Annuities - More statistics

Dr Vincent Chia showed some statistics on the life expectancy of people according to social classes. It is a known fact that life expectancy favours the richer nations. And domestically, the more well off will live longer. Dr Chia showed that 43.5% of those who lived past 85 lived in 4 rm flats or better. 29.1% lived in 3 rm flats and 11% in 1 and 2 rm flats. A compulsory annuity scheme will benefit more the economically better off people, especially when those who die earlier will have their contributions forfeited to benefit the survivors. Who's bright idea is that? But this does not address the half blanket problem. This is an old story of a poor man with a half blanket. In the cold of the night, if he covers his legs, his top body will be exposed. If he covers his top, the bottom will be exposed. No matter how he tries, he cannot cover all his body. In the case of the lower income group, this is their plight. To put money aside for the future is to go hungry now. Not to do it means they will go hungry later. Either way, it is LPPL. When you are poor, you are poor. And to make things worst, you are told to be self reliance. Don't expect the govt to help you. Don't expect your children to help you. Forget about the virtues of family and filial piety. All the young people, when hearing that it is not their problem to help their ageing parents, because the govt said so and appreciated their problems of having difficulties even to look after themselves, must be feeling very relieved. A big load has been taken off their shoulders. They will not be blamed. The old folks' problems is their pasar. This is the value of this country.

Medisave, the untouchable

Recently there have been quite a number of letters to the forum discussing the money in the Medisave and to use it for health screening. Though the reasons seem logical, they violated the fundamental reason for the $30k in the Medisave. It is to pay expensive hospitalisation bill when the day comes for admission. So this sum cannot be touched. It is a very important sum of money to save the dying. The living must find their own ways to keep themselves alive. And they can be assured that when they are dying, and needs hospitalisation, the money is there.

MOH withdrawn recognition of top university

Cheng Shoong Tat wrote to ST to show his concern about MOH withdrawing recognition of medical degree from a top university only after being informed by the Indian authority. This kind of problem, substandard and imitation degrees, is prevalent in most developing countries. Even in mature western countries, imitation degrees are quite common. In all fields, an error in judgement may not be so critical. But in medical science, when the consequences mean life and death, we must expect greater due diligence. Not only it will affect our people, it will also affect the quality of the whole medical profession and our medical hub reputation.

Another sad example.

He poured urine on a young child's head and slapping many for misbehaviour. His lawyer said he did all these to help the boys. 'He stayed on out of a sense of purpose to improve the boys' lot. There is no evidence to suggest that he stayed on merely to abuse the boys.'

So embarrassing and so disgraceful

Why is the library book loan issue such a big issue? It is only a few cents owed. It is embarrassing and disgraceful not because NLB is chasing for the money. It is embarrassing and disgraceful when people owed money in terms of a few cents or a few dollars. For goodness sake, if anyone wants to chalk out any debt, make sure it is big. A few cents is really unbecoming, just like kpkb for a few cents increase in transport fare. What are the people thinking about? Don't they know how to think big? At least the amount owed should be $10k. That is probably the least one has to pay the lawyers to sue another person to recover the debt and with no guarantee of getting a cent back. And if the amount is in millions, one can become an instant celebrity. May even write a book or produce a movie based on the exploits. May be headhunted for a big job. Singaporeans are pathetic.