God has the final say

We need a good political system to ensure our viability. Many gods have spoken on what is the best system for us to go forward. Demigods also have spoken of their ideal systems. All the systems on the table look quite similar, all very godly. Do the people have any say as to which system is good for them? Who shall decide what is good and bad for the people? Or put it in another way, shall we let the gods and demigods decide on a system which is good for the gods and demigods, and maybe good for the people also? Or shall the people say, look, look, we are also owners of this place and we want to decide for ourselves what is good for us. We don’t need to buy your godly ideas. Ultimately who shall have the final say for their own well beings and the future of this country? The gods, demigods or the beans?

A home song - 4

Mas, Mas Selamat A warm tropical night, along the western shore A flickering light, and the sound of oar The boat hit sand, and they waded ashore Three shadows wavering on glistening water, nothing more For three years, they kept him, behind closed doors No one sees him, only his plans, To blow up planes landing in Changi Our gateway to the world, were known to all Food were plenty, they feasted him But wines and songs, were not for him They adore him, what a fellow When he’s confined, living in his own shadow The guards came down, out of the window He hit, toilet rolls on the ground Over the fences he flew, stealthily like a cuckoo His freedom run was more a walk, just for fun Chorus: Where are you Mas, Mas Selamat Tell us please We need a little peace Spare us your plans and let us live in one piece. The above is copyrighted by redbean

Tan Kin Lian for President

The Sunday Times published an interview with Tan Kin Lian and his aspiration to run for the elected President or a MP. The startling point is that he is going to run as an opposition candidate, giving reasons that he did not agree with the ruling party which he was once a member. Tan Kin Lian has all the prerequisites of a professional, and he fits the mold of what the people have come to expect of a MP. Though his wife expressed fear of a political backlash, Tan Kin Lian is still keen to push on if the people give him some endorsement of support. We will need more able people like Tan Kin Lian to step forward, maybe form a new party of like minded people and stand in the next GE. A party with creditable professionals will stand a very good chance of taking on the ruling party. There are many able people out there who are as good if not better and it is about time that they do something for the people and country. The country needs them, the country needs new blood and new direction, new philosophy and policies, and a new set of moral principles that are people oriented, for the well being of the people. The seed of a new political era has been planted and a new leader is emerging. The good men and women should rally behind him to provide a decent and respectable alternative to the people. There must be many talents out there who are ready to serve for the interest of the people.

Minibonds and High Notes in simplified terms

ST correspondent Lorna Tan did a simplified version of a summary note that is easy to understand to the investors. She used a copy of the DBS High Notes 5 prospectus and gave her own inputs which I find very comprehensive, at least to a layperson like me. The key features of her take are: 1. It explains that the investor's money will be used to buy a basket of securities. This is then used as a collateral for a bet. 2. The bet is on 7 selected financial institution and one country, that should any one of them got into financial trouble and becomes 'bankrupt', the investor will lose all his investment. 3. The 7 entities have nothing to do with the money invested. 4. The product is thus not suitable for people who cannot afford to lose their principal sum and who need the money over the next 5 1/2 years. I would like to make a few amendments to her take. 1. Change the title of the Notes to Toto High Notes 7 2. Allow the bettor to choose 7 entities from a list provided 3. Allow the bettor to pick 1 country from a list of countries 4. The product should be sold at Toto booths 5. Financial institutions should not be allowed to indulge in such gaming products. From the nature of the products it looks to me more like betting than a financial product. And it is much easier to run such a betting scheme than the S League. So much cheaper.

My hat's off to the party

If anyone or any party can convince well educated, highly educated people to believe in what they said, it must be a very capable party, or least in its ability to win converts to its cause. The idea of a one party ruling system, akin to a benevolent dictatorship, is like convincing the livestock to walk into an abattoir. A walk to no return. I still cannot believe that this is possible, but to hear them sing praises of a one party system, they appear real, fully bought the idea, hook, line and sinker. I must say, great job, well done. The other way to look at it is that livestock are meant for the slaughter house. They can't differentiate between that and a home. They are bred just for that, unthinking or thinking, that that is the only way to go. You see how happy the sheep in the field and the herd of cattle grazing, or how the chicken enjoy themselves when the farmer appears with their feast. They won't trade that kind of life for anything else. It is very comfortable and assuring.