4/18/2012

Lim Chong Yah’s recommendation and the big risk

There have been all kinds of criticism against Lim Chong Yah’s shock therapy but all seems to miss the most dangerous point. His freezing of the pay of those earning above $15,000 is perhaps the most dangerous of his recommendation. Singapore will definitely sink and become another third world.

With the freezing of top talent’s pay one thing will sure to happen. They will be underpaid and what will be the outcome? Corruption! Corruption will become rampant. For the moment corruption is controlled and prevented from rearing its ugly head. Everyone is paid so well that there is no need to be corrupt or be tempted to corrupt. Once the deserving top talents are not paid enough, this monster can no longer be restrained.

Think the good old professor must rethink and find a solution to this big risk. Don’t believe, some may openly say I no pay enough so I corrupt lah. Don't pray pray.

How to talk cock with cock reasoning

Dr Jim Yong Kim, a Korean American medical doctor was chosen to be the new World Bank chief over the widely respected Nigerian Finance Minister, Ms Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. And the cock reason in an article by AGENCIES reprinted in the Today paper, ‘Inexperience in economics and finance may just help World Bank chief steer agency in new direction.’ Is the new direction towards the abyss? For such an important post, maybe a pimp will be more suitable as you do not need anyone that is finance trained or with a good grasp of world finance. All he needs is an American endorsement and to be the puppet of the Empire.

I mean no disrespect to Dr Jim Yong Kim. He could be a good man, a good doctor. But his appointment is smelly and nonsensical. But the Americans are very good at that. They have been starting wars and killing innocent civilians throughout their history and made the world believe that they are as innocent as an angel and welcomed to kill. They are free from all war crimes.

And their recommendation of a doctor with little experience and financial knowledge is the best thing to happen to the World Bank, to save the world. And the unthinking people of the world believe so. And the Americans must be laughing themselves silly for selling another bottle of snake oil to the gullible people of the world.

False logic and reasoning

The danger of using false logic and reasoning to justify an unjustifiable act is like using a lie to cover another lie. The new lie conceived will need to be a bigger lie than the first, and every subsequent lie will become bigger and more indefensible. And every attempt to defend or cover the lie will make the liar look more stupid and the faked logic more untenable. It is only a matter of time when the lies fall through and the liar falls flat on his face.

The logic that GST is to help the poor, foreigners to help the citizens, foreigners are more talented, new citizens are Singaporeans, like one of us, high pay to prevent corruption, high minister pay is the right thing to do, HDB flats are affordable and driven by market forces, etc etc have started to have that hollow ring.

The people are starting to question these logics and starting to disbelieve in them. No matter how often are these songs being sung or printed as the real stuff, the good stuff, the truth will surface to tell a false logic is a false logic.

I recall a story of a poor family having a great reunion dinner behind closed doors. And they were celebrating and offering each other roast pork and chicken in a very happy and generous way. And they were toasting each other with cognac. Anyone outside will be so envious of the party and the feast they were having.

Peeping through the door, the truth was plain and clear, that they were sharing red and white potatoes and drinking plain tea. But they were living a life of make beliefs, just to feel good and be happy. The good thing was that they knew that they were deceiving themselves for the moment. It would be sad if they did not know that they were living a lie. It would be sadder if they were living under other people’s lie.

4/17/2012

The myth of a vibrant stock market

If we lower the commission rate there will be increase in trading volumes which will translate into more business and more commission. When there are more foreign funds operating and trading in our stock market, trading volume will increase, more vibrancy, oh I forgot, more oomph, and sure more business, and more commission. When there are more stocks, derivatives, structured products, there will be more business, more commissions, and dunno more what.

When our stock market is linked to more stock markets, the sky will fall down, money will fall into the laps of everyone as business across the world can be done here. We will be a one stop business and financial centre and all will be doing roaring business. All the stock brokers and broking houses and all the supporting staff will be looking towards a windfall, not a downfall.

And we are nearly there, and daily trading volume is in the billions. And commissions must also be in the millions at least. And stock prices must have shot through the roof with such vibrant trading activities. The phones must be ringing non stop and remisiers will have no time for lunch. Yes, extended trading hours, no lunch break, business will go up by at least 10%.

What is real? Many stocks are now penny stocks, quite a number are worth less than 1c and listed in the main board. And where is the commission? Where are the investors and traders? Who is doing all the trading? Machines, really? But never mind if the machine can generate more trading and more commissions. Good times are here.

We have done everything right according to the norms and practices and conditions of Wall Street. We even invested in the world’s fastest computer to facilitate greater trading volumes in micro seconds. The best fund managers are all here trading in our market. Everything is going to be right. Trust me. Now be patient and wait, just wait.

What the train is saying?

‘Stop, stop, help, help, I can’t go on anymore.’

No you can, our population is only 5m, and we will have a few more millions coming in.

‘No, no, really, can’t take anymore. I am not designed to take so many commuters.’

No you can. The trains in Tokyo can, so why can’t you? You are only half filled, running on half capacity.

‘Stop it, I say. All my parts are starting to fall off, can’t you see? I will run to a halt if you don’t stop adding more commuters to my load.’

Don’t worry lah, a few more wouldn’t kill you lah. Those car owners who have to give up their cars will come on board soon when they cannot afford the new COEs. Take a deep breath and carry on.

“Aaaaahhhhh…….’

‘Your attention please, this train will be delayed due to a mechanical fault. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.’

‘Your attention please, this train will be delayed due to a mechanical fault. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.’

‘Your attention please, this train will be delayed due to a mechanical fault. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.’
……..