5/06/2011
A poem on the political situation in paradise
我国有个老痴呆,
继续执政不下台.
百万年薪多自在,
自吹自磊最厉害.
儿子演说不精彩,
为何当选真奇怪.
党员都穿一身白,
自称精英和人材.
好事全都往前摆,
坏事全都地下埋.
年底花红各自派,
加薪幅度不是盖.
政敌全都一身債,
只因被告到破財.
人们都不生小孩,
只好空运从海外.
搞到平民怨声在,
没人理会没人睬.
到了选举那年来,
只会用钱来收买.
此人何时会失败,
大家不防猜一猜.
I received in my email. Hope someone can translate this into English.
PAP may pay for these cavalier statements
In the comfort of their well appointed offices and homes, and fat pays and fat bank accounts, it is so easy to make statements to tell the people off. When the people kpkb about high property prices, they said downgrade and buy smaller flats. When people kpkb about high car prices, they said take public transport if can’t afford it. When people kpkb about high cost of living, they said tighten your belt, eat fish if can’t afford chicken.
When people kpkb about GST, they said it is to help the poor. When people asked about GST on essential services, they said too difficult to draw the line.
And they said Singaporeans are daft, lack motivation and lack drive, need a spur on their hide. And foreign talents are imported to help the no talent Singaporeans, to create jobs for them.
When opposition parties brought up suggestions, they shot everything down. Nothing from the opposition is good. Opposition candidates are people with doubtful motives, lesser talents.
And the people are lesser mortals, complaining about a few cents hike in bus fares or a cup of kopi or a few dollars. Tsk, tsk, tsk, so petty. $600k is peanut.
As for PMETs, they must go for more retraining to do jobs below what they used to do. Don’t be choosey. Their high paying jobs now being done by FTs.
And still they insist that HDB flats are affordable, hospital bills are affordable.
And anyone they push out is a super talent, the best talent, and Singaporeans must accept them as real talents. And they pay themselves millions and millions and said Singaporeans are not complaining what.
And they threatened you, called you irresponsible if you vote opposition.
And when you kpkb too much, they said they no need to listen and can be deaf frogs, and do what is good for you in their own terms.
Would the Singaporeans remember and make the PAP pay for their cavalier attitude towards them?
Mah Bow Tan still insists HDB is affordable
It only takes 30 years, 2 incomes and 30% of the 2 incomes to pay for the HDB flat. This is affordable! How many of you agree that this affordable formula is fair? This formula means that for the first 30 years of one’s working life, there could be very little saving for retirement. Most could only start to save after repaying their 30 year loan. So don’t ask why you don’t have enough savings for retirement.
The other point which this formula dictates is that both husband and wife must be working to be able to afford the HDB flat. One income, forget it. And there are families that have to live on one income, by choice or by circumstances beyond their control, or by tragedies.
The people must denounce this formula as unaffordable. 30% of one income for 30 years is already too much. It was 20% of one income for 20 years for a 5 rm flat for a fresh graduate. But the goal posts have been shifted during the last decade that people have come to accept 2 incomes and 30 years as the norm. It is not, and it should not be the case.
Anyway, many daft Singaporeans will disagree with my position. Good luck to you and your high incomes to pay for the little first class flat. Go ahead and vote for this affordable housing policy.
Oh sorry, if your incomes are high enough, you are forced to buy private to make the private developers richer. You can’ t buy HDB under the current $8k/$10k ceiling.
Why a need for a Cooling Off day?
The ruling party has all the factors to its favour. All the resources, logistics, funds, and even the media are on its side. Ok I accept if the media protests against this statement as they will claim that they are fair, objective and unbiased. Then the changing of boundaries, the preparation and the privy of knowing when is the election, or when to call the election on the most auspicious day in the feng shui chart. But most important, the ruling party has all the super talents in its team, the crème ala crème of the country, and a scintillating track record.
Why is there a need for a day to cool off? Why not take advantage of all the favourable factors and just go to the polling station the next day? Or is it that the ruling party feels that it has too much advantages on its side and wanted to give the opposition parties a fairer chance and a fairer fight?
It cannot be that the ruling party fears that during the election hustings, the lesser talents, the lesser mortals, are able to talk the people to vote against the ruling party. The koyok men trumped the super talents and the god like beings. If that is the case, then all the super talents must be duds, unable to convince the people of how good they are. And what about the gold plated list of track records? These must speak for themselves and the people must surely appreciate them without even saying a word. Even if all this fails, there are the carrots of upgrading and handouts to fall back on. The pockets of the people when taken care off, must be a vote winner.
And the threats of the investors fleeing the country, the economy running aground, the falling property prices, and hardship, must be sending a chill down the spines of the people for even dare to harbour the thought of voting opposition.
Why then the need for cooling off day?
George Yeo pissed off with fear tactics
Saw George Yeo on TV last night. He related an incident where a resident came to tell him that he was voting opposition, and all because he was told to repent if he voted opposition. The resident was obviously ‘damn tulan’ with all the fear tactics and threats. They have enough of threats and fears for 45 years. George is going to lose a lot of votes for this repent statement.
George is pissed off too. And he had reflected deeply into this and is calling for reform of the PAP from within. He wanted the PAP to look at itself, someone needs to buy them a mirror, and asked what’s gone wrong? Sad that they just woke up like Rip Van Winkle and seeing the world has changed.
George was his old self like the old days in the Air Force, earnest and contemplative. He has started to think hard again. Would it be a bit too late?
You guys please tell him and the PAP what they have morphed into. We all know, but they don’t.
For 4 decades, Singaporeans have voted responsibly
For 4 decades, the daft Singaporeans have voted responsibly in every election. They did not vote for candidates that were seen as mediocre. They voted for good candidates to Parliament. Would the daft Singaporeans vote responsibly again in this GE? Would they vote for the best candidates that they think can represent them in Parliament? Before this GE, there was no contest as there were no alternative candidates for comparison. It was more of a case of in the land of the blind, the one eye Jack shines. Today, not any one eye Jack will do or can do. May the better candidates be chosen for the good of the people.
The daft Singaporeans were not daft, though they were believed to be daft, and called daft. The daft Singaporeans must voice out their true feelings to dismiss this myth that they are daft. I am sure the daft Singaporeans will vote wisely, intelligently, and responsibly in this GE as they have done before.
Do not underestimate the daft Singaporeans. Do not show disrespect to the daft Singaporeans.
5/05/2011
Imagine...87-0 in favour of PAP
I will like the people to imagine what life will be like on 8 May when PAP walks into Parliament with a 87-0 victory.
Just imagine. What a beautiful world it would be.
The Growth Formula of PAP
We have seen exponential economic growth over the last decade, in GDP numbers. In real terms, what do these numbers translate into? Very high cost of living, high property prices, high medical fees, high cost to run business, high education fees, high transportation fees, high cost of buying a car. There is also the problem of high influx of foreigners to compete for good jobs as well. These are now the major concerns of the people and are now the main issues in the GE.
Would these problems be tackled by the PAP govt after the GE? Yes, the PAP candidates now understand that these are genuine concerns of the people, including high ministerial salary which the PAP still did not think is an issue. So can the people expect any change in these policies? No way. These problems are expected in a high growth economy. They are intrinsic in a high growth formula based on adding more people into this piece of rock. And the govt knew all the while but did not see them as problems. In fact they are seen as necessary to growth, to raise the GDP numbers that leads to high growth bonuses.
If these are not problems and are good to have, can we expect them to be removed? Why should they be when they are good? What would happen, and is already happening, is that the govt will keep on justifying and explaining why they are good and necessary. We need more foreign workers, high property prices are good, high ministerial salaries are good to prevent corruption and to bring in super talents into politics, world class education and hospitals need world class fees naturally. The congestion in public transportation can’t be helped as we need more foreigners to increase the demand for goods and services, the workers to do jobs Singaporeans did not want, and the middle executives to provide jobs for Singaporeans.
The people cannot expect these problems to go away when they are not problems in the first place. A PAP govt will not change this high growth formula. If the people want to modify or moderate this high growth formula, they can only depend on the opposition MPs to speak for them, to change this high growth policy. It is necessary to have opposition MPs to rein back this mindless pursuit for growth numbers. That is why opposition MPs are badly needed in Parliament.
Don’t get me wrong. High growth is good for the economy. But if high growth is generated only through higher population growth, it is a deadly formula. It is suffocating and unsustainable. High consumption is against conservation and saving mother earth.
5/04/2011
So much anger
Only a few days into the GE campaign and we have witnessed so much anger among the people. Is the anger real, and how widespread is it? We have seen posters being vandalized, minister being chased away by hostile citizen. And there are privately drawn posters of unhappiness hanging in market places.
In the internet, there is a spontaneous uprising with netizens coming together to fight for the same cause. They are not paid or organized groups, simply netizens speaking out. They gathered evidence like letters or videos to support the cause of the opposition. And people are turning to the net to get a glimpse of news that will never be told or make it to the main media.
The crowd and mood at opposition rallies that resonated with the speakers’ calls for an alternative voice in Parliament are loud and clear. Again, are they really the voice of the aggrieved, the voice that will turn into votes against the ruling party? Are the people really so fed up with the ruling party and are ready to make a change, to vote for more opposition representatives or even for a coalition govt?
Have we reached such a stage? The temperament has changed drastically over the last few days. If the anger is deep enough, and widespread enough, we could see an awakening of the people. The PAP must be caught by surprise for not seeing this and still thinks that they could carry the people with them. And threatening the people in a last ditch effort may prove to be their fatal wrong doing.
My first enlightenment
After a few drinks last night there was this white light that came down to embrace me. Could be too much of alcohol in the blood. Then again, everything seemed so clear as the whiteness glowed all over me. The whole GE drama just flashed across my mind, and there was instant enlightenment.
There were so many aspiring politicians in all kinds of colours, red, pink, orange, yellow and what you have. This myriad of colours only say one thing. They are all flawed individuals. They are irresponsible, mischievous and dangerous, and definitely unsuitable to be political leaders. How can a political system allow such flawed characters to volunteer themselves and be elected by a mindless electorate? The whole system and process must change.
The governing of a country is not a game. It is a very serious matter and the election or selection of political leaders cannot be left to chances and where flawed individuals be allowed to sneak into the system. There must be a meticulous system to identify, select and train political leaders. This should start with every potential candidates being put through a battery of medical, psychological and personality tests to ensure that they are flawless, no bad habits and of good genes. Better still if they have political blood running in their veins. This kind of blood is rare and only found in a few gifted families.
The next stage is to interview them to filter out those with bad motives and intentions, those that are irresponsible, mischievous, dangerous or queer must not be allowed to go through. Angelic qualities are most sought after.
The third phase is to send them to a politician training school to be trained as politicians. And on graduation, they can then march into Parliament to serve as the people’s representatives.
No need to hold faulty elections that could only churn out flawed characters. No need to indulge in gutter politics and pork barrel politics. No need for gerrymandering and character assassinations, no need to spread so much ill will during an election campaign.
Paradise must be run by flawless people, angelic or even god like people who have no other motives except to serve the people. Or people who are born to be politicians, with politics in their blood, like political princelings. Or people who think they are natural politicians. And there are people who think that only when one wears white can one be a good politician. And some may think that new citizens are better than our local bred citizens to be rulers of the people.
A civil election campaign…so far
Who says we can’t be civilized and need to behave like gangsters and thugs in a GE? Who says that all the dirty gutter political tricks and antics will be rolled out to destroy an opponent in a GE? Till today, the last two days of the GE campaign, the hustings have been pretty civil and respectable from both camps. No video of people romping in hotel bedrooms were aired, no ransacking of people’s cupboards and drawers for pornographic art were flashed in the media, no silly people were reported checking on people’s bus fare or taxi claims.
Of course there were a couple of incidents that bordered on gutter politics, hitting below the belt, but quickly put off as the opponents realized that such conduct will reflect badly on themselves. And don’t forget that no one has the monopoly of the media and can speak and demolish his opponents while the latter is refused a chance of reply or fair comments. There is an alternative media out there waiting to pounce on anyone that crosses the line. And the alternative media need not be civil and can be very vicious and ugly.
So far everyone is polite and gentlemanly. Two more days to go and if they can keep it that way, we can have a really clean and decent GE to be proud of. And organizations that are in possession of private and confidential data and information should guard them zealously and prevent nincompoohs from exploiting them in breach of the rule of confidentiality, privacy, ethics and personal integrity. No one should abuse his position of power to assess confidential information of candidates to hit anyone below the belt. Be warned that the internet brigade will do even worst when provoked.
The contest is a contest of ideas and it is very encouraging and pleasant to see ideas being challenged and dutifully reported in the media. This is a sign of progress. Just keep the fingers crossed that the ugliness will not raise its head after the election with lawsuits, and candidates and their families being persecuted and have to run road.
I have faith that we are maturing as a people and need not return to the days of being young and wild.
5/03/2011
Ascetic on a mule
An ascetic in grey, at the bottom of pic, riding on a mule. The glaring reddish orange object is a dragon following him. More Art of RAR pics on link at top right.
And the world turns
Yes, the American, French, Italian and Brits air attack on Libya continues and in all counts violated the authority given to them to control the sky and protect the civilians.
Now they have killed Gaddafi's son and his 3 grandchildren. What can Gaddifi or the Arab world do about it? Or what can the world do about it? The Americans and their allies are so brave, attacking and killing the children and grandchildren o Gaddafi.
They must be waiting for their Purple Crosses. Heroes of the western world killing children!
Vote for a govt of the people
The election is about voting for a govt to run the country for the people regardless of race, language or religion. This must be amended to add in ‘regardless of political party.’
The govt must be the govt of the people, and treat everyone fairly and equally. Once a govt thinks that it can be biased, it has the right to look after one group of the people more or better, because of political affiliation, then the govt is not a people’s govt but the govt for a political party. It has taken a divisive policy of dividing the people by the simple act of which party they voted for. This is contrary to what a democratically elected govt and system is all about. The people and resources of the country, the reserves, etc, belong to all the people irrespective of which party they favoured at any time in their lives.
Another big flaw is that by claiming that they will give priority to provide benefits to its supporters, it denies the fact that the ruling party does not know exactly who voted for or against them, except the activists. Or is there is a way of telling who vote for who? The denying of upgrading or govt programmes to opposition wards is an exceptionally crude and callous way of managing the country and the people.
No govt must be allowed to favour any section of the populace under any excuses. To officially make it a govt policy is tantamount to discrimination. Some may call it abuses of power. Some will have stronger words to use. The people must not sanction such a political culture.
Any political party that is voted to power must treat every citizen equally. Doing otherwise is unacceptable. Definitely third world mentality.
How’s my maid doing?
I went for a little retreat over the long weekend and had a little problem keeping up with the happenings at home. The 100 page tabloid was on everything except news from paradise. At most there would be a little snippet of news that is not even 1/8 of a page long. And getting on line was a big struggle. The hotel did not have a business centre. Finally found a cybercafé and everyone was playing computer games. The kids must be wondering what this uncle was doing there. Managed a few posts before wringing my hands as the machine was crawling.
Before I left, my maid promised to be good. She said she would change her ways and do everything to please me. I was back late last night and found things a little confusing. On one hand the maid was still talking about wanting to do things that I like. I have been telling the maids for so long, so many times, that she should do things that I have wanted her to do. She was either stubborn or just too much of herself, perhaps communication problems were in the way as well. She had been doing everything her way for so many years, at my expense of course. And believe me, she thought she was doing hell of a great job. But at the price that I am paying, I don’t think I am getting value for money.
Lately she has been very flirtatious as well, fooling around with foreigners with no regards to how I fit in. In fact she had been callous in many things, at times very sloppy too.
Keeping her is already a very expensive thing to do. And she insisted that I must have the best of everything, for my interests, and this has rammed up my household bill skyhigh. Everything she spent on must be the best, and she had burnt a big hole in my pocket. Wondering if she knew what she has been doing. I have refrained from firing her all these years.
The maid agencies have called to offer better and cheaper maids, maids that are willing to do my bidding and really take care of my interests. Of course the old maid is still doing it, but at a very high cost, and bad attitude. Now I am seriously thinking of changing the maid.
And surprise, the maid appears to be listening. All the things that I told her and ignored by her in the past, she is saying it voluntarily, like wanting to cut down my expenses, taking good care of me, and not talking back. Is it because she is sensing that things have changed and her time is coming to an end? This change of attitude is most welcome, and sounds pleasing. My concern is if it is real. What if she goes back on her words and goes on bossing around in the house again if I extend her contract?
There are signs that she will still be the same pain in the arse if she can get her ways. She is still throwing tantrums now and then, and even threatening that the new maid will mess up the house. She has no kind words for the new maids. She still claims that she is the best, indispensable. I was telling myself, shit, with the amount I am paying, I can get 3 or 4 maids to serve me. Why should I continue to engage and to let her think that she is the only one available and no one else can do the job better. She must be thinking that I am daft.
I still have a few days to consider whether to dump her or not. Think it is time. The leopard will not change its spots. And the agencies are offering a long list of willing and eager to please maids. Better to go for the change. After all no venture no gain. Can’t be worst, and there are good choices now.
5/01/2011
Tan Jee Say not good enough
Chok Tong said Tan Jee Say is able but not good enough to be a permanent secretary. I may have a little dementia, but I remember what LKY said of him. I think something not much different from what he said of Jee Say, in his case, for the post of PM. He was not LKY's first choice. There was Dhanabalan, Chee Onn and Tony Tan.
Then he became a PM for several terms. He was judged to be not good enough when compared to other better candidates. Was he good enough when he was a PM after being judged not good enough? If he was a good enough PM, then his assessor was wrong. If he was not good enough as a PM, then his assessor was right. But right or wrong, he still stayed on as a PM for more than one term.
He said Jee Say not good enough to be a perm sec. The people did not have a chance to see Jee Say's performance as a perm sec. But what's that got to do with his potential or ability to be a good political leader? I can say that Beckham will not be good enough to be a perm sec. But I can't say that he can't be a good footballer. Neither can I say that he will not be a good politician. Winston Churchill too was not seen as good enough to be a PM, but he proved the British wrong as a good war PM.
So, who is going to claim to be god to be able to judge someone as good enough or not? It is the people that is going to show their trust in him and whether to give him a chance to prove himself. And it is the people who is going to judge whether he is good enough.
The same reason of judging can be applied to the ministers. Many were damn great in the eyes of the PAP and to Chok Tong and Hsien Loong. But in the eyes of the people, they have other ideas of what is good and bad.
After this election, Singaporeans cannot blame the PAP anymore
Ok, many Singaporeans are guilty of kpkb at the govt for policies that they are not happy with. By now the PAP is an open book. You know who they are, what they are, how they think and what they will do. And they have been very consistent and predictable in their actions and policies for the last few decades. And the ministers and MPs are know for what they are, what they stand for and what they can and cannot do. They have each a track record to prove their abilities.
Now there is a general election in a few days time. So what shall the people do? There is no point in kpkb anymore. The future is in your hand. Vote wisely and live with the outcome once you have chosen. After that if still needs to kpkb, do it in front of the mirror. You deserve it, to give yourself a good kick in the back.
This election is about telling the PAP that you like what they have been doing and confirming it by voting them to power again. Or it could be telling the PAP that you don’t like what they have done and are giving your vote to the opposition. It is as simple as that.
And you can blame no one else anymore. You created your own future. You have been reminded over and over again, you deserve the govt that you elected to rule you.
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