Sinkies are daft and lack drive. Foreigners are hungry and willing to slog. Foreigners are better. These are the sweeping statements that were made by intelligent people in high offices. How real are they?
Sinkies put their children into nurseries at the young age of 3 and many studied till the age of 21, ie 18 years of formal education and spending several hundred thousands of dollars, only to become taxi drivers. That is definitely daft but not lacking drive. The nursery or kindergarten fees for the good ones which Sinkies are willing to queue overnight or involve in community work, cost a bomb. This is not drive?
And the children grew up fighting for places in the best schools to score straight As. Getting 6As and above is now quite normal. They got these grades without drive, like buying from the street vendors? Heard of private tuition from pre school? And they will continue to pursue their degrees in local and overseas universities. And they are found wanting, lacking in skill sets and experience, and are replaced by foreigners from the third world who spent lesser time in make shift huts called schools, half baked teachers and teaching system, and some probably bought their degrees from the streets. Many have questionable academic papers and work experience printed in their CVs. This is extremely daft but Sinkies got no drive?
And they worked so hard, always stayed late in the office, delayed getting married, and if married, delayed in child bearing, to concentrate in their careers only to see some foreigners walking in to be their bosses, in their own country. This not daft, but plain stupid driven.
And they saved for a life time only to see their money in monthly statements, without any right to touch them unless the authority says so. This is not daft, but silly. Their hard earned money and other people control and decide how to spend them. Yes, no drive to get it back.
And they are expected to live a life in one of the most expensive countries in the world with a couple of thousands of dollars a month as salary and think they have a life when people are complaining that anything less than $55k pm will affect the quality of their lives. And the Sinkies still think they have a damn good life, even the poor daft Sinkies are the envy of the world. Or at least that is what they were told. And the daft Sinkies believed. Yes daft indeed.
And because they lacked drive, they will have to work till they die, be it 70, 80 or 90 years old. And because they are so daft, they believe that this is the way to live their lives, to work and work and work, with money in their savings only to feel good but cannot spend. The 70 or 80 year old uncles and aunties working as cleaners in food courts lacked drive!
Sinkies are really daft, aren’t they? Got drive or not? This foolishness of branding Sinkies as daft and got no drive reflects badly on those bloopers who spoke without thinking. They are all parroting the words of god like blind believers. God is unquestionable. Bunch of unthinking idiots. No wonder they need to recruit foreigners to fill the top management positions. And with the million dollar salaries, they need to pay jokers earning less than ten per cent of what they are getting to solve their problems with kindergarten recommendations.
2/05/2012
2/04/2012
Living hypocrisies
Singaporeans are all reading the life of Dr Toh Chin Chye, one of the founding father of modern Singapore and the PAP. Chua Mui Hoong has a half page article of Toh Chin Chye in the ST today describing his tenacity and fearless fight for equality, press freedom, the politicising of the young Singaporeans and advocating more space for political freedom when he became a back bencher.
In the same breath it also described the irony of Dr Toh’s image as a repressive vice chancellor of the University of Singapore and his role as an integral part of the PAP machinery of oppression against dissenting voices and political opposition.
It seems that Dr Toh would be best remembered as a tough critic of the PAP during his last term as a back bencher, and for understanding and championing the plight of the powerless. The dying years of Dr Toh must be full of regrets that he did not do more for the powerless when he could. And when he was not in a position to do much, he fought hard but in vain, as a back bencher.
The moral of the story is that when a politician is in power, he is with the establishment, heart and soul. It was not a time to really think for the oppressed and the losers. It was all might and glory and fame. It is only when one is cast away from the pinnacle of power that one starts to understand what it is like at the receiving end or at the wrong end of the stick.
Such an enlightening experience seems to be repeated every time a politician falls from grace without fail. Several have stood up openly to speak for the oppressed people and even against the bad policies and culture of the power of the day.
Must such hypocrisies be repeated over and over again? Would those still in power reflect on this and stand up for the oppressed while they are still in power, still able to do something right, to live with their conscience of righteousness? Or would we see them crawling back, regretting that they should have done this and that when they could?
Would the living hypocrisies be repeated, be recycled all over again? Would more of such ironies be rewritten in the media as each leader hits the dust? May the living hypocrisies learn from the past masters and live a life of little or lesser regrets while there is still time for them to do something before they end up in the same boat?
The experience and regrets of our founding fathers are wisdom that is not taught in the textbooks. They are living examples and lessons to be learned to make one a better man. Future generations will be less forgiving of the failings of political leaders who could have done otherwise but chose not to do so in their heydays of power and glory.
Don’t come crying and wanting to defend the weak when they should have done so when they could. A spade shall be called a spade and hypocrisies should be called hypocrisies and nothing less.
In the same breath it also described the irony of Dr Toh’s image as a repressive vice chancellor of the University of Singapore and his role as an integral part of the PAP machinery of oppression against dissenting voices and political opposition.
It seems that Dr Toh would be best remembered as a tough critic of the PAP during his last term as a back bencher, and for understanding and championing the plight of the powerless. The dying years of Dr Toh must be full of regrets that he did not do more for the powerless when he could. And when he was not in a position to do much, he fought hard but in vain, as a back bencher.
The moral of the story is that when a politician is in power, he is with the establishment, heart and soul. It was not a time to really think for the oppressed and the losers. It was all might and glory and fame. It is only when one is cast away from the pinnacle of power that one starts to understand what it is like at the receiving end or at the wrong end of the stick.
Such an enlightening experience seems to be repeated every time a politician falls from grace without fail. Several have stood up openly to speak for the oppressed people and even against the bad policies and culture of the power of the day.
Must such hypocrisies be repeated over and over again? Would those still in power reflect on this and stand up for the oppressed while they are still in power, still able to do something right, to live with their conscience of righteousness? Or would we see them crawling back, regretting that they should have done this and that when they could?
Would the living hypocrisies be repeated, be recycled all over again? Would more of such ironies be rewritten in the media as each leader hits the dust? May the living hypocrisies learn from the past masters and live a life of little or lesser regrets while there is still time for them to do something before they end up in the same boat?
The experience and regrets of our founding fathers are wisdom that is not taught in the textbooks. They are living examples and lessons to be learned to make one a better man. Future generations will be less forgiving of the failings of political leaders who could have done otherwise but chose not to do so in their heydays of power and glory.
Don’t come crying and wanting to defend the weak when they should have done so when they could. A spade shall be called a spade and hypocrisies should be called hypocrisies and nothing less.
2/03/2012
Programming minds without the victims knowing
If you are those who hate North Korea, Iran and any country the US hates, you may want to read the full article by Stephen Lendman in World Affairs column under the thread 'Wake up or sleep with the curse of the evil West/US forever in www.redbeanforum.com. Below are some extracts from his article on Weapons of Mass Deception.
Selling War: "You Furnish the Pictures, and I'll Furnish the War."
By Stephen Lendman
Global Research, January 27, 2012
Throughout its history, America glorified wars in the name of peace. From inception, they're perpetuated against one or more domestic or foreign adversaries.
They include mass killing, assaults and abuse. Pacifism's called sissy or unpatriotic. Propaganda insists America's peace-loving. In fact, more than ever today, it's addicted to permanent war and violence....
In April 2007, Washington Post writer Tom Shales headlined, "A Media Role in Selling the War? No Question," saying:
"It's always depressing to learn that you've been had, but incalculably more so when the deception has resulted in thousands of Americans dying in the Iraq war effort" based on lies.
As in all wars, the more people rely on television for news, the less they know, and more susceptible they become to government and media propaganda.
In their book, "Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq," Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber showed how manipulative propaganda sold the public on war.
Combining PR and media deception, Operation: Iraqi Freedom was created. Deconstructing the process, they showed how top Bush officials planned war prior to his election, but waited until September 2002 for "product launch" to inform the public.
Using 'big lie" tactics, they associated Saddam with 9/11, forged documents to allege WMDs, and worked secretly to create the opposition Iraqi National Congress (INC). The PR Rendon Group coined the term. It got millions in funding and worked closely with CIA operatives. It became a driving force for war....
A Final Comment
Things remain the same. Deceptive reports manipulate the public mind on Syria and Iran. "There is no doubt that the mainstream media are crucial in this idea of selling that the US is going to be in a perpetual war."
They're key in making Americans believe military intervention is vital. Robert Parry said:
"I've worked at Newsweek as well (as AP) and other major US news organizations. And what I saw, especially at places like Newsweek, was this idea that the media was actually part of the establishment. It was that the American people were to be guided more than informed."
In fact, "political solutions" are alien to America's vocabulary. War profiteers demand jingoism. A century ago people were manipulated to accept war with Cuba. William Randolph Hearst hyped the big lie about Spain sinking the battleship Maine when, in fact, a coal bunker explosion did it.
Hearst, however, told his Havana illustrator: "You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war." To this day, lies launch them. They're all based on lies to get people to go along with what wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Selling War: "You Furnish the Pictures, and I'll Furnish the War."
By Stephen Lendman
Global Research, January 27, 2012
Throughout its history, America glorified wars in the name of peace. From inception, they're perpetuated against one or more domestic or foreign adversaries.
They include mass killing, assaults and abuse. Pacifism's called sissy or unpatriotic. Propaganda insists America's peace-loving. In fact, more than ever today, it's addicted to permanent war and violence....
In April 2007, Washington Post writer Tom Shales headlined, "A Media Role in Selling the War? No Question," saying:
"It's always depressing to learn that you've been had, but incalculably more so when the deception has resulted in thousands of Americans dying in the Iraq war effort" based on lies.
As in all wars, the more people rely on television for news, the less they know, and more susceptible they become to government and media propaganda.
In their book, "Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq," Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber showed how manipulative propaganda sold the public on war.
Combining PR and media deception, Operation: Iraqi Freedom was created. Deconstructing the process, they showed how top Bush officials planned war prior to his election, but waited until September 2002 for "product launch" to inform the public.
Using 'big lie" tactics, they associated Saddam with 9/11, forged documents to allege WMDs, and worked secretly to create the opposition Iraqi National Congress (INC). The PR Rendon Group coined the term. It got millions in funding and worked closely with CIA operatives. It became a driving force for war....
A Final Comment
Things remain the same. Deceptive reports manipulate the public mind on Syria and Iran. "There is no doubt that the mainstream media are crucial in this idea of selling that the US is going to be in a perpetual war."
They're key in making Americans believe military intervention is vital. Robert Parry said:
"I've worked at Newsweek as well (as AP) and other major US news organizations. And what I saw, especially at places like Newsweek, was this idea that the media was actually part of the establishment. It was that the American people were to be guided more than informed."
In fact, "political solutions" are alien to America's vocabulary. War profiteers demand jingoism. A century ago people were manipulated to accept war with Cuba. William Randolph Hearst hyped the big lie about Spain sinking the battleship Maine when, in fact, a coal bunker explosion did it.
Hearst, however, told his Havana illustrator: "You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war." To this day, lies launch them. They're all based on lies to get people to go along with what wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Dr Toh Chin Chye passed away
Toh Chin Chye passed away this morning at the age of 90. He was one of the founding father of PAP and modern Singapore. He was also a Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the PAP then.
Another historical figure that has turned to ash. Another chapter of Singapore's history comes to an end.
Another historical figure that has turned to ash. Another chapter of Singapore's history comes to an end.
The rich communists are coming
Unbelieveable! Up to 30 years ago, communists are the parallels to poor, uncouth, ruthless and revolutionaries. Today the communists are the new rich, the big spenders. They are travelling the world using their communist passports and welcomed with red carpets, to spend their communist dollars. The top fine arts auctioneers, the top luxury car makers, the top jewelry and designers, are all queuing up to wait on the communists as their best clients.
What else is new? Who would become the new beggars of the 21st Century? We used to have tourists from the US, Japan and Europe. But these were the retirees and many have gone broke because their pension funds were washed down the drain by the crooks in Wall Streets.
The rich communists are the new rich entrepreneurs, young and vibrant, princelings and children of the nouve riche. And they are seen as the big spenders. The communists are big spenders! They don’t go to Chinatown for cheap handicraft from China. They marched into LV, Gucci, Prada, Coach in Orchard Road with sacks of cash.
Strange indeed. And stranger still, China is the most trustworthy country in the world, UAE number two, ‘according to the ‘2012 Edelman Trust Barometer, an Edelman Public Relations annual trust and credibility survey run across 25 countries. The global online survey measures trust levels in four key institutions - government, businesses, non-governmental organisations and media.’ Singapore comes in third.
What else is new? Who would become the new beggars of the 21st Century? We used to have tourists from the US, Japan and Europe. But these were the retirees and many have gone broke because their pension funds were washed down the drain by the crooks in Wall Streets.
The rich communists are the new rich entrepreneurs, young and vibrant, princelings and children of the nouve riche. And they are seen as the big spenders. The communists are big spenders! They don’t go to Chinatown for cheap handicraft from China. They marched into LV, Gucci, Prada, Coach in Orchard Road with sacks of cash.
Strange indeed. And stranger still, China is the most trustworthy country in the world, UAE number two, ‘according to the ‘2012 Edelman Trust Barometer, an Edelman Public Relations annual trust and credibility survey run across 25 countries. The global online survey measures trust levels in four key institutions - government, businesses, non-governmental organisations and media.’ Singapore comes in third.
SPP’s renewal plan
Chiam See Tong said he is aggressively pushing for leadership renewal for his party. The departure of the 6 promising young men and women is a big set back to the Party. It is not reported that the party is aggressively trying to bring in people in their 20s into the CEC. Chiam is now 76 and still young if other politicians can still be active in the late 80s. So Chiam has another ten more years to bring up the youth in his party to fill his shoe.
What is a bit unfortunate is that at this point in time, there is hardly anyone to fill his big shoe and to take over the party leadership just in case. Chiam may have very high and demanding standards for whoever to succeed him. Such a person must be difficult to find for him to take so long and has to look at the twenty somethings. Maybe with Lina Chiam in charge, there is still plenty of time as she is only 62.
LKY also has a big shoe to fill. And being a giant in his own right, finding anyone to fill his shoe was a near impossibility. But he managed to find several to fill it. It is really no mean feat to find someone to fill LKY’s shoe.
I hope Chiam will be able to find someone quick to fill his shoe as well, no matter how big it is, or how difficult it is to find someone good enough. Filling political shoe is a very demanding task as the expectations are extremely high from the incumbent’s perspective. The emperors generally found it easier to have their own sons to fill them. The North Koreans are still doing it. In a democratic process, it is a bit touchy when sons are expected to fill the shoes of fathers, and of course, much easier to fit in.
What is a bit unfortunate is that at this point in time, there is hardly anyone to fill his big shoe and to take over the party leadership just in case. Chiam may have very high and demanding standards for whoever to succeed him. Such a person must be difficult to find for him to take so long and has to look at the twenty somethings. Maybe with Lina Chiam in charge, there is still plenty of time as she is only 62.
LKY also has a big shoe to fill. And being a giant in his own right, finding anyone to fill his shoe was a near impossibility. But he managed to find several to fill it. It is really no mean feat to find someone to fill LKY’s shoe.
I hope Chiam will be able to find someone quick to fill his shoe as well, no matter how big it is, or how difficult it is to find someone good enough. Filling political shoe is a very demanding task as the expectations are extremely high from the incumbent’s perspective. The emperors generally found it easier to have their own sons to fill them. The North Koreans are still doing it. In a democratic process, it is a bit touchy when sons are expected to fill the shoes of fathers, and of course, much easier to fit in.
A minority in your own country
Singaporeans becoming a minority in his own country is becoming a reality. Front page news in mypaper reported that in a foreign bank, in a team of 12 middle management banking staff, only 5 are Singaporeans. And it seems that this phenomenon is getting more widespread and may become a permanent and pervasive feature in the banking industry and other industries as well, particularly IT.
The reason for this pathetic state of affair is that Singaporeans did not possess the specialized skills set or experience for these positions. And the foreign banks could only find them from overseas, Europe, India and the Philippines.
As for skill sets, these are partially acquired on the job and through academic training in the learning institutions. It is now apparent that our leaning institutions are producing graduates that are not marketable or do not possess the skill sets needed, or producing too little. Whose fault is that? Is it so difficult to produce the kind of skill sets that the finance industry needs if developing countries like India and the Philippines are producing them in hordes? I am sure these talents from the developing countries do not buy their papers from streets of Manila or Mumbai. They must have the skill sets that our learning institutions failed to produce and our industries needed.
The remedy is to send our students to the learning institutions in India and the Philippines for their education. They seem to be doing something right and we, despite our world rankings, are not producing the graduates for the market, or in trickles.
The second important point is experience. Singaporeans do not have the required experience but developing country workers have. Where and how these workers acquired the experience that our workers could not get? Who gave them the opportunity to acquire the experience?
This is the main cause of the lack of experienced Singaporean CEOs in the finance industry because we do not give our people the chance and the experience. And if this is the way to go, soon all the CEO positions will be filled by foreigners and so will be the finance industry middle management, and so will be the IT industry and other industries.
We have become a country that not only did not produce the right products for the industry, we don’t even offer them the chance to gain the experience to become more professional and for higher appointments.
What is happening? And in many cases, the experience and opportunities were given to foreigners to gain their experience here. And this is progress. Singaporean first? This is our country, this is our home. And we are supposed to defend it while the good jobs are given to foreigners. A new citizen is still a foreigner yesterday. If every foreigner is given all the plump jobs and become citizens tomorrow because of it, then technically all the top jobs are Singaporeans. Is this acceptable or the right thing to do? We need to reclaim this country for Singaporeans before it is too late.
The reason for this pathetic state of affair is that Singaporeans did not possess the specialized skills set or experience for these positions. And the foreign banks could only find them from overseas, Europe, India and the Philippines.
As for skill sets, these are partially acquired on the job and through academic training in the learning institutions. It is now apparent that our leaning institutions are producing graduates that are not marketable or do not possess the skill sets needed, or producing too little. Whose fault is that? Is it so difficult to produce the kind of skill sets that the finance industry needs if developing countries like India and the Philippines are producing them in hordes? I am sure these talents from the developing countries do not buy their papers from streets of Manila or Mumbai. They must have the skill sets that our learning institutions failed to produce and our industries needed.
The remedy is to send our students to the learning institutions in India and the Philippines for their education. They seem to be doing something right and we, despite our world rankings, are not producing the graduates for the market, or in trickles.
The second important point is experience. Singaporeans do not have the required experience but developing country workers have. Where and how these workers acquired the experience that our workers could not get? Who gave them the opportunity to acquire the experience?
This is the main cause of the lack of experienced Singaporean CEOs in the finance industry because we do not give our people the chance and the experience. And if this is the way to go, soon all the CEO positions will be filled by foreigners and so will be the finance industry middle management, and so will be the IT industry and other industries.
We have become a country that not only did not produce the right products for the industry, we don’t even offer them the chance to gain the experience to become more professional and for higher appointments.
What is happening? And in many cases, the experience and opportunities were given to foreigners to gain their experience here. And this is progress. Singaporean first? This is our country, this is our home. And we are supposed to defend it while the good jobs are given to foreigners. A new citizen is still a foreigner yesterday. If every foreigner is given all the plump jobs and become citizens tomorrow because of it, then technically all the top jobs are Singaporeans. Is this acceptable or the right thing to do? We need to reclaim this country for Singaporeans before it is too late.
2/02/2012
Bonk, bonking, bonked
Is it because of the liberalization, or is it because of the craze for artistic expression, this little uptight nanny state seems to be preoccupied with bonkings lately. The latest gossips, not gossips, newsworthy news that many Singaporeans are demanding to know or want to know, is who is bonking who. And it sells papers too I think, like the great tabloids or evening news.
The only thing good coming out this episode is for a few celebrities in high places to appear as role models in bonking as a past time. Then the dragon year will definitely become a bountiful year for making babies, legitimate or illegimate. Who cares as long as we have more population growth, more NS men, more workers to push up the GDP and more bonuses?
I think this is the real problem why this nanny state is not producing the babies that are needed. Not enough bonkings or bonking being seen as something unhealthy, undesirable, unsavory or unsophisticated. There is a need to put a new spin into bonking to make it attractive, virility, libido, manhood, ego, conquest…what else. If only the prudes are aware that bonking is quite common in today’s nanny state except not in the news. A few more reports would probably kill the curiosity on bonkings.
I heard of a complaint that someone bonked a guy. And the company nanny was serious enough to ask him for an explanation. Of course he denied. And the self confessed victim was furious. The complainee almost wanted to give the retard two black eyes. But knowing that he was sick, and with all the advices from all who knew this sicko, telling him that it was not worth it, he restrained himself from bonking the sicko to his satisfaction. Maybe the sicko was really asking to be bonked.
Ok, don’t get the wrong idea. Bonk in Hokien is something very innocuous, ie touch. I bonk you is like saying I touch you. And this cracko complained that the other guy bonked him all because the guy denied him the chance of going mad with another lady in the office. The sicko wanted to bonk her in his mentally retard ways of course. And for being unable to bonk the lady, he countered by taking it out on the innocent guy, by accusing him of bonking him.
There are many weird people around that should be locked up in IMH. But really, be careful about bonking in paradise. No bonking allowed. They only play with fiddles and read poems at the underground station. By the way, beating the citizens, even ladies, manhandling them, give them a few body blows, are perfectly fine. And just a friendly advice, please don’t ask a lady if it is alright to bonk her.
The only thing good coming out this episode is for a few celebrities in high places to appear as role models in bonking as a past time. Then the dragon year will definitely become a bountiful year for making babies, legitimate or illegimate. Who cares as long as we have more population growth, more NS men, more workers to push up the GDP and more bonuses?
I think this is the real problem why this nanny state is not producing the babies that are needed. Not enough bonkings or bonking being seen as something unhealthy, undesirable, unsavory or unsophisticated. There is a need to put a new spin into bonking to make it attractive, virility, libido, manhood, ego, conquest…what else. If only the prudes are aware that bonking is quite common in today’s nanny state except not in the news. A few more reports would probably kill the curiosity on bonkings.
I heard of a complaint that someone bonked a guy. And the company nanny was serious enough to ask him for an explanation. Of course he denied. And the self confessed victim was furious. The complainee almost wanted to give the retard two black eyes. But knowing that he was sick, and with all the advices from all who knew this sicko, telling him that it was not worth it, he restrained himself from bonking the sicko to his satisfaction. Maybe the sicko was really asking to be bonked.
Ok, don’t get the wrong idea. Bonk in Hokien is something very innocuous, ie touch. I bonk you is like saying I touch you. And this cracko complained that the other guy bonked him all because the guy denied him the chance of going mad with another lady in the office. The sicko wanted to bonk her in his mentally retard ways of course. And for being unable to bonk the lady, he countered by taking it out on the innocent guy, by accusing him of bonking him.
There are many weird people around that should be locked up in IMH. But really, be careful about bonking in paradise. No bonking allowed. They only play with fiddles and read poems at the underground station. By the way, beating the citizens, even ladies, manhandling them, give them a few body blows, are perfectly fine. And just a friendly advice, please don’t ask a lady if it is alright to bonk her.
Cheating the ignorants
I have just called my phone service provider to cancel a service that I have not subscribed for, something like GPRS, which I was charged $5.57. I am not sure if I could have been paying for it in my previous bills. It seems that the service came together with an Android mobile phone. Many uncles and aunties or children have bought phones with many high tech stuff embedded that they did not know and may not even use or did not know that they will be charged for it.
I have cancelled several of such services from the service providers before when I encountered them. For many users of mobile phones, what they need is a phone and nothing else. Some may need the sms while others may need more. The service providers must have the decency to offer the additional facilities to the users on a demand basis and not simply lump them as a package and expecting the ignorant users to pay for them.
I am wondering how many uncles and aunties are paying for such service that they did not want or need, or are paying for their children’s bills without knowing why or what the hell they are paying for. If only they know how to read their bills and demand that nonsense should be taken out.
CASE must step in to protect innocent and ignorant customers from such abuses by service providers. It is a lot of unethical profits charged to the ignorant masses if everyone has to pay a few dollars monthly for things that they don’t need. Some paying without even knowing. The literate will be spared but the poor illiterate will be made victims as they would not be able to protect themselves. This is as good as bullying the poor masses.
The other unethical corporate practice is making cold calls to unwary customers and the latter ended up paying for the phone time used and phone bills. Phone calls are not free and such practices must be stopped. It is not that innocent, and not free. If companies are going to continue with such nuisance calls, they must be made to pay for the phone bills of customers that they called, the recipients must not bear the cost of nuisance calls and wasting their time as well.
Unethical practices by corporate entities must be stopped.
I have cancelled several of such services from the service providers before when I encountered them. For many users of mobile phones, what they need is a phone and nothing else. Some may need the sms while others may need more. The service providers must have the decency to offer the additional facilities to the users on a demand basis and not simply lump them as a package and expecting the ignorant users to pay for them.
I am wondering how many uncles and aunties are paying for such service that they did not want or need, or are paying for their children’s bills without knowing why or what the hell they are paying for. If only they know how to read their bills and demand that nonsense should be taken out.
CASE must step in to protect innocent and ignorant customers from such abuses by service providers. It is a lot of unethical profits charged to the ignorant masses if everyone has to pay a few dollars monthly for things that they don’t need. Some paying without even knowing. The literate will be spared but the poor illiterate will be made victims as they would not be able to protect themselves. This is as good as bullying the poor masses.
The other unethical corporate practice is making cold calls to unwary customers and the latter ended up paying for the phone time used and phone bills. Phone calls are not free and such practices must be stopped. It is not that innocent, and not free. If companies are going to continue with such nuisance calls, they must be made to pay for the phone bills of customers that they called, the recipients must not bear the cost of nuisance calls and wasting their time as well.
Unethical practices by corporate entities must be stopped.
Why the Whip?
Why was the Whip not lifted during the debate on Ministerial Salary? If the PAP believes so strongly in its philosophy and policy on high pay for public service, should not all the MPs and ministers also believe in the same ideology? Or was the rumour of a split on this issue true, that some MPs and ministers were not agreeable with the policy of high pay?
How serious was the divide? Could the against faction be more than the for faction? If so, then the majority in the party is being overruled by the minority. But this is highly unlikely given the passion they exhibited in supporting this policy. Or could it be the MPs versus the ministers as the MPs are not the real beneficiary of the policy?
Hypothetically, if the Whip is lifted and more MPs and ministers were to speak against it, then it can become embarrassing. Or it could be the MPs speaking and voting against the ministers.
When that happens, the hypocrisies will be difficult to bear. It will clearly show the self interest of those in favour of high pay defending their high pay. Another form of hypocrisy that could be exposed will be MPs speaking against it and voting for it. And if that happens, it will be very awkward for PAP MPs to lash out at other political parties for hypocrisy.
Now that the debate and voting are over, no one will be wiser or have the good fortune to know what it could have been. It is just a speculative thought though. Who knows, all the MPs and ministers could come out with their guns firing in support of the recommendation. Then again, given the need to impose the Whip, perhaps this is an unlikely scenario.
Another hypothetical and disastrous ending, if the Whip was not imposed, would see the recommendation defeated by PAP MPs voting against it. That will be a real shocker.
The Whip is very effective in such a vital policy debate, and with an absolute majority, the phrase, ‘let’s vote for it’ is really an insult on the daft Sinkies. But this is democracy at its best, with a little aid from the Whip.
The other big question is whether the high salary bill is an issue of national interest or a matter of conscience. The advocates claimed that it is national interest with the red herring that it is all about the greedy politicians in the future, nothing to do with the present bunch. Well, how many would take this bait? If it is an issue of conscience, then it is not proper to impose the Whip as it will taint every MP and Minister in the same smear of colour.
Is this issue water under the bridge?
How serious was the divide? Could the against faction be more than the for faction? If so, then the majority in the party is being overruled by the minority. But this is highly unlikely given the passion they exhibited in supporting this policy. Or could it be the MPs versus the ministers as the MPs are not the real beneficiary of the policy?
Hypothetically, if the Whip is lifted and more MPs and ministers were to speak against it, then it can become embarrassing. Or it could be the MPs speaking and voting against the ministers.
When that happens, the hypocrisies will be difficult to bear. It will clearly show the self interest of those in favour of high pay defending their high pay. Another form of hypocrisy that could be exposed will be MPs speaking against it and voting for it. And if that happens, it will be very awkward for PAP MPs to lash out at other political parties for hypocrisy.
Now that the debate and voting are over, no one will be wiser or have the good fortune to know what it could have been. It is just a speculative thought though. Who knows, all the MPs and ministers could come out with their guns firing in support of the recommendation. Then again, given the need to impose the Whip, perhaps this is an unlikely scenario.
Another hypothetical and disastrous ending, if the Whip was not imposed, would see the recommendation defeated by PAP MPs voting against it. That will be a real shocker.
The Whip is very effective in such a vital policy debate, and with an absolute majority, the phrase, ‘let’s vote for it’ is really an insult on the daft Sinkies. But this is democracy at its best, with a little aid from the Whip.
The other big question is whether the high salary bill is an issue of national interest or a matter of conscience. The advocates claimed that it is national interest with the red herring that it is all about the greedy politicians in the future, nothing to do with the present bunch. Well, how many would take this bait? If it is an issue of conscience, then it is not proper to impose the Whip as it will taint every MP and Minister in the same smear of colour.
Is this issue water under the bridge?
Singapore needs a weather satellite
Several years ago when the heat was on haze coming from Indonesia, they recommended that they would need a satellite to keep track of all the fires in the huge archipelago. This sounded very reasonable given the size of the area to cover and the difficulty in locating the fire. It is normal for hundreds of fire to be burning without anyone knowing. With the satellite, they can pick them out on the computer screen easily, send a signal to Singapore or Malaysia and the two can parachute their fire fighters over the affected areas in no time.
We have an equally gigantic problem in flooding. Some ridiculed it by calling it ponding. But it is a very serious problem that necessitates ploughing millions or billions into it. A weather satellite seems to be useful to locate where the floodings are. If we have such a satellite, the flood prone areas or flood areas can be easily located. And when there is flooding, the affected people can be quickly informed and flood correcting measures be taken.
Such a satellite can also be used for many other purposes like tracking immigrants and population increases for the govt to build more supporting facilities for them. If we have such a satellite earlier, we would not have a housing shortage problem, we would not have hospital shortage problem, and we may not even have road congestion problem. It is still not too late to acquire a satellite to solve our problems. It is a good early warning indicator. It would tell us where the problem is going to come from.
We are a big country and we really need something in the sky, like the satellite to help us solve our big problems. Talking about the sky, maybe we should seriously consider acquiring an Air Force One for the Prime Minister to travel from the Istana to Parliament House, to Ang Mo Kio or Lim Chu Kang or whichever part of the island, by passing the traffic jams and ERPs. The PM could then be at any part of the island quickly and this will increase his productivity.
While we are talking about productivity, I remember the stylish and fanciful swimming suits wore by Olympic swimmers to shave a few mini seconds from their timing to beat the world records. The specialized suits are quite frictionless and will allow them to slice through the water at ease. I think the same principle can be applied to the flooding problem. The flood water is flowing too slowly through our drains and canals. If we can apply a frictionless material over them like the swimmer’s suits, the water will move faster and minimize flooding. They will get to the Marina Barrage at double quick time. But someone must open the flood gate to let the water out or it would make a flip turn and run back to where it came from just as fast.
If the walls of our canals can be smoothened, they can also be used by the skateboard enthusiasts to train and perfect their skateboarding skills when the water is low. No need to spend money on special skateboarding parks and equipments. Out smoothened canals will just be as good and saving on precious space too. Bukit Timah and Rochor Canal can be turned into tourist attractions like Shinjuku.
They say, win win solution man. So many wins. I am so excited this morning with my creative juices flowing unceasingly.
We have an equally gigantic problem in flooding. Some ridiculed it by calling it ponding. But it is a very serious problem that necessitates ploughing millions or billions into it. A weather satellite seems to be useful to locate where the floodings are. If we have such a satellite, the flood prone areas or flood areas can be easily located. And when there is flooding, the affected people can be quickly informed and flood correcting measures be taken.
Such a satellite can also be used for many other purposes like tracking immigrants and population increases for the govt to build more supporting facilities for them. If we have such a satellite earlier, we would not have a housing shortage problem, we would not have hospital shortage problem, and we may not even have road congestion problem. It is still not too late to acquire a satellite to solve our problems. It is a good early warning indicator. It would tell us where the problem is going to come from.
We are a big country and we really need something in the sky, like the satellite to help us solve our big problems. Talking about the sky, maybe we should seriously consider acquiring an Air Force One for the Prime Minister to travel from the Istana to Parliament House, to Ang Mo Kio or Lim Chu Kang or whichever part of the island, by passing the traffic jams and ERPs. The PM could then be at any part of the island quickly and this will increase his productivity.
While we are talking about productivity, I remember the stylish and fanciful swimming suits wore by Olympic swimmers to shave a few mini seconds from their timing to beat the world records. The specialized suits are quite frictionless and will allow them to slice through the water at ease. I think the same principle can be applied to the flooding problem. The flood water is flowing too slowly through our drains and canals. If we can apply a frictionless material over them like the swimmer’s suits, the water will move faster and minimize flooding. They will get to the Marina Barrage at double quick time. But someone must open the flood gate to let the water out or it would make a flip turn and run back to where it came from just as fast.
If the walls of our canals can be smoothened, they can also be used by the skateboard enthusiasts to train and perfect their skateboarding skills when the water is low. No need to spend money on special skateboarding parks and equipments. Out smoothened canals will just be as good and saving on precious space too. Bukit Timah and Rochor Canal can be turned into tourist attractions like Shinjuku.
They say, win win solution man. So many wins. I am so excited this morning with my creative juices flowing unceasingly.
2/01/2012
The Water Margin classic revisited
The early phase of the Water Margin story told of the marginalized and convicted officials who were fixed up by corrupt powers of the day. And they had no where to go, could not emigrate, except to escape to Liang Shan.
The first chief of the Liang Shan rebels was Wang Lun, a small minded selfish man of average intellect. As more and more able and more talented men flocked to Liang Shan, he felt threatened and tried to send them off. He wanted to remain the top dog for as long as he could.
To his disappointment, as more people and officials were driven away by corrupt court officials, he could not keep them away no matter how he tried. Eventually his reluctance and selfish desire to protect his own position led to his own demise. He was killed by Lin Chong, a powerful ex govt military officer.
Whether in govt or in the rebel camp, once the top dog has outlived his usefulness, and when more able and talented people appeared, they must make way or be removed one way or another. Resistance is futile. They will be bungled out to the wilderness.
The first chief of the Liang Shan rebels was Wang Lun, a small minded selfish man of average intellect. As more and more able and more talented men flocked to Liang Shan, he felt threatened and tried to send them off. He wanted to remain the top dog for as long as he could.
To his disappointment, as more people and officials were driven away by corrupt court officials, he could not keep them away no matter how he tried. Eventually his reluctance and selfish desire to protect his own position led to his own demise. He was killed by Lin Chong, a powerful ex govt military officer.
Whether in govt or in the rebel camp, once the top dog has outlived his usefulness, and when more able and talented people appeared, they must make way or be removed one way or another. Resistance is futile. They will be bungled out to the wilderness.
The deception of pay hike
How many of you really become richer when there is a pay hike? I am referring to the normal average Singaporeans, not those whose pay hikes are in the hundreds of thousands or millions. Many will feel richer for a moment but whether they are richer or poorer will depend on the subsequent events that follow the pay hike. Are there more hikes in fares, charges, rentals and services? If they do, then the pay hike could all be absorbed by the subsequent hikes of goods and services, or in short, inflation, unless of course the hike is much more than real inflation. Many could be poorer after the pay hike when the higher cost of living eats up more than their hikes.
There is also the reverse, when no pay hike can make one richer. If the cost of living can be lowered like the cost of goods and services, the same dollar can buy more, and thus makes one richer.
Many people have been robbed of hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars by the runaway property prices. Buy a property at $300k instead of $500k, or $600k instead of $1m. The amount of instant losses is huge beyond comprehension and would wipe away years of savings and stinging.
Don’t be too happy with your pay hike.
In the early 70s, a $2k income could buy a 5 rm flat, a car and bring up a family quite comfortably.
There is also the reverse, when no pay hike can make one richer. If the cost of living can be lowered like the cost of goods and services, the same dollar can buy more, and thus makes one richer.
Many people have been robbed of hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars by the runaway property prices. Buy a property at $300k instead of $500k, or $600k instead of $1m. The amount of instant losses is huge beyond comprehension and would wipe away years of savings and stinging.
Don’t be too happy with your pay hike.
In the early 70s, a $2k income could buy a 5 rm flat, a car and bring up a family quite comfortably.
Yesterday’s mantra, today’s high falutin
How things can change overnight. Many great arguments, uncontested and unchallenged, were elevated to become the daily mantras of Sinkies. Overnight, after a heavy thunderstorm, the dull Sinkie minds seem to have brightened up a little after the flood water subsided. Now they are calling all the mantras high falutins. They don’t believe in any of them anymore.
The first to fall is the high salary for super talent. This brought along the demise of high salary to prevent corruption mantra. No body really believes in it anymore. This is amazing. As they said, real gold is not afraid of fire. But gold plating is a different thing altogether. How many high mantras are going the high falutin way?
Maybe the Sinkies are going crazy and the old mantras are still valid but the daft Sinkies could not appreciate how valuable they were.
The first to fall is the high salary for super talent. This brought along the demise of high salary to prevent corruption mantra. No body really believes in it anymore. This is amazing. As they said, real gold is not afraid of fire. But gold plating is a different thing altogether. How many high mantras are going the high falutin way?
Maybe the Sinkies are going crazy and the old mantras are still valid but the daft Sinkies could not appreciate how valuable they were.
1/31/2012
Can PAP survive 2016?
This is an interesting question that many observers are wondering. In the last election there were signs that the ground had shifted. The support for PAP was weakening and all it needed was for the opposition to put up a stronger slate of candidates to make some inroad into Parliament. And we have seen a GRC fell. Actually another one or two could have gone to the opposition.
There was no lack of good candidates from the opposition camp to win a couple more GRCs. Goh Meng Seng was right in going at individual ministers that were weak and losing ground support with their bad policies. The fault was the dilution of opposition candidates, basically spread too thin. If they have adopted the same strategy like the WP, the NSP could have got Tampines hands down.
What would be the fortune of the political parties in 2016? The PAP will have a very tough time comes 2016. There is really nothing left to stand in favour of the party. After the ministerial salary debate in Parliament, all the political credits have vanished into thin air. The super talent and super salary myths have been shattered to pieces. Not many thinking people will find the super talents anything that super or unusual. The few good ministers could have held their grounds if not of flawed policies or the wrong direction that the country is being led to. And to keep to party line and direction, they could only go along but undermining their own credibility as super talents.
The policy of throwing money at problems is getting hilarious and comical. Money is not an issue. It is OPM. Just throw money at any problem. The more money is thrown the better the impression that great effort and intelligence are at work, and the problem will be solved.
The reverse is to make the people pay as much as they can afford, as long as there is money left in their pockets. Both do not need any intelligence to go with. Millions and billions have been blown away.
How many still believe that the PAP candidates in Parliament are the best people available to lead this country? Many of the opposition candidates in the last elections were many times better and several were even of ministerial material. It is regrettable that they are not in Parliament. It is equally regrettable that a few of the not deserving are now in Parliament.
Some corners of the public are lamenting that there are still not enough good candidates. Actually they were several very good candidates from the opposition in the last GE, definitely better than those from the PAP. And it is likely that more will be stepping forward in 2016. If each of the opposition party could attract enough good candidates to wrestle one GRC from the PAP and with the WP doing a little better, there is a good possibility of another 4 or 5 GRCs going to the opposition. It will deplete further the already dearth of real super talents in the ruling party.
The invincible wall of super talents has fallen. There were really no super talents to talk of. And with so many mediocre talents in the GRCs, if the opposition parties could concentrate their fire power with good candidates in their GRC teams, the balance can easily be tipped. The Tony and Hazel Poa, Benjamin Pwee, Vincent, Jee Say, Nicole, just to name a few, were equals to the PAP’s best and should rightfully be in Parliament. The electorate has seen them and is likely to place their bets on them and other equally good candidates that will show up in 2016.
What else is there in PAP to hold against a new slate of able and good candidates from the opposition when practically every minister is now looking so vulnerable? As for the rest of the MPs…well….
Can the PAP survive 2016?
There was no lack of good candidates from the opposition camp to win a couple more GRCs. Goh Meng Seng was right in going at individual ministers that were weak and losing ground support with their bad policies. The fault was the dilution of opposition candidates, basically spread too thin. If they have adopted the same strategy like the WP, the NSP could have got Tampines hands down.
What would be the fortune of the political parties in 2016? The PAP will have a very tough time comes 2016. There is really nothing left to stand in favour of the party. After the ministerial salary debate in Parliament, all the political credits have vanished into thin air. The super talent and super salary myths have been shattered to pieces. Not many thinking people will find the super talents anything that super or unusual. The few good ministers could have held their grounds if not of flawed policies or the wrong direction that the country is being led to. And to keep to party line and direction, they could only go along but undermining their own credibility as super talents.
The policy of throwing money at problems is getting hilarious and comical. Money is not an issue. It is OPM. Just throw money at any problem. The more money is thrown the better the impression that great effort and intelligence are at work, and the problem will be solved.
The reverse is to make the people pay as much as they can afford, as long as there is money left in their pockets. Both do not need any intelligence to go with. Millions and billions have been blown away.
How many still believe that the PAP candidates in Parliament are the best people available to lead this country? Many of the opposition candidates in the last elections were many times better and several were even of ministerial material. It is regrettable that they are not in Parliament. It is equally regrettable that a few of the not deserving are now in Parliament.
Some corners of the public are lamenting that there are still not enough good candidates. Actually they were several very good candidates from the opposition in the last GE, definitely better than those from the PAP. And it is likely that more will be stepping forward in 2016. If each of the opposition party could attract enough good candidates to wrestle one GRC from the PAP and with the WP doing a little better, there is a good possibility of another 4 or 5 GRCs going to the opposition. It will deplete further the already dearth of real super talents in the ruling party.
The invincible wall of super talents has fallen. There were really no super talents to talk of. And with so many mediocre talents in the GRCs, if the opposition parties could concentrate their fire power with good candidates in their GRC teams, the balance can easily be tipped. The Tony and Hazel Poa, Benjamin Pwee, Vincent, Jee Say, Nicole, just to name a few, were equals to the PAP’s best and should rightfully be in Parliament. The electorate has seen them and is likely to place their bets on them and other equally good candidates that will show up in 2016.
What else is there in PAP to hold against a new slate of able and good candidates from the opposition when practically every minister is now looking so vulnerable? As for the rest of the MPs…well….
Can the PAP survive 2016?
$750m to solve ponding problem
The govt took less than a month to decide on spending $750m to solve a little ponding problem in Orchard Road. The recommendations by the committee of experts were revealed only a few weeks back in the main media. Looking from a positive angle, it is decisiveness, a govt on the ball and is trying to tackle the problem as fast as it could. I still remember that it needed one whole year of studies to decide to give those on public assistance $50 extra a month. I am not privy to how long the committee took to come out with the recommendations but the decision was made super fast and super serious.
I don’t know how many and how big were the ponds. If there were 10 ponds, it means each pond will cost $75m to remove. And looking at the works to be done, many of the facilities were meant to be for monitoring and data collecting purposes and not really to solve the flooding problem. I think the $124m map is one of them, plus all the CCTVs and early warning system. By the time they have the map ready and all the new data, another big sum of money will be needed to implement more new measures from the new findings.
Well, money can solve all problems. True or not? Or money down the drain into the ponds? What is $750m? May not be effective as the sum is too small.
I don’t know how many and how big were the ponds. If there were 10 ponds, it means each pond will cost $75m to remove. And looking at the works to be done, many of the facilities were meant to be for monitoring and data collecting purposes and not really to solve the flooding problem. I think the $124m map is one of them, plus all the CCTVs and early warning system. By the time they have the map ready and all the new data, another big sum of money will be needed to implement more new measures from the new findings.
Well, money can solve all problems. True or not? Or money down the drain into the ponds? What is $750m? May not be effective as the sum is too small.
Incompetence or negligence?
A contributor to the ST forum today, Woon Toon Tuan, wrote an article titled, ‘Why property prices will remain high’ and quoted some amazing numbers which he said were from official sources.
He stated that from 1995-2010, the population of citizens and PRs increased by 758,000 while 128,896 private homes were built. The 758,000 when translated into homes needed with a 3.5 person per household were 216,628 homes. Between the two, there was a shortfall of 87,732 homes needed. To date, there are 77,089 units of incompleted homes in the pipeline and these would still be insufficient and will thus not quench the demand for housing. Prices will thus remain firm.
I am not sure if public housing would affect his numbers as he mentioned that the 128,896 were private homes. Then he added that in year 2010, the population increased by another 107,000 foreigners. This would translate to another 30,000 units of home for them.
It is really very funny that if these are official data, how could they be missed and some jokers happily cut down on the building of public housing? Actually it is not funny at all when so many people were adversely affected and their savings kenna wiped out because of high demand and low supply of housing. Home buyers could have suffered a few hundred thousand dollars extra in the prices they paid because of this boo boo. Some would have to push back their buying decision only to end up seeing the prices rocketing to the sky. And they are stucked with no housing till today. Those that have to pay the exceptionally high prices would have no recourse to the monetary loss they have incurred because of this fiasco.
Nobody is responsible for the shit they have ended up in. Ya, they can blame it on market forces.
He stated that from 1995-2010, the population of citizens and PRs increased by 758,000 while 128,896 private homes were built. The 758,000 when translated into homes needed with a 3.5 person per household were 216,628 homes. Between the two, there was a shortfall of 87,732 homes needed. To date, there are 77,089 units of incompleted homes in the pipeline and these would still be insufficient and will thus not quench the demand for housing. Prices will thus remain firm.
I am not sure if public housing would affect his numbers as he mentioned that the 128,896 were private homes. Then he added that in year 2010, the population increased by another 107,000 foreigners. This would translate to another 30,000 units of home for them.
It is really very funny that if these are official data, how could they be missed and some jokers happily cut down on the building of public housing? Actually it is not funny at all when so many people were adversely affected and their savings kenna wiped out because of high demand and low supply of housing. Home buyers could have suffered a few hundred thousand dollars extra in the prices they paid because of this boo boo. Some would have to push back their buying decision only to end up seeing the prices rocketing to the sky. And they are stucked with no housing till today. Those that have to pay the exceptionally high prices would have no recourse to the monetary loss they have incurred because of this fiasco.
Nobody is responsible for the shit they have ended up in. Ya, they can blame it on market forces.
1/30/2012
Obama - A contented man
In his latest State of the Union Address, Obama Barack came across as a happy, balanced and contented man. In his Presidential speech it was all about nation and people, nothing about self. He was not there to defend his pay or asking for more pay. The only time he did mention about his pay was to say that he was very satisfied with his meagre official pay and was more than willing to pay more taxes on top of what he was paying under the current tax laws.
Some may squirm and privately mumble to themselves that Obama could be paid more under the table. But no one has any evidence to say so. Given the American liberal and open system, any such wrongdoings would not hide pass muster. It is not so easy to be corrupt or be paid under the table without being discovered as the President of the USA. This is unlike Asian systems of opagueness, non transparency and non disclosure when many things could be hidden or undisclosed and plenty can be hidden under the sun.
The closest Asian system that is as transparent as the American, and clean, must be our very own system. The slight difference is that Obama is a happy and contented politician who is happy with his lesser pay than our politicians who are still feeling quite sore of the hair cut. A contented man, some say silly man, is a wise man. Of course this is very subjective and many in paradise will be laughing themselves silly at Obama for such a big job and responsibility and afraid to fight for more pay. He could simply use our model to justify his $600k pay upwards many times.
Whether he is wise or silly is a matter of opinion, a judgement call really.
Some may squirm and privately mumble to themselves that Obama could be paid more under the table. But no one has any evidence to say so. Given the American liberal and open system, any such wrongdoings would not hide pass muster. It is not so easy to be corrupt or be paid under the table without being discovered as the President of the USA. This is unlike Asian systems of opagueness, non transparency and non disclosure when many things could be hidden or undisclosed and plenty can be hidden under the sun.
The closest Asian system that is as transparent as the American, and clean, must be our very own system. The slight difference is that Obama is a happy and contented politician who is happy with his lesser pay than our politicians who are still feeling quite sore of the hair cut. A contented man, some say silly man, is a wise man. Of course this is very subjective and many in paradise will be laughing themselves silly at Obama for such a big job and responsibility and afraid to fight for more pay. He could simply use our model to justify his $600k pay upwards many times.
Whether he is wise or silly is a matter of opinion, a judgement call really.
Close down our Medical College
I read that it will cost a student about $600k to study Medicine in Australia or more in the US or UK. This is a princely sum of money to acquire a skill to earn a living. I can presume that the cost of training a doctor locally is just as much, though it may cost less to a student after govt subsidies. The full cost could be as much as a million to produce a locally trained doctor to practice as a GP. For the specialists, the cost will be much more.
In my view this is just not cost effective. When we can get fully trained doctors overseas, including specialists, without paying a cent for their training, why do we need to spend so much of our resources on training doctors locally? All the infrastructure, the manpower, resources, etc can be put to better use elsewhere. In a way, we can outsource our medical training overseas by recruiting foreign talents. And we can pay them cheaper than our locals with their unjustly high expectations.
Boon Wan is talking about cutting cost in the medical profession by increasing productivity. I think he should consider this option. The cost will definitely come down, without the costly investment and with cheaper doctors readily available.
In the name of efficiency, cost effectiveness, we can put this kind of thinking further by closing all our universities and recruit foreign talents and graduates to work in the professions and industries as well. Definitely cheaper, hungrier, and more dynamic and with cost advantage, will make our economy more competitive and vibrant.
As for the Singaporeans, they are quite expensive to train locally. If they can afford it, they can join the army of locals in their march to foreign universities which are deemed to be more valuable and better, and come back as foreign talents. They can foot their own training without the state having to fund the local universities and to provide subsidies on their tuition fees.
The net effect is that we will have cheaper doctors who are better trained by overseas universities to serve our people. It is a win win situation.
In my view this is just not cost effective. When we can get fully trained doctors overseas, including specialists, without paying a cent for their training, why do we need to spend so much of our resources on training doctors locally? All the infrastructure, the manpower, resources, etc can be put to better use elsewhere. In a way, we can outsource our medical training overseas by recruiting foreign talents. And we can pay them cheaper than our locals with their unjustly high expectations.
Boon Wan is talking about cutting cost in the medical profession by increasing productivity. I think he should consider this option. The cost will definitely come down, without the costly investment and with cheaper doctors readily available.
In the name of efficiency, cost effectiveness, we can put this kind of thinking further by closing all our universities and recruit foreign talents and graduates to work in the professions and industries as well. Definitely cheaper, hungrier, and more dynamic and with cost advantage, will make our economy more competitive and vibrant.
As for the Singaporeans, they are quite expensive to train locally. If they can afford it, they can join the army of locals in their march to foreign universities which are deemed to be more valuable and better, and come back as foreign talents. They can foot their own training without the state having to fund the local universities and to provide subsidies on their tuition fees.
The net effect is that we will have cheaper doctors who are better trained by overseas universities to serve our people. It is a win win situation.
A jaw dropping act
The big salary cut for ministers and politicians is a jaw dropping act of sort. It is a very significant admission that the salary paid to politicians was way way excessive in all counts and that finally it came to the open, and no one in his right mind would dare to defend it. It is also a confirmation that it was wrong in the private thoughts of many people, maybe even among the recipients of the huge salaries, but all just buat bodoh and makes hay while the sun shines.
And now that the genie is out of the bottle, it is pointless and helpless to put it back. The ugliness of the high pay cannot face the light of moral justice, not even political correctness. It is just indefensible. It has to be dumped into the darkness and be forgotten.
The troublesome part is that, how could something that is so wrong be upheld and perpetuated for so long as something that is right? It can only happen in a country with unthinking people or absolute power.
So what is the new mantra? Greed is good, greed is normal, greed is the way to go, unstoppable. It has to be that way if we are to progress. Feed the greed and the greedy will be more motivated and will excel in what they are doing.
Actually one can be damn greedy without being productive at all. And one can spend all his energy trying to grab the money by all kinds of schemes instead of working for it.
I wrote the above before the Parliamentary debate. And I was completely wrong. There were still people staunchly believing in it and defending it with tooth and nail. We know who they are now. We also know who kept quiet throughout the debate, either they were against it or too embarrass to defend it, or wanting to enjoy it without being caught defending it.
The biggest sin in this issue is that the people who are benefitting from it are defending and justifying it. And the people who are against it have no avenue to fight it except for 6 opposition members. And if my poll is anything to go by, the majority of the people are against it.
Can the ministers walk around with heads held high, that the people approved their high salary? Did they ask the people about it. Or there is no need to ask at all? And some were very angry at those who spoke against it. They have decided how much they want to pay themselves and they will vote for it in a Parliament where they have absolute majority, with the Whip in force. They will have their way, all 81 of them, not the majority of the people who did not agree with them.
This is democracy at its peak. The rule of the majority in Parliament, by the people, of the people, and for the people. Maybe this definition of democracy needs a little tweaking.
And now that the genie is out of the bottle, it is pointless and helpless to put it back. The ugliness of the high pay cannot face the light of moral justice, not even political correctness. It is just indefensible. It has to be dumped into the darkness and be forgotten.
The troublesome part is that, how could something that is so wrong be upheld and perpetuated for so long as something that is right? It can only happen in a country with unthinking people or absolute power.
So what is the new mantra? Greed is good, greed is normal, greed is the way to go, unstoppable. It has to be that way if we are to progress. Feed the greed and the greedy will be more motivated and will excel in what they are doing.
Actually one can be damn greedy without being productive at all. And one can spend all his energy trying to grab the money by all kinds of schemes instead of working for it.
I wrote the above before the Parliamentary debate. And I was completely wrong. There were still people staunchly believing in it and defending it with tooth and nail. We know who they are now. We also know who kept quiet throughout the debate, either they were against it or too embarrass to defend it, or wanting to enjoy it without being caught defending it.
The biggest sin in this issue is that the people who are benefitting from it are defending and justifying it. And the people who are against it have no avenue to fight it except for 6 opposition members. And if my poll is anything to go by, the majority of the people are against it.
Can the ministers walk around with heads held high, that the people approved their high salary? Did they ask the people about it. Or there is no need to ask at all? And some were very angry at those who spoke against it. They have decided how much they want to pay themselves and they will vote for it in a Parliament where they have absolute majority, with the Whip in force. They will have their way, all 81 of them, not the majority of the people who did not agree with them.
This is democracy at its peak. The rule of the majority in Parliament, by the people, of the people, and for the people. Maybe this definition of democracy needs a little tweaking.
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