Tharman is making me nervous

This is quoted from a post in TRE on what Tharman had said about the CPF money. ‘…Temasek Holdings, TH, need a source of cheap funds, Tharman had said there are many other sources of cheap funds besides CPF.’ Now you see why I am nervous?
 
Think, why would a fund manager borrow from a more expensive source when other cheaper sources are available? And he is like saying he is doing CPF members a favour. Is he a philantrophist? If one is to know how generous a philantrophist is in giving, would you want a philantrophist to manage your money? Frightening or not?
 
I would rather Tharman go and borrow from a cheaper source that has better terms than from CPF. I can’t say he is stupid to die die must borrow from CPF when it is more costly.
 
Now you see what I am driving at? If I were to put money in a fund, I would not want to put into one where the fund manager stupidly go and borrow from a more expensive source when they is no need to. Or is he hiding something, that overall this more expensive source is providing many many advantages that he is not telling us, like pay back only when you want to, can afford to, or take your time, for as long as you like, no need collateral or track records?
 
Is CPF members getting a good deal or the Govt?
 
What do you think?

Kopi Level - Yellow again

Mistrust of the Govt is the new normal

I can think of a few more mistrusts or distrusts. CPF is your money, CPF is not your money, CPF is your money, CPF is not your money.... Now my head is spinning. Which statement to trust or mistrust or distrust?
Your CPF savings is very safe, 100% safe. No one is going to rob you of your CPF. Who to trust? Can I have my money back? Now, who is taking hold of my money and not returning?
 
Singapore belongs to everyone here. Is this true or false? I am scratching my head.
We are listening to you. Please give us your feedback. Ok, here is the feedback. No 6.9m population. Can trust this will not be the case? But mistrust of the govt is the new normal, so no need to worry if 6.9m will be a reality.
 
More foreigners mean more good jobs for the citizens. To trust or not to trust? So govt is not bringing in more foreigners. Can trust or not? Then again, mistrust is the new normal, so anything can.
Knn, dunno can trust the banks when you put your life savings with them? Don’t worry, mistrust is the new normal. How could life go on living under the shadow of mistrust as the new normal?

Kopi Level - Yellow for two consecutive days.

The innocence and naivety of Meritocracy and FT talks

My hair stands every time these two topics were raised or discussed even by the supposedly intelligentsia. Most of the experts or naïve experts were talking in a vacuum, meritocracy regardless of race, colour or creed or nationality. Immigration is good, it is good to bring in the talents to boost our economy. It is also good for Singaporeans to work overseas, no need to come back. Fill up the island with more talented foreigners, 6.9m or 10m, the more the merrier.
 
As a country, meritocracy must not only be spoken but practiced within the framework of nation and citizens. Meritocracy to pick and groom the best among Singaporeans is theoretically a sound concept. We need to nurture and bring out the best among our people. To extend this meritocracy concept to other nationalities is idiotic at best and criminal at worst. When the interest of nation and citizens are exposed to be raped by foreigners in the name of meritocracy, it is as good as allowing an economic holocaust on the citizens.
 
Let our citizens work overseas and bring in more foreigners, talented or fake talented never mind, to work and live here in their place. Stretch this example to the extreme, with 70% of the citizens working and living abroad and 30% left in the country, what kind of country would it be? Look at it simply, at 6.9m with the citizens, the original citizens reducing to less than 40 percent, an absolute minority, it is a matter of time when they will become inconsequential and insignificant as a people of this country.
 
While the innocents and naïve preached and worshipped meritocracy unthinkingly, they forgot that the newcomers would not be as idiotic as them and practice meritocracy like these idiots do. What if the newcomers practice their own form or meritocracy to exclude the true blue Singaporeans? When they become an absolute majority, would they kick aside the original Singaporeans to favour their own kind? While we are a majority here, we can still impose some kind of order to protect the interest of the citizens. When the foreigners become new citizens and become the majority, will they be as innocent and naïve as our daft Sinkies and practice meritocracy and free immigrations like what the daft Sinkies are doing? Even today, when they are still in the minority, their practices are all about them and us and they have no qualms or reservations to get rid of us in favour of their own kind.
 
When Sinkies become a small and inconsequential minority as the population grows, as the number of migrants becoming new citizens grows, would there be a place for the original Singaporeans? Or would they be history and be at the mercy of the new Singaporeans?
A country is not a corporation that can hire and fire regardless of nationality. A country is about the interest of its citizens first and foremost. Even then, many corporations are practicing hiring the same kind against the others.
 
Can our innocents and naives think and talk meritocracy and immigration without thinking about the interests of the citizens? They cannot afford to as the mistake or sin against the citizens will be irreversible. There is no room for such idiocy.
 
We cannot talk about meritocracy and foreigners like we are a big country with a big local population like India or China. These countries cannot have enough of foreigners to turn themselves into a minority in their own countries. They have the critical mass to ensure they will not be history. And they will not be traitors to their own people even if they are daft enough to do so. The critical mass itself will protect their people, identity and interest.
 
We can lose our country and our place in the sun if idiots take charge of this country and bring in foreigners to replace us citizens in big numbers.

Kopi Level - Yellow

The USA failed in Iraq?

Many political analysts are putting the blame on the Americans for failing to create an Iraq run under democratic principles. They said all the institutions of democracy collapse within two years after the Americans pulled out similar to Vietnam. And what was left behind is a more chaotic, divisive Iraq that is on the verge of a full scale civil war.

I can appreciate the dumb western political analysts and self appointed saviours of Iraq and the middle eastern states for believing that the Americans murdered Saddam Hussein and brought down his dictatorship was for the purpose of democracy, freedom and human rights. It is really disappointing for middle eastern political analysts to think likewise.

Democracy, human rights and freedom were just the catchphrases used to dupe the Arabs and the world that the Americans were all well meaning. Whether Iraq becomes a democratic state is a non issue. If Saddam was pro Americans like the Shah of Iran, he would still be in his palace and killing his opponents and with the full support of the Americans. The dreadful state of affair and the killings and crippling of a few hundred thousand Iraqis by the American invasion must be a sad result of freedom and human rights for the Iraqis. The country has been torn apart.

These daft analysts are condemning the Americans for a failure. The Americans are quietly congratulating themselves and popping champagne in celebration for turning Iraq into a war torn state that would be in a mess for decades to come. The Americans have succeeded in what they set out to do to the Iraqis in particular and the Arab states in general. They must not be allowed to live in peace, to be rich and powerful. The Middle East must be in a constant state of flux and disorder.

The situation in Iraq is exactly what the Americans set out to do, chaos and in a state of war and confusion. Having achieved their objective, the Americans have moved out their forces to create the same scenario in Asia, to create tension, incite wars and turn the states in Asia into another Iraq and a bickering Middle East.

The silly Asians are no smarter than the Arabs and are yelling for war like heroes, warriors and soldiers. Aquino just officially backed the remilitarisation of Japan led by Abe despite the vivid memories of Japanese massacring hundreds of thousands of Pinoys in WW2. They could not see the consequences of war to their countries and people and the region. They love every minute of the Americans’ presence in the region and are so grateful to have this evil Empire supporting them in a new war they hope to start fighting.

They have forgotten about what happened to Iraq and the Middle East. Asia has enjoyed nearly 40 years of peace in the absence of the Americans. They have recently moved back in and tension is rising with war imminent in East and Southeast Asia. How many silly Asian leaders are willing to be led into another war by the Americans and the Japanese?

Kopi Level - Yellow

This is a gem by Douglas Chua

Douglas wrote a piece that appeared in the ST last Saturday. His article’s title is ‘Political commentators, get real’. He stated 3 points on the issue of claims that the govt is losing the public trust. Here they are and I quote:

‘First, there is no need to be apologetic because there is no such thing as a 100 per cent mandate in a democracy.

Second, there is no urgent need to appease and regain the trust of the minority that is dead set against the Govt.

Third, it is absurd to surmise that vandalism in Toa Payoh and the Prime Minister’s move to seek redress from a blogger indicate an erosion of the people’s trust in the Govt.’

From his frequent posts, Douglas is also a political commentator and is entitled to his views and so do others. What Douglas surmised is that there is no erosion of trust against the Govt and only a minority is dead set against the Govt. I am not sure how he knew that those against the Govt are a minority and I too am not sure if it is a minority or a growing majority. Only on the day of reckoning would the truth be out.

In the last GE, the PAP/Govt won with an overall majority vote of 60%. Since that fateful day, a Presidential Election and two by elections were held. Did they indicate a shift in the popular vote for the Govt? Or these were exceptions, not the same. One is a PE and the other two were by elections so they don’t count.

Since then, more issues and grievances have appeared with the people marching to the otherwise quiet as a cemetery Hong Lim Speakers Corner to protest against the Govt. These kinds of thing have never happened before. But of course they were a vocal minority just like the people shafting money in Roy Ngerng’s hands were a minority. There is nothing to worry about. The Govt still has 60% of the votes and would still be voted to power in the next GE. All is fine. Just ignore the noise and the vocal minority.

I also believe that the Govt and all its supporters feel the same way. They have the support of the majority and they can afford to ignore the ‘minority’. I am so agreeable with Douglas Chua on his assessment of the political landscape. There is a little thing missing in my belief, my conviction. Somehow I got this niggering feeling that things have changed since the last GE. But it is good for the morale to believe otherwise and don’t be disappointed when the belief turns out to be just a belief.

Kopi Level - Yellow