Earn that Sir!

This is the title of an article written by Dr Tan Chek Wee in Today. He talked about people demanding to be addressed as Sir even in the community. I have borrowed this title to replace the original title of this article which was 'Dark Clouds over the Istana.' Since our independence as a nation, the office of the Presidency has never been in question or a subject of controversy. All the past Presidents from Yusof Ishak to Wee Kim Wee were well regarded in their ceremonial roles. Then came the Elected President with a more important task to guard our reserves. Other than these nothing changes. And Ong Teng Cheong was highly respected for his role and short stay at the Istana. He wanted to do his job well and took it very seriously. Today we are seeing this huge controversy over the Presidency. The Office is even paid more the the President of the US. For doing what? People are questioning almost everything about the Presidency, from pay to how it is being elected and the effectiveness of its role in guarding our reserves. Why should the highest office of the country be subject to so much cynicism? Maybe we should go back to the drawing board and start all over again. Remove all the elitist barriers and return the right to this office to every Singaporean, rich or poor. Every Singaporean must have the right to stand for election as the President of the country. It must must not be the exclusive right of a few rich and powerful. And we should borrow the American practice of allowing the President to appoint his own team of advisers once he is elected by popular vote. No elected president is allowed to take office by walkovers. Perhaps, when people see that the elected President is able to exercise indepedence by the system that brings him to office, will the controversies go away. An Elected Presdent must be elected by the people, from the people and be able to execute his duties independently. I am not saying that the current President cannot exercise his duties independently. And the public is also not saying so.

16th most viewed local blogs

OUTBOUND PAGEVIEWS 1 theonlinecitizen.com 6088 2 wayangparty.com 5185 3 tankinlian.blogspot.com 3981 4 singaporemind.blogspot.com 3968 5 http://www.sgpolitics.net/ 3338 6 http://www.pressrun.net/ 2358 7 mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com 1878 8 mollymeek.livejournal.com 1559 9 feedmetothefish.blogspot.com 1516 10 seijieiga.blogspot.com 1483 11 scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com 1340 12 hardhitting-nobs.blogspot.com 1314 13 singaporecitizen.wordpress.com 1206 14 jg69.blogspot.com 1175 15 blueheeler.wordpress.com 1159 16 mysingaporenews.blogspot.com 1111 17 http://www.nowhere.per.sg/ 1064 18 forums.hardwarezone.com.sg 931 19 singaporelifetimes.blogspot.com 931 20 groundnotes.wordpress.com 920 21 http://www.yawningbread.org/ 873 22 wayangparty.wordpress.com 738 23 kakowi.wordpress.com 731 24 http://www.mrbrown.com/ 700 25 singaporeanskeptic.blogspot.com 700 26 wherebearsroamfree.blogspot.com 699 27 singabloodypore.rsfblog.org 677 28 melvintansg.blogspot.com 630 29 gssq.blogspot.com 623 30 singaporealternatives.blogspot.com 604

What's the big deal?

The current financial crisis is not really a crisis if one is prepared to look at the problems objectively. We are not the poor beggars of third world countries. In fact many Singaporeans are still very rich, worth half a million or a million at least, in assets. See, the problems start to fritter away when you are clear and see things in the correct perspective. Unlock the value of your assets. Singaporeans can't go around begging when they are living in big houses or expensive flats. Those in 5 rm flats can downgrade to 4 rm, 4 rm to 3rm. They will be cash rich immediately. When the finances are not in order, how can they still think of staying in 5 rm or 4 rm flats and ask the govt for assistance? And for the 3 roomers, go for the HDB studio or go for rentals. They must thank the govt for the foresight to build more smaller flats and rental flats. But a better solution is to sell and take all the monies to neighbouring countries like China, India and Indonesia. JB is not a bad place too, cheap and good. And one can live in peace without worrying about old age and being sent to JB's nursing homes. Go there now and chop a place first. Brilliant huh?

11 days to unlock the reserves!

Nathan said it took him 11 days to say yes to dipping into the national reserves. Or was it 1 day since the official proposal was submitted to him and he approved it on the next day? Or would it be better if he sat on it for a month before deciding on it, perhaps taking some time for deep prayers and seeking divine guidance? Is the number of days an issue? I think not. When an issue like this comes up, it must be seen from the merits of such a request and all the circumstances that are pushing for it. What should be adequate is for able men in the Presidential Council to deliberate and make their recommendations to the President based on their independent judgement of the case. One may want to ask whether this is possible but that is very subjective. Anyway, what is $4.9b when we have a few hundred billions in the reserves? The more important question is how much of our reserves have been lost. Can the President or Parliament enlighten the people on this? When the unofficial numbers are so staggering, it is necessary to clear the air and set the record straight and move on from there. No amount of shadow play can avoid or delay the disclosure. It must be out. It must be told even if the chin will drop to the floor.

Selfish capitalism

A reality check In today's troubled times, Singapore's political leaders and businessmen may do well to read what is published here. The Times UK. Feb 16, 2009 By Alice Thomson and Rachel Sylvester Pride, avarice, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth: sometimes it feels as if Britain is in the grip of the seven deadly sins. There are arrogant politicians, greedy bankers, lecherous television presenters, furious trade unionists, obese children, competitive shoppers and an underclass of people who do not work. To the doom-mongers, British society is not broken, it is shattered. According to the Archbishop of Westminster, the economic downturn could be the very thing that brings us to our senses. “It's the end of a certain kind of selfish capitalism,” Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said. “This particular recession is a moment - a kairos - when we have to reflect as a country on what are the things that nourish the values, the virtues, we want to have ... Capitalism needs to be underpinned with regulation and a moral purpose.” ... "It has been difficult to bring up children with the kind of values we want. Let's face it, we now have a ‘me, me' society, a more consumerist society, a utilitarian society, and our values and virtues have become diminished." “Some of it has got to do with having too much. If your worth just depends on your wealth, that is not healthy. Your worth should depend on who you are.” Nothing exemplified this better than the bonus culture in the City. “I hope people have come to their senses. I don't know why they got such big bonuses. I would cut them out altogether.” Bankers, he said, “were just wanting to make profits but in ways that were rash, and they thought they could continue on this bonanza without querying their excesses. "The industry is so focused on money. Unless that is underpinned with a moral sense and regulation that makes it clear money is only a tool for living, then it is wrong. I think sometimes there weren't enough controls on the City. The above is an extract of an article posted in www.littlespeck.com. The full article, though about Britain, is a good reflection of the woes and sickness of the capitalist countries we are in today.