Bloggers forming an association?

It is reported in the media that a group of bloggers is trying to form an association for bloggers and it has been given the nod by the authority. And it intends to cover the River Hongbao event and other sporting events and is talking to the ministries, probably trying to get permission to do so. I am going to cover any event with or without permission. That is what blogging is all about. You decide what you want to do and what you want to post. Getting approval and permission are the last things in the minds of bloggers.

Encourage ostentatious lifestyle

This is the way to go. Not being ostentatious, being shy about spending is not healthy to the economy. Hsien Loong has taken the lead by donating $500k to set up a scholarship foundation. This is on top of the increment that he has donated earlier. I was hoping that this will set the ball rolling and more rich people will also take out some money for similar causes. There was no follow up. But that does not mean that no one is following his example. They may have done it quietly in their own ways. They are either too shy or shun ostentatious flaunting of wealth. For a time like this, these people should be encouraged to spend and spend. The media should do their job by celebrating their ostentatious lifestyle and this may encourage others to do so. It will be good for the economy. For those who do not know how to spend or share their wealth, just stand outside a MRT station with a sack of angpows and hand them to the passerbys. No need for any mean testing. Anyone who is willing to take the angpows will be needing them. Let's be ostentatious and spread the goodwill of spending and giving. No need to be shy about it.

Minibond investors happy?

About 50% of the investors that lost money in the minibond fiasco will be compensated or have been compensated. This looks like good news. Tan Kin Lian also commented that it is reasonable and the investors should not expect the banks to cough out the full amount as compensation. What amount of compensation is enough? Or should the banks even compensate the investors? The issue should not be compensation and how much. It should find out if it is a case of fraud, a crime or just a normal business. If there is no crime, no fraud, then there is no issue of compensation. But if fraud or crime is involved, the compensation should be in full and the guilty be punished under the law. Or are we to take the position that a cheat that cheated people of $10m and returned $5m then those cheated should feel happy and should be grateful that they got some money back? What is the real issue? Has crime or fraud been established or will it be established? It is so pleasant to cheat Singaporeans.

Charity, charity and charity

Singapore has been a good world citizen. Whenever there is a natural disaster, our govt and people are likely to dig out some cash to help the victims. The tsunamis, the earthquakes, flood and drought, we will share the suffering and pain with them. We have set up agencies with full time staff to go to the aid of the world, especially neighbouring countries. We even give generously to students to study here on scholarships with full expenses paid. We even helped the rich countries when their financial institutions were at risks of collapsing. Is it too much to ask the govt to help our aged, those who are unable to work, or those who are in their 70s, 80s or older who have no dependents to fall back on and no savings left? These are our citizens, people who have contributed in one way or another towards the growth of the country. Can the country provide the bare minimum during their dying years. They don’t have much time to live and don’t need much to survive. A roof and 3 square meals would not cost too much, with some basic medical care, will be more than anything that they will ask for. Why must they be made or expected to contine to work to their last days? For those who want to, fair enough. For those who are just too tired, toiled enough, a retirement to watch the world goes by is a little reward for a hard life that they have gone through. We need to show a little love for the old ones. Can the govt take on this responsibility, show a little kindness and compassion, to care for the oldies for once? Put them up in old folks homes in HDB flats with meals provided. No need to beg or sweat for a living anymore. No all the oldies will want to rely on the govt. Many will be able to take care of themselves or be taken care off by their families. Only those that have no one to look after them will need this kindness. No need mean testing to qualify them. Make it a simple ruling of age and if they ask for it. Asking too much? What is one family? What is a caring govt for? We should stop giving to others if we can’t even give to our own.

What is a soldier?

This has never been an issue even when ours is a conscripted army. The soldiers are soldiers. They are the men and women who will die fighting for the country. They will take orders and just do it even if the orders are bad orders. Soldiers take orders and responsibilities seriously. They don't go AWOL. They may have official working hours, but soldiering is unlike any other job. A soldier is a soldier on call, on duty 24/7, without overtime pay. At anytime he is called, he puts on his uniform and is back to camp. And when one is on duty, you do not go off your watch until the next shift takes over officially and properly. The duty must be handed over and no one just leave his job comes 5pm. And if the next shift fails to show up, the soldier will carry on until he is relieved. Where got such nonsense as 8 to 5 you are on and then you are off? Or perhaps the doctrine has been changed over the years. Our soldiers are now working according to the official working hours. And we will tell the enemy to fight us from 8 to 5. Outside those hours they will have to wait as we will be off. Or because everything is measured in monetary terms, soldiering will be paid according to the hours worked. And the pay of the soldiers is computed based on 8 to 5. If the army wants them to work longer hours, the pay scale will have to be changed to acknowledge the longer hours needed. Soldiering is a whole life affair. Now I may be wrong, outdated and lose touch with what a soldier is in a modern army.