8/27/2012

Of Hope, Heart and Home




Someone asked me why I am still subscribing the ST, on weekends only, when many refused to touch it for their many reasons. The answer is simple. You need to know what it is, what it is printing and what it is not printing. You must know the subject or you can’t make a fair comment or judgement of it. Likewise many have openly declared that they would shun Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally Speech. I did not, or else I would not know what I am writing about the speech.

It is not very normal to see someone speak in three languages at the same time and on a very serious subject like the nation’s future. Other than his command of the languages, his elephant memory is abnormal, to be able to speak through a couple of hours without making a glitch. It was scripted and rehearsed many times, true, but even a news reader would make mistakes here and there for such a long script.

Many of the misgivings and gripes of the people were tackled satisfactorily with many yeses instead of the usual no’s in the past. Many were happy that the govt is listening to their grouses and willing to act on them positively. What was not so good is that it was kind of reactionary. The govt was simply reacting to the cries and the problems raised by the people. And many of these problems needed not happen if govt policies were implemented with a heart. Yes, the heart was missing or misplaced for many years.

Hsien Loong’s main themes were the heart, hope and home. When the heart was not there, hope was dashed, and home became a big burden and a troublesome factor in their lives. Many pains were inflicted on the people because of the missing heart. Policies were shafted down the people’s throat in a very arrogant way, dismissing the people as non entities. This is how I am going to do it. Like it or not, the people just have to live with it.

What is really needed, instead of reactionary piece meal solutions, is to flush the slimy little heart, if it is still there, with sulphuric acid to get rid of the black stains of the past, to start with a new heart. Instal a new set of heartware into the system and hope and home will fall into place.

The old mindset of dictating to the people, not giving the people any choice, or real choices, must stop. Take the CPF scheme. Many would continue to keep their money in the CPF after retirement. Many would want to buy some medical or annuity insurance for their own good. There is no need for compulsion when a scheme is really good for the people. Some will get their money out, some more, some less. But with a good scheme in place, with better terms, interest rates, the people will make choices that are to their advantage. There is no need to compel the people by compulsory schemes. Give the people the choice, let the people decide what is good for them.

The missing heart is most evident in housing policies. All the blocks, deciding who can buy or cannot buy, what they can buy and cannot buy, are simply arrogant and dismissive. Get back to the basics of public housing, build homes for the people. The affordability issue should be more about people wanting to buy beyond their means, wanting to commit to bigger units when they could not afford so. And not forcing people to buy bigger units, or into the private sector, deciding their affordability and how much they must spend, with no regards to their commitments, retirement plans and prudence.

The same applies to mean testing in hospitals. The hospitals must meet the needs of the people. And if more people wanting to opt for lower quality services, provide them. Why compel people to spend more and consume higher quality services when they don’t need and don’t want? Silly isn’t. And the mean testing must go. It only reflects how mean policymakers are.

As for hope, education is where the govt is pointing. We need to provide the places for our children in the universities. Lawrence Wong’s recommendation to offer more places for marketable degrees is sound. Take care of our children instead of other nation’s children. Forget about gaming those impractical and silly ranking systems. A good university is in its products, the graduates. Not the number of foreigners.

And the reality is that our education system is a flop from schools to universities. The fact, we cannot produce good quality grads to fill up many top positions and have to rely on third world grads, from poorly equipped schools and universities, to fill up these top positions. I said our schools failed despite the straight As because these straight As, when sent overseas and returned, were also found wanting. So what is the craze about gaming to score high in those silly rankings? Make sure that our grads are in demand and good enough for all the top positions in the country. If they are not, then it says the system is not good enough. Hope is missing or misplaced when our world class universities could not train our grads to be world class. When foreigners are sought after and walked in to replace our locals in good jobs.

Hope and Home will follow when the heart is in the right place. It is frightening when sometimes one wonders if there is even a heart.

51 comments:

  1. Will they start listening with a heart or their hearts???
    Or hear...with just their ears???

    ReplyDelete
  2. Show some heart for Ravi and Chee Soon Juan and those that were slashed by the heartless.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi jjj2usg, welcome to the blog.

    Talk is cheap. The govt must set the tone to embrace the opposition politicians. They may contest for political office, but they are not enemies for goodness sake. The days of blood and gore during the times of communist revolution is passe.

    Put down the hatchet and the political scene could be healthier for all.

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  4. Good Morning Redbean Sir and All.

    Last evening, I had my dinner early, had myself cleaned then went into the bedroom to be alone to listen to our Rulers. Liked You, me feels the need to know developments taking places.

    A big heart alone to me is not enough, it has to be a good and healthy working one. If blocked or has to be assisted by man-made device, it will not work properly. Likewise is a society, it has to be run by wholesome leadership.

    There is a Chinese Saying 'shangliang bu zhen, xialiang wai', meaning 'If the top is not staright, the bottom will be crooked'. It has a deeper meaning than the physical implication. Any strong and happy land has to have wise and humble leaders, from community level all the way to the Top Man/Woman.

    If and when leaders are conceited, power and money crazy, the society naturally goes to the dogs.

    Specific to the 2012 National Day Rally, me am sadly disappointed with Minister Of State Lawrence Wong. An increase of 30% capacity in University IS NO BIG DEAL NOR BRINGS ANY COMFORT TO A LAND WHERE THERE IS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 45% IN POPULATION FROM IMMIGRATION. Does he knows what he was talking about?

    The Prime Minister fared no better too, showcasing a few to prove that Singaporeans can have opportunity to success? It clearly show that his MPS with Singaporeans did not bother him. In any case, how are we to know if some of the young examples he gave will not be like our top civil servants and businessmen that were hauled to the Court recently?

    It seems to me that at the end of his National Day speech, there was nothing any hearty essence. Singaporeans got CHASTISED FOR HAVING SMALL HEART AND NARROW MINDED. Foreigner Settlers on the other hand were praised for doing charities and helping those in need.

    BUT, got to agree with him(PM) that it is good to have big hearts. Without a big good working one, one will not be able to survive in this dog eat dog society.

    patriot

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  5. "The old mindset of dictating to the people, not giving the people any choice, or real choices, must stop."

    The only way to double confirm that this will happen;
    Is to continue to vote Opposition.

    40% of loyal Singaporeans voted for the Opposition;
    This must be reflected with 40% seats in parliament;
    It's the only way to double confirm that Singaporeans will be well looked after and happy.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mr. Chua, I agree that you need to subscripe to ST sometimes (weedends) for the reason you cited. For me, online news suffice.
    I skipped the rally to avoid the torture and I'm happy today.
    Noted your comment@9:46am, sad.
    The ruling elites are hopeless, heartless and cause some people homeless.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know of a young couple not coming home. Both highly qualified and in fields that the economy needs. The reason, HDB refused to sell them a flat and they refused to be robbed by the private developer of $1m.

    They are Sinkies without a home.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oops, I have amended a typo error on 9.46am and reposted at 10:19.

    There are still many young Sinkies who have no homes in their home country because of earlier heartless and screwed up housing policies.

    Every Sinkie ensure of a public housing flat? Still in the dark.

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  9. Shitty Times should be comfort in knowing that you're a loyal subscriber

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  10. National Day Rally why no opposition MPs invited, or did I miss them, that they were there among the audience in our inclusive society?

    And you mean got Sinkies got no home in their own cuntry and HDB don't sell to them?

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  11. Hi anon 10:36,

    Must see both sides of the coin. Know your enemy know thyself. Not that I am treating them as enemy: )

    ReplyDelete
  12. Agree.
    Retards are not the enemy.
    They are just that ... retards.
    And misguided retards can be dangerous.
    So handle with caution.
    And do not trust them to look after the cuntry well.

    ReplyDelete
  13. /// Other than his command of the languages, his elephant memory is abnormal, to be able to speak through a couple of hours without making a glitch. It was scripted and rehearsed many times, true, but even a news reader would make mistakes here and there for such a long script. ///

    Dear old redbean, there is such a thing called "teleprompters". Did you see the clear glass panels mounted to the left, right and centre of the rostrum?

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  14. It would have been much better and relevant if he focused on these:
    Hopeless
    Heartless
    Homeless

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are free to think ... As we tell You

    So there, we have figured it out, go back to bed Singapore, your government has figured out how to solve all your problems.

    Go back to bed Singapore, your government is in control again.

    Here’s HDB Grants and Work Fare. Watch this, shut up. Go back to bed Singapore, here’s Our Joke of a Parliament .

    Watch these PAP retards bang their fucking skulls together and congratulate you on living in the land of High GDP and richest country in the WORLD

    Here you go Singapore,
    you are free… to do as we tell you. You are free, to do as we tell you.

    RIP Bill Hicks

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvwK-3cQ6gE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mssKE_b48k

    Regards
    Bengster

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  16. Only time i buy the state times is my need for the kitty litter bin as a liner

    Bengster

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  17. SINGAPORE have NO HOPE,
    SINGAPORE Government have NO HEART
    SINGAPORE is NOT HOME

    SINGAPOREANS MUST HAVE A PLAN

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ha, you people beat me to it in cynicism. And The, ya, there were prompts, it was still a good piece of work to deliver it so smoothly.

    I must say that his bahasa is good, to understand what he was saying and got his body language to reinforce it. I could see Lawrence trying to read his mandarin script and it was telling. Heng Swee Kiat is effectivly bilingual. His mandarin pronounciation is genuine and not something acquired over a few days. And he sounded very sensible.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tatler's latest..

    [All Sound And Fury, Signifying Nothing]

    "How can there be hope, heart and home when when the real issues - foreigner, infrastructure, housing, transport and healthcare - are still outstanding?
    No wonder dad wasn't seated among the chosen faithful in the audience. Now, don't you anonymous bloggers start another rumour about his health..."


    http://singaporedesk.blogspot.sg/2012/08/all-sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing.html

    ReplyDelete
  20. @Reddean
    What? After all these years you are still impressed by their speeches.I am not impressed at all and I can tell you I don't a shit what they spoke.It is just talk and nothing will change.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wah lau. Someone trained in mathematics taking about "HOPE".

    Definitely a bullshitter at work.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hilarious

    Happening

    Hotel.

    Got Nat Day speech?

    ReplyDelete
  23. ".....many yeses instead of the usual no's in the past"

    Sure or not? Maybe just echoes or obedient parrots taught to say 'yes' after saying 'no' for 47 years. I am sure the old parrots will still say 'no'.

    And so the wayanging continues. They say' those who watch wayangs are foolish, those who perform wayangs are mad'.

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  24. Singaporeans are getting big deals in the Year 2012.

    More places in universities, thus more graduates.

    More hospitals, schools, trains and buses. Not bad huh!

    What are the Above when used for an increase of over 1.5 million in population. What use for a degree when graduates have to fight for a job.

    Is our leaders capable of sensibility and if not be reasonable in dealing with their subjects?

    patriot

    ReplyDelete
  25. When PM Lee announces that all MPs will be grassroots advisers, not just PAP MPs,I will believe and start shouting "Here I come,my Singapore."
    I suppose I expect too much?too greedy?

    ReplyDelete
  26. >>No wonder dad wasn't seated among the chosen faithful in the audience.

    i would he would've walked out a 2nd time...the first being Kate Spade

    ReplyDelete
  27. When the heart is in the right place there will be hope and there will be a home.

    And we would not have so many uncalled for problems and so many unhappy people. Sure many are very happy, 10% or 20%. This means 80% or 90% are unhappy.

    But I am wrong. Everyone in the rally, 100%, are very happy.

    ReplyDelete
  28. 350 comments in yahoosg on national conversation. Not one is happy about the govt. This is serious hor.

    ReplyDelete
  29. "I said our schools failed despite the straight As because these straight As, when sent overseas and returned, were also found wanting. So what is the craze about gaming to score high in those silly rankings? Make sure that our grads are in demand and good enough for all the top positions in the country."

    Seriously, are you really impress with our scholars? They can fix a lightbulb but they can't turn on the light!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anon 3:46, that is a separate issue. The issue I refer to is the quality of our education system. Are we really producing the quality students that the ranking and grades are claiming to do?

    Or everything is just a hoax?

    ReplyDelete
  31. You ever watch kids play Lego? The pieces are useless on its own and it is up to you to put them together and create or form an an object or expression.

    What it expresses is the issue, not quality.

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  32. Quality is making the grade. But what are they qualified in? In piling up a mountain of shit?

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  33. They made the grade is better than you not making the grade.

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  34. They are the best factory workers. Let's not be too excited.

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  35. My theme for NDP 2012

    Beyond LKY
    Beyond PAP

    ReplyDelete
  36. The American Founding Fathers say it best in their Declaration of Independence:
    "The rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness"

    Without these rights, there can be no heart.
    Without heart, there can be no hope and home.

    NATional CONversation 2012:
    - Beyond LKY
    - Beyond PAP
    Let the real conversation begin.

    ReplyDelete
  37. /// Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...
    When the heart is in the right place there will be hope and there will be a home. ///

    When the home is at the right price, there will be hope and we finally know that KBW does have a heart (the doctors couldn't find it at first when he went for the bypass operation, hence they charged him only $8).

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  38. The commercial world is all about packaging.

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  39. Everyone attended the rally is a potential fortune seeker,The main speaker knows it too well.

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  40. RB, your article didn't get featured in such blogs. You not happening or too hard hitting man haha

    ReplyDelete
  41. Haha, no need to be another hero: )

    A slow and sustainable growth is better than a flash in the pan.

    Not featured means not hard hitting enough.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Your crowd too bengish lah. You need legal eagles to create smoke but they all prefer to make money and where black suits...too bad. muahahaha

    ReplyDelete
  43. These sites could also be ..erm...psycophants masking as alternative voices?

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  44. Another Chinese saying for @patriot: A fish rots from the head down.

    So if the black heart is flushed out with a little sulphuric acid, it will disintegrate totally, leaving behind a big pile of nothing.

    That might be for the best, actually.

    ReplyDelete
  45. It is a fact that we are the richest country in the world, yet the citizens don't feel good and are not happy! Clearly, something must be very wrong? It is no rocket science to understand why ppl are unhappy with their lives. Just look around and observe, the answers are all around us!

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  46. Only hypocrites are happy. Why? One eye dragon.

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  47. I must disagree with Padaly and many of you. When I was the NDR, I can only see happy faces. It appears that the whole population is happy as they have no choice but to watch NDR as every channel is on NDR.

    Did I ever mention about giving the people choices? Yes, they have all the choices of 6 channels to choose to watch the NDR. And the happiness in the Cultural Centre can be infectious and could spread to everyone watching it.

    At least the whole population is happy for three hours.

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  48. I think is the anticipation of the fire works that made them happy. Once the fire works are over, they have to jostle with the crowd to th MRT station and be confined to the littlest of space in the train til they reach their littlest flats and watch the news about the fire works.

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  49. /// Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...
    I must disagree with Padaly and many of you. When I was the NDR, I can only see happy faces. It appears that the whole population is happy as they have no choice but to watch NDR as every channel is on NDR. ///

    Just like in North Korea.....

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  50. Ha, you people beat me to it in cynicism. And The, ya, there were prompts, it was still a good piece of work to deliver it so smoothly. I must say that his bahasa is good, to understand what he was saying and got his body language to reinforce it. I could see Lawrence trying to read his mandarin script and it was telling. Heng Swee Kiat is effectivly bilingual. His mandarin pronounciation is genuine and not something acquired over a few days. And he sounded very sensible.

    ReplyDelete