credentials. This sickness has transcended the country and if not arrested, Sinkies will turn themselves into third world people in their first world home. The half baked foreigners are acting smug and holding the Sinkies in contempt behind their backs.

The Sinkies have been told that they are daft, lazy, uninspiring, lack creativity, no drive, unproductive. They are even told that they are irresponsible with their money and would gamble them away. But it is alright for others to gamble with their money and lose them in the billions.

And a simple thing like building homes for the people, with all the money and resources they could not do it well. By not building, they created a big shortage to impose all kinds of silly rules to tell the daft Sinkies why they have to wait for years to get their flats. And many were excluded from buying on the excuse that they would deprive those who needed more from getting their flats. Of course daft Sinkies believe in the stories and started attacking one another for depriving others the chance of getting their flats.

On the other hand, foreigners were praised as the talents that are here to help the daft Sinkies. Without the foreign talents the daft Sinkies would not be able to have a better life. While we are a top financial centre, we claimed that we have no finance talents and have to go to small towns that have medieval little banking systems to recruit their finance talents to run our world class banks. We are one of the most highly wired and computerised city but our IT talents are all kaput, or no talent. Again we go to small little towns to hire their IT talents with many haven’t even hold a laptop or an android phone in their hands.

Maybe it is true. Sinlieland is what it is today because of the smart foreigners. Sinkies are only good as taxi drivers and cleaners. Sinkies were sleeping when the city developed into a world class city with the help of foreigners who could not help their own countries to progress. More reasons to thank them for contributing their talents to help Sinkieland than their own home countries. Big sacrifice really. Sinkieland is what it is today without the contribution of daft Sinkies.

The latest barrage against the Sinkies is that they are anti foreigners. And the message is being drummed in, with the media reinforcing the accusation. Sinkies are xenophobic. How many foreigners were attacked or beaten by Sinkies or the reverse? Is there a coordinated campaign to undermine the confidence of Sinkies?

Who is leading the attack on Sinkies to make them dull and daft and to feel inferior and inadequate to the foreigners from third world countries that came from third grade schools and universities while we boast of world class universities? Or our universities were built to train foreigners instead. That may be the reason why Sinkies are so untalented, and sooo lack of talent and needed to be replaced and helped by foreign talents.

Sinkies must look at the mirror and ask themselves, are they really that daft and easily branded by any tag. If they are not, what are they going to do about it? What do you think?