how old or when to get passionate?

Michael Palmer says, "Being the lawyer that I am, let me throw in a few qualifications at this point. I do not for one minute mean to compare goverment and the issues of our country with a pop concert. Nor do I suggest that we approach the two with the same mindset. But what I want to know is why are we not as passionate about the government of our country and our country as we are with things like our favourite rock or pop band or maybe even our favourite movie stars? Yes, the subjects of government and our country may be less entertaining but on the other hand they affect our lives much more fundamentally than a movie star or pop group would. So what is it that the latter has to inspire such passion? More importantly, how do we get that same passion to emerge when it comes to issues of government or your country?" I would like to ask Michael when he starts to be passionate about the governing of the country? How old is he when starts to be passionate about this?

our own hero!

Yes, the Time magazine has picked LKY as one of the 60 Asian heroes for the 20th Century. No one can deny that since he came into the world of politics and nation building he has achieved more than many world leaders. He has made his mark domestically and in the world stage. Fortunately Time did not include Annabel as a heroine among the 60 heroes.

intolerance of lesser beings

Intolerance of the lesser beings. Another case of a young female employer beating up the maid appeared in court today. Such acts of cruelty are now as common as brushing your teeth. You see it or hear about it almost everywhere when there is a conversation about maids. They are so slow, stupid, stubborn, unteachable and intolerable. Such specimens of lesser beings only deserve to be beaten or ironed or to be fed with human faeces. Are we going down the road to monstrosity? This trait of intolerance to the lesser beings, and the lack of humility, seems to permeate across our society. And if we are still not going to pull the brakes, we only have retribution at the end of the road. Survival of the fittest means the strongest have the right to feast on the weak. And when the mighty lion ages, it will be his turn to be eaten. Are we going to see stronger and harsher measures to be given to the violaters of basic human decency? The lesser beings may be slow, stupid or naughty, there is no reason to beat them or iron them or steam them. Just let them go. Send them back to where they come from.

teach the indons the fine thing

Now Indonesia is angry with Singapore for raising the haze problem at the UN. To the Indonesians, haze is a domestic problem. If only they can keep the haze under wrap an not share with their neighbours. Just like smoking is a personal habit, but don't exhale after inhaling as your neighbour will have to share the secondhand smoke with all its leftover nicotine plus your bad breath. (Where is matilah? Please don't tell him I say this.) And Indonesia claims that it has all the expertise which in this case they must have kept it and not telling the world. Lets hope they will use their expertise to stop the haze fast. They must have mustered the skill and concealing it all these years. So generous of the Indonesians. Like kungfu masters. Actually the easiest way is to borrow Singapore's fine formula and the Indonesian govt will be laughing to the bank. Just introduce a fine system and make the plantation owner pay and pay. For the small farmers, a smaller fine will do. Anyway their little fire would not have cause so much smoke. The small farmers are not that good at creating smoke screens.

myth 90

'China is the most corrupt nation' If we brand countries according to the number of cases of corruption and people brought to court as a guide, China is definitely the most corrupt country in the world. Next should be South Korea. And the rest of the world are relatively free from corruption. Singapore can be grouped together with Malaysia, Indonesia and even the USA as corruption free country. There is hardly anyone being brought to court for corruption. Even the NKF case, the legal fraternity also pronounced that there is no evidence for corruption. At worst it is mismanagement. And the few cases of corporate honchos being found guilty in court, these are commercial crimes, like the Enron case. Not corruption at all. In the case of Malaysia and Indonesia, better still. Where got corruption? Mahathir has challenged anyone to prove that there is corruption in Malaysia. So the world is a very clean and healthy place. Virtually corruption free.