revisiting means testing

Revisiting Means Testing Of the many reasons behind means testing is the assumption that family is the core and all family units are functional. In the Singapore of today, when many are trying to make ends meet, the family unit that is intact is probably the parent and small children. The parents will often sacrifice for their children, paying and giving without asking for anything in return. Unfortunately this only holds true when the family is young. When the children have grown, it becomes to each his own. An extended family or a bigger family may look good on paper, with household income of $5k a month, but 5 or more mouths to feed. And bet you, this is not a large sum and a lot of tightening is still required. And when it comes to a big lump sum to be paid, many do not have the spare capacity to do so. A $10k or $20k hospital bill is going to turn their lives upside down. The premise that children must pay for their parents, when children have children to pay for, is stretching the ability a little too far. But of course, when children are earning a million a year, filial piety is a given. For there are a lot of spare cash flowing around. Thinkings of people earning millions are definitely different from those earning a couple of thousands a month. Even husband and wife may not be on speaking terms or on the verge of a divorce. So would a cash rich husband or wife be forced to pay for a spouse that they would not want to see for the rest of their lives? We may have laws to enforce such payments. But if the paying party just refuse to oblige, the problem is still with the patient. What can the law do? Or can the hospital says, your husband or wife or children must pay. Otherwise the bill is still your problem? How I wish all the Singaporeans are all earning a million dollars and their family units are functional. The reality is far from it. And paying hospital bills can break up family ties and strain relations.

one people, one country

Great People, great country A country can only be great when its people are great. The people can only be great when their hearts are one, thinking only of country. The ruler should rule wisely, and the people should be thinking people and obey wisely. To borrow from Confucius, The ruler must be ruler, the people be people, the father be father and friends be friends. The relationship of these four groups forms the basis of a good and strong nation. When the relationship is wrong, when ruler does not rule wisely, when people do not think wisely, when father does not behave like father and when friends are less than friends, the country will be disunited. Are our ruler and people having the same dream? Are our people thinking people or blind sheep?

a little bit of history

During the days of the Japanese Occupation, life was tough. And the worst of human traits were allowed to be given full play. Everyone was fighting for his own survival. There was no more righteousness, no more loyalty, no pride, no shame. Many locals sold their souls to the dark side. They became informers for the Kempeitai and reported on their friends, neighbours and even relatives. Many were killed or savagely tortured by the Japanese, all because of these informers. When the Japanese surrendered, many of these informers were identified by their neighbours and beaten to death on the streets. Do not be tempted by the dark side and lose your souls.

NKF everywhere

Reading the newspapers daily, one cannot be helped but to find that NKF is everywhere, but in different shades and shapes. The blatant violation of good corporate governance, the violation of fundamental principles of propriety and management principles, and the tolerance to such violations seems so convenient when people just refused to call a spade a spade. Do we need the same kind of exposure of another NKF to see more red faces? Our standard of right and wrong, of good practices, fair play etc are being eroded away right below our noses. And the party continues.

A higher calling

Singapore is a very good place to live and to make a fortune. And there are many who have taken full advantage of the conducive environment to make the best of their lives. Many have become multi millionaires and billionaires. We have a little paradise here. And I mean it. While many have made it in life and been very successful, the next thing that comes to mind is the higher calling. What next when you have everything? Some have answered to God's calling. Some have taken on social causes in fighting poverty or saving animals or the environment. They have done these as a cause, not for the money, but for a higher calling. A few have stepped into politics to serve the people and nation. But far too few. This has created a problem, it seems. And some, whose only meaning in life is to accumulated more money and more money, thinks that the only way to attract such good and talented people into politics, to serve the people, is to give them more money. Money will solve every problem. Just throw the money at them. Just because someone is only motivated by money, it does not mean that others will equally be motivated by money. Human beings are made differently. Some will easily succumbed to greed and other failings of human weaknesses. Some will be steadfast and will not compromise themselves and their values at any cost. The rest are in between. Take a look around us and it is very easy to find at least a couple of hundreds of very good and decent people who have all the money they need in life, lasting for a few generations, that would be as good at those in the govt. Why are these good men and women not coming forward to serve? Serving the nation and people is another higher calling that many will do it just for peanuts. Does anyone know the reasons? Does anyone know? While we are pondering the reasons, let's not insult the whole population by thinking that everyone is moneyminded and thinking selfishly of themselves. And that we can throw money at people to join politics. If these people come forward because of money, then they are not the right people to attract.