It was reported yesterday that Gan Kim Yong is leading another team to
Japan to study how to deal with ageing problems and senior citizens.
This comes quite soon after Boon Heng’s team went on a similar visit
with a similar mission. With two big guns leading teams to Japan, it
only shows how serious the govt is on the welfare of the senior
citizens. With this additional trip, both Gan Kim Yong and Boon Heng
could have a retreat with their teams to concoct some great solutions to
help the senior citizens. The seniors can now rest at ease that the
govt is taking them seriously.
One thought came to mind without needing to go for a study trip is to
consider the income of senior citizens that are mostly out of jobs for
10 to 40 years. Should the govt offer them some kind of income to pay
for 3 meals? Some would need a roof over their heads too. And now every
one of them would have to pay for the compulsory Medishield Life
Insurance. Where are they going to get the money to pay for it?
Maybe I am jumping the gun and there will be good news for the silver
hair citizens after the return of Gan Kim Yong. Keep the fingers
crossed, grand dads and mums. You will be able to enjoy your twilight
years, your golden years bathing in golden light. Though the govt does
not believe in free lunch, maybe this time the free lunch will be
offered knowing that many would have nothing to live by given their lack
of income.
9/18/2013
The tuition woe or tuition blur
Parliament is debating seriously about the impact of tuition for school
children and how tuition could create an uneven playing field with some
getting a leg up in their academic pursuits. This is definitely unfair.
Why should some students with parents having so much money be allowed to
have the best tuition to score straight As and some got to struggle
without tuition to just get by? Cannot right? Wrong?
And there is also a problem of good teachers quitting teaching to be tuition teachers for the monetary rewards. Like that also no good as the schools will be deprived of having good teachers. And parents are also spending too much money on tuition, another NG.
So, what is the problem? Dunno. So? Commission a study lah, or at least conduct a survey to know what is wrong and what are the implications then something can be done.
Ok, good idea. One finding I can guarantee will come out. Unlevel playing field. So? Level the playing field, so easy. One solution, tuition be banned henceforth, so every student will start from the same starting line. Or the govt will provide tuition, subsidized definitely, so that every child will have tuition. And make sure it is also compulsory. Like that the field will be leveled, surely.
As for good teachers leaving the teaching service, have a term included in the contract like those in the private sector. Teachers leaving the teaching service will be banned from providing tuition for 5 years. Like that good teachers sure would not leave. Not so good teacher can leave, never mind.
See, problem solved. No need to waste time and money to conduct study or survey. If the ministry is going to spend public money on such study and survey, they must be serious in what they want to do, to take remedial actions. It cannot be a look see, look see, and then nothing done. This is like sending them overseas to study what other countries are doing then come back and just make a report also can. No need any follow up actions or plans. But this also costs money and if it ends up as NATO, then what? Simply spend public money is very easy. But don’t forget money must be well spent. There must be clear objectives and follow up actions to improve something.
Maybe institutionalized or nationalized tuition and tuition centres. Then it will be easier to level the playing field. Rich parents pay more, poor parents pay less or subsidized. Now I used the term subsidize like no body’s business. I am also getting used to the term compulsory with compulsory payments. No opt out.
What do you think?
And there is also a problem of good teachers quitting teaching to be tuition teachers for the monetary rewards. Like that also no good as the schools will be deprived of having good teachers. And parents are also spending too much money on tuition, another NG.
So, what is the problem? Dunno. So? Commission a study lah, or at least conduct a survey to know what is wrong and what are the implications then something can be done.
Ok, good idea. One finding I can guarantee will come out. Unlevel playing field. So? Level the playing field, so easy. One solution, tuition be banned henceforth, so every student will start from the same starting line. Or the govt will provide tuition, subsidized definitely, so that every child will have tuition. And make sure it is also compulsory. Like that the field will be leveled, surely.
As for good teachers leaving the teaching service, have a term included in the contract like those in the private sector. Teachers leaving the teaching service will be banned from providing tuition for 5 years. Like that good teachers sure would not leave. Not so good teacher can leave, never mind.
See, problem solved. No need to waste time and money to conduct study or survey. If the ministry is going to spend public money on such study and survey, they must be serious in what they want to do, to take remedial actions. It cannot be a look see, look see, and then nothing done. This is like sending them overseas to study what other countries are doing then come back and just make a report also can. No need any follow up actions or plans. But this also costs money and if it ends up as NATO, then what? Simply spend public money is very easy. But don’t forget money must be well spent. There must be clear objectives and follow up actions to improve something.
Maybe institutionalized or nationalized tuition and tuition centres. Then it will be easier to level the playing field. Rich parents pay more, poor parents pay less or subsidized. Now I used the term subsidize like no body’s business. I am also getting used to the term compulsory with compulsory payments. No opt out.
What do you think?
9/17/2013
Putin’s gambit backfiring
It was touted as a great manoeuvre that put Obama on the defensive, like
a cornered man. Now the Americans are up to their tricks again, like
they did in Iraq and Libya. All they need is a license to take one step
and they will walk a mile. In Iraq, they first went in with the WMD
inspectors who insisted that everything should come under their
microscope, even Saddam’s pubic hair. Sure the Iraqis objected and that
gave the impression that the Iraqis were unreasonable. And the rest is
history. In Libya, the UN only authorized the western powers to keep a
no fly zone over Libya. But they went ahead to bomb the daylight out of
Libya and Gaddafi. They murdered both leaders and Assad is next on their
wanted list.
So, what is new in this Putin gambit? The Americans and their two lackeys in Britain and France as usual went on to interpret everything to their advantage, agreed or not agreed, in the meeting between Kerry and his Russian counterpart Lavrov. They now wanted to impose all kinds of unreasonable terms on Assad to comply and failing which will justify an attack. So, what is so clever about Putin’s gambit?
Putin has in a way accepted that it was Assad’s fault, and so his chemical weapons much be destroyed while his enemies’ chemical weapons remain intact. The Americans, the Brits, the French, Israel and all the rebels will be allowed to keep their chemical weapons, in a way admitting that they are not guilty.
How clever is Putin to fix Assad up? If he is sure that it was the rebel or anti Assad’s forces that used the chemical weapons, why did he not do anything about it but willingly surrendered Assad to his enemy? It reminds me of Gorbachev and his glasnost that led to the breakup of the Soviet Union. Putin’s stupid gambit could lead to the breakup or downfall of Syria. He is showing a pair of weak hands while facing a bunch of treacherous gangsters who have a penchant for killing civilians and children and dismissing them as collaterals.
Now he must make up for it or else Syria and Assad will be history.
So, what is new in this Putin gambit? The Americans and their two lackeys in Britain and France as usual went on to interpret everything to their advantage, agreed or not agreed, in the meeting between Kerry and his Russian counterpart Lavrov. They now wanted to impose all kinds of unreasonable terms on Assad to comply and failing which will justify an attack. So, what is so clever about Putin’s gambit?
Putin has in a way accepted that it was Assad’s fault, and so his chemical weapons much be destroyed while his enemies’ chemical weapons remain intact. The Americans, the Brits, the French, Israel and all the rebels will be allowed to keep their chemical weapons, in a way admitting that they are not guilty.
How clever is Putin to fix Assad up? If he is sure that it was the rebel or anti Assad’s forces that used the chemical weapons, why did he not do anything about it but willingly surrendered Assad to his enemy? It reminds me of Gorbachev and his glasnost that led to the breakup of the Soviet Union. Putin’s stupid gambit could lead to the breakup or downfall of Syria. He is showing a pair of weak hands while facing a bunch of treacherous gangsters who have a penchant for killing civilians and children and dismissing them as collaterals.
Now he must make up for it or else Syria and Assad will be history.
His name cannot be mentioned
It is not that his name cannot be pronounced or spoken that will incur
the wrath of God. Mentioning his name will bring brickbats instantly, at
least to me here in this blog or in any blogs or forum. And if I were
to sing him praises, my blog will be torn apart and I may get rotten
eggs thrown at me. I will be lucky if my bones are not broken. So I need
to be careful when talking about Him.
He is the creator of wealth and brought good fortunes to many, and is held in high esteem, even prayed to. In His name many were blessed. Some may fall on their knees in his presence, in awe. That is how powerful he is. And all his opponents were blighted to oblivion. No one can be more powerful than Him.
He did what needs to be done, he has everything planned and executed as he wished. At the end of the day, his work is done, complete, and he rests. No one has such good fortune to be able to see everything done in his lifetime to near perfection. His son was installed. His enemies faded away, no one left standing in the name of enemy except the sly ones that passed off as friends. And he is adored by all around him, or feared by those on the dark side.
Just the ability to see through and to complete his job, nothing left undone that needs to be done, is such a blessing. He has all the time to do it, in grace and in a leisure pace. Yes He is the man. How many men have such good fortune to be able to call it a day at his own time and calling, and to see his own monuments being erected in his life time? He is untouchable even in his last breath, and surrounded by his loved ones and his admirers and beneficiaries.
God will envy Him.
He is the creator of wealth and brought good fortunes to many, and is held in high esteem, even prayed to. In His name many were blessed. Some may fall on their knees in his presence, in awe. That is how powerful he is. And all his opponents were blighted to oblivion. No one can be more powerful than Him.
He did what needs to be done, he has everything planned and executed as he wished. At the end of the day, his work is done, complete, and he rests. No one has such good fortune to be able to see everything done in his lifetime to near perfection. His son was installed. His enemies faded away, no one left standing in the name of enemy except the sly ones that passed off as friends. And he is adored by all around him, or feared by those on the dark side.
Just the ability to see through and to complete his job, nothing left undone that needs to be done, is such a blessing. He has all the time to do it, in grace and in a leisure pace. Yes He is the man. How many men have such good fortune to be able to call it a day at his own time and calling, and to see his own monuments being erected in his life time? He is untouchable even in his last breath, and surrounded by his loved ones and his admirers and beneficiaries.
God will envy Him.
Go to the promised land
Singaporeans are encouraged by a new group of Moses to go to their
promised land, overseas. This little paradise that we have created is
not good enough for our able and talented, or not meant for them. The
talk is to go to all corners of the world. This sing song session is
gaining in decibel and the Moses must really believe that this is the
way to go.
Let me fast forward to see what it will be like if this call is to take its natural course. Our talented will be moving out to sell their expertises overseas, residing in foreign land, their new promised land. Some may leave their families at home with the maids. Some may rent out their precious and multi millions homes to the mosquitoes or to new tenants. Only the daft and less talented will be left behind in their near to a million dollar public housing.
In the general economy, our industries too will be moving overseas to make their pot of gold. There is no need to worry about hollowing out. Many foreign companies will be welcomed to take over their vacated places, same business or new business, all the same. And the foreigners will also bring in more foreign workers, talented and not so talented, to fill up the shortfalls of manpower as the citizens left for their promised land.
Our paradise and the beautiful and expensive homes will be occupied by foreigners, own or rent, to enjoy the first world city and facilities while our talented will be fighting it out in third world countries for their trophies, roughing it out and taking the risks in foreign land, away from the safety and comfort of the paradise they were used to.
What happens if 50% of the citizens left for their promised land and are replaced by foreigners? Is this a good thing? Why do we work so hard to build a paradise only to be encouraged to vacate it for third world people to share and enjoy? Logical?
When the Europeans were building their empires, they went overseas too. But their missions were different. They left their homes to conquer, to rob, to loot, to bring the resources and gold home for their loved ones to live a life of leisure and to pursue the good life. They went out to bring wealth home, not to abandon their beloved homes. They know where were their homes why they were out conquering the world. Their promised land is still home unless they could turn the foreign land into homes like the USA, Australia and other conquered land. They did not bring in foreigners to fill the vacuum left by them, at least during the glorious days of the empires. The Europeans built their era of renaissance by conquering the world and bringing wealth home. We are emptying our nest of talents.
What are we thinking when we want our talented to go out when paradise is here, when home is here, when all the third world talents or no talents want to be here? And the net effect is to leave a void at home to be filled by the dubious talents of third world countries.
What do you think?
Let me fast forward to see what it will be like if this call is to take its natural course. Our talented will be moving out to sell their expertises overseas, residing in foreign land, their new promised land. Some may leave their families at home with the maids. Some may rent out their precious and multi millions homes to the mosquitoes or to new tenants. Only the daft and less talented will be left behind in their near to a million dollar public housing.
In the general economy, our industries too will be moving overseas to make their pot of gold. There is no need to worry about hollowing out. Many foreign companies will be welcomed to take over their vacated places, same business or new business, all the same. And the foreigners will also bring in more foreign workers, talented and not so talented, to fill up the shortfalls of manpower as the citizens left for their promised land.
Our paradise and the beautiful and expensive homes will be occupied by foreigners, own or rent, to enjoy the first world city and facilities while our talented will be fighting it out in third world countries for their trophies, roughing it out and taking the risks in foreign land, away from the safety and comfort of the paradise they were used to.
What happens if 50% of the citizens left for their promised land and are replaced by foreigners? Is this a good thing? Why do we work so hard to build a paradise only to be encouraged to vacate it for third world people to share and enjoy? Logical?
When the Europeans were building their empires, they went overseas too. But their missions were different. They left their homes to conquer, to rob, to loot, to bring the resources and gold home for their loved ones to live a life of leisure and to pursue the good life. They went out to bring wealth home, not to abandon their beloved homes. They know where were their homes why they were out conquering the world. Their promised land is still home unless they could turn the foreign land into homes like the USA, Australia and other conquered land. They did not bring in foreigners to fill the vacuum left by them, at least during the glorious days of the empires. The Europeans built their era of renaissance by conquering the world and bringing wealth home. We are emptying our nest of talents.
What are we thinking when we want our talented to go out when paradise is here, when home is here, when all the third world talents or no talents want to be here? And the net effect is to leave a void at home to be filled by the dubious talents of third world countries.
What do you think?
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