full time no good, part time good

Part time MPs are good, full time MPs are not good. It is good to have part time MPs. Personally I rather have good people to be full time MPs. Having part time MPs is like saying that the MP's job is not that important to deserve full time attention. The MPs need only be present when he is free, like in the evening or on weekends. Is the MP's job important enough and deserving enough to have a full time MP? The $13k may be small change to some but very big money to others who reckon it is more than enough to serve the people full time. Given an option, a full time MP must be a better option.

lets tell the politicians

The political parties are telling the people what they stand for and how they are going to serve the people. It is about time the people tell the politicians what they really want to see and what they want the parties to do for them. And I think telling them what the people want is not meddling with party politics and the general elections. Let the politicians fight their battle for the ballot box. And while they are at it, we can tell them what we really want. I hope forumers can contribute to this thread and the message can get across to the politicians. We are just ordinary people and we want things that will benefit us. We do not support any political parties but just want our interests to be taken of. For a start, the retention of CPF money must be minimal, enough to buy an insurance to cover the remaining years from 55 to 75 perhaps and for an annual claim of not more than 20K. My assumption here is that if one is past 60, and cannot afford more than 20K medical bill, it is more pleasant to let nature do the necessary. And the rest be returned to the rightful owner. And anyone still working, employee or employed, should not be made to contribute to CPF except to top up to cover for the above insurance. Let the senior citizens pampered themselves with their hard earn money over a life time. It gets very ridiculous to keep forcing people to save at the ripe age of 55 and above only to be left with a little fortune when their time is up. And they have no chance to be a little extravagant on themselves. Living a lifetime of hands to mouth existence while a nest egg is wasted in the CPF.

singaporeans want to be ruled

The govt is loosening its grip on political discussion and freedom of expression. Singaporeans are so lucky that this is happening. They better thank the govt for being so kind and generous, that they can now feel freer. Today, many of the ruling elite are asking Singaporeans to speak up, especially on issues during the general elections. But they cannot speak and discuss anywhere. They are only allowed to do so in specific domains and media. Or in forums or blogs that are registered with the MDA. This is like putting up a few fish tanks and allow Singaporeans to go in and swim, under watchful eyes. This is freedom of expression that is uniquely Singapore. And the best thing is that Singaporeans are quite happy with this arrangement. My personal assessment is that Singaporeans love to be controlled. They love rules and regulations and a strong govt to tell them what they can do and what they cannot rule. Otherwise they will feel so lost, so insecure. Security and predictability are very important to Singaporeans. They cannot tahan grey areas when they are forced to make judgement for themselves. Such uncertainties are bad for health. Sapping too much energy to think and to make decisions. And they will be voting strongly for a strong govt. The PAP will be getting a stronger mandate in this election. The Singaporeans will vote the PAP to power for more rules and restrictions.

smart, stupid singaporeans - triple ass

The legal position of blogs during the election period has been clarified, but intriguing questions remain about how these alternative media might behave, and what the government's response might be. There are certainly loopholes that enterprising media activists can exploit. First, they can use the web until they are asked to register as political sites. The above is posted in Cherian George's blog and his assessment on postings in blogs and forums is similar to mine. People can continue to post until the authority deems that they are too political and need to be registered with MDA. But, huh, Singaporeans are Singaporeans. The triple SSS, pronounced triple ass, for Smart, Stupid Singaporeans, will do the smart and stupid thing. Just stay far far away from danger zone. Don't post and be safe.

between disorder and an orderly paradise

Singaporeans will be going to the polls to elect a new govt to rule over them. What are the choices available for to the Singaporeans? And are there good choices or is it between the devil and the deep blue sea? On one corner of the arena is a bunch of third world parties. All have not won a general election. A bit ruffle, don't look so professional, did not have the services of PR agencies to have them to dress and groom to look good, and fighting for anything that appears in the horizon. They do not forsee themselves as the govt for a long time to come as the number of candidates willing to stand, and good candidates, are still very small. So they will contend to check on the ruling party as their main function. On the other corner is a well managed political machine with all the resources to outdo the pretender for political office. They have all the track records of economic achievements and the expertise to manage the country and all the big organisations for profits. And they are unashamingly telling the people that they can expect more goodies, more jobs and security but more rules and restrictions on their freedom of expression. Their thinking is that with economic prosperity, the people do not need or want freedom of speech, human rights or related things which are superficial and superfluous. And from the way the people is behaving, it seems that the ruling party's reading of what the people really want is correct. The people are just so happy with the situation they are in and are contented to be apolitical and apathetic to whoever is running the country. The people will just go to vote on polling day to endorse the spectacular records of the ruling party and vote it to power with a bigger mandate. And this is going to happen on polling day. Actually my earlier above description of between the devil and deep blue sea is errorneous. It is between disorder and an orderly paradise.