When value is irresistible

Many snobs in the West are still sneering at any product made in China. Some have cultural biases and would never buy Chinese because of their deep inherent negative upbringings against China and Chinese. But when value for money does matter, Chinese or not Chinese, the products sell by itself. The consumers would want value for money and they know if they are getting value or otherwise. Wallmart would have gone backrupt long ago without Chinese made products. Apple would not be able to sell its handphones if they are not made in China.

With greater interconnectivity, with online shopping crisscrossing the world, Singapore as a shopping paradise and Orchard Road in particular would see its day numbered. No consumer would want to pay through their noses when they can get the same product at a fraction of the price in Orchard and within the reach of a finger hitting the keyboard. The state of denial that Orchard Road can reinvent itself and Singapore continues to be a shopper's paradise is over despite the hype of the Jewel in Changi. No retailers can afford to price its products beyond its competitors. Orchard Road is a microcosm of what Singapore is all about, unsustainable, high price low value, high salary low productivity joint.

Look at the sales transacted over ezbuy, taobao, aliexpress, Qoo10, Lazadas etc etc, the amount is hundreds of millions daily. The numerous distribution points set by by the likes of ezbuy are all over the islands and with numerous repeats per day per point and with long queues of consumers happily collecting their value buys, mostly goods made in China and South Korea. No one is complaining. One can get a genuine mechanical or automatic watch, made in China, with genuine Seagull mechanism for less than $50, the same mechanism that many western brands used.

And Chinese cellphones are flooding the markets across the world. Even in India, a country that would not want to buy anything Chinese, could not resist the value for money Chinese cellphones and other products that could be had at even cheaper price than Make in India products. The Chinese cellphones are dominating the Indian market with a controlling market share.

Value is irresistible. No amount of talks or negative commentaries could beat products that are value for money. No amount of gimmicks would make consumers pay more for less. The retailers may think the consumers are stupid but would have to live with the realities when consumers just stay away when they could not find value in their goods.

This value is irresistible can be expanded in scope to cover AIIB and BRI or One Belt One Road. Both are great initiatives from China that would benefit all the participating countries. The Americans and its allies have put all the stops and obstacles and offensive propaganda against these two projects. American allies were told not to participate. But the values of these two projects stood up glaringly and those countries seeing their goodness found them irresistible and went against the dictates of the rogue Empire. They joined in full force and the Americans, while trying to isolate China found itself isolated, together with Japan.

When something is created that is of value, there is no fear that it would be rejected. But things that are of no value and overpriced would soon be rejected and dumped.

PS. The European Central Bank and Germany and several western nations have include the Chinese Yuan in their reserve currencies to hedge against a US dollar that is going to turn into banana currency soon.Saudi Arabia is going to sell oil to China using Chinese Yuan, not American banana currency. They knew that they have been had by the Americans. Their hoards of petrol dollars would vanish like smokes in thin air soon.

The next PM controversies

Chok Tong is worried that there is not enough time to appoint a PM designate to learn the ropes and tricks of the trade to be the next PM. His time frame is a few months and nothing more or it would be too late and too little. On the other hand, from statements made by Hsien Loong, what is the farce all about? In good time the problem, if there is one, would sort out itself.  What is there to worry about?

And in his latest public statement from New Delhi Hsien Loong talked about a cabinet reshuffle after the budget reading in Parliament but categorically confirmed that the PM designate would not be assigned, or there would be no appointment of a new DPM for this purpose. Hsien Loong is in charge and he is comfortable or not unduly worried that there will not be enough time for the new PM to learn and to settle in for the new job.

The ding dong going on at the top may have come to an abrupt end and nothing more would come from Chok Tong again on this matter. But there are signs that things are getting hot and people are rattled. The young Turks, the group where the next PM would come from or would in a way decide the next PM, not Hsien Loong if you believe in the PAP's official statements, that is what the public is made to believe, has came up with a joint statement on the succession issue as reported in CNA.

''In the statement issued on Jan 4, the office holders said they were "keenly aware" that leadership succession is "a pressing issue", given that PM Lee has said he intends to step down after the next General Election.

"We are conscious of our responsibility, are working closely together as a team, and will settle on a leader from amongst us in good time," they added.

The statement was signed by 16 of the younger office holders - comprising Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, 10 ministers and five senior ministers of state. The names of Senior Ministers of State Maliki Osman, Lam Pin Min and Amy Khor were absent from the list.''

The 16 seem to agree with Chok Tong that the succession is a pressing issue but also agree with Hsien Loong that there is nothing to worry about the timing to name a PM designate. Brilliant statement! The loophole exposed by this statement speaks of a hurried decision to say something resulting in a few, or 3 ministers of state were inadvertently left out from the list. This may seem to be a slip of mind and Hsien Loong has told the people not to make too much of those that were left out.

"I think a lot was made of the fact that they left out (some of the Senior Ministers of State's) names there. I think they didn't intend to do that, and I don't think you should put a lot of weight on that."

There are only a few ministers of state and they knew each other very well. To miss out one minister of state could be a slip of the mind. To miss out two ministers of statement is unusual. To miss out three ministers of statement cannot be anything but not normal. The PAP is not a slipshod party, or is it, was it, that 3 ministers of state could be left out in an important joint statement on the succession issue to show unity and seen as normal? This situation would definitely send tongues awagging, that something is sorely amiss.

What is the missing jigsaw piece that let to the 3 ministers of state being left out? How many people would accept Hsien Loong's explanation that there is nothing to it? I think many people would be asking themselves why and what to make out of it. At the very least, they would think PAP is now capable to making such a simple mistake that is unnecessary and should not have happened at all.

What do you think? Were the 3 ministers of statement intentionally left out and if so, what could be the reason? If not, then is this ok, or is this slipshod acceptable?  What is the message?

Back to the issue of  a PM designate. Chok Tong may have his reasons why time is running out. Hsien Loong thinks he has all the time and even planned for his stepping down after the next GE. This is all good and pretty. Given his medical condition and the unpredictability of nature, would it be prudent to appoint a PM designate quick and fast or be prepared for a power struggle when there is a power vacuum due to an unfortunate event? Should things come to this state, the 4G PM hopefuls can kiss their chances goodbye as the two DPMs would then become the real contenders while they continue to muddle around not knowing who is the crown prince.

When Hsien Loong is still in charge, everyone would tow the line and accept the 4G scheme. When Hsien Loong is not in charge, everything goes and the strongest contenders would be the two DPMs. The boys would not stand a chance as they did not have anything good to show except being told that they are next in line for PM like a birth right, bypassing the DPMs. Their ground is weak and slippery.

Trump's Hypocrisy in Condemning Terrorism

It is only correct we must condemn terrorism. But Trump like all American or Western leaders condemnation of terrorism is couched with hypocrisy and self-righteousness.

There are two categories of terrorism in this world. The Islamic militant terrorists and the state organized terrorism of the USA government. The Islamic militant terrorists consist of Taliban, Alqaeda and ISIS and others . And don't forget Taliban, Alqaeda and ISIS are the brain child of America. They were organized, armed and supported and funded by USA government via the medium of CIA to instigate and foment wars , distabilities and disorder in places or countries where USA decides to carry out regime change, topple governments disagreeable to USA  or cast dissension among neighbouring states. Ultimately from among the choas USA will grab power, control and hegemony over the warring states.

But the Islamic terrorist actions are disorganized and mild compare with the USA state organized terrorism. The terrorist arms of the USA government are CIA and Pentagon and other disguised NGOs or Non Government Organizations and they make full use of the American air force, navy and army in carrying out terrorism in other countries. The American terrorist bombers can kill hundreds or thousands of innocent civilians and they call it collateral damage. Why don't the Americans condemn themselves of their wanton and brutal terrorism instead of pointing their fingers at others.

It is high time to condemn American terrorism and its monstrous terrorist arms the CIA and the Pentagon and bring their evil leaders to justice.

Southernglory1

Monday, 29th January,2018

When Trump meets Kim

Trump said on 6 Jan 18 that he would like to talk to Kim.

"I always believe in talking," Trump said at the Camp David presidential retreat when asked if he would speak to Kim by phone.

"Absolutely I would do that, no problem with that at all," Trump said, while making clear this did not mean he would do so without preconditions....

"I would love to see them take it beyond the Olympics," Trump said. "And at the appropriate time, we'll get involved."  channelnewsasia.com

Now what would Trump said to Kim? "Hi Rocket Man, I really like you."

And Kim would reply, "Yes Dotard, it is so nice to meet you in person."

Both then embraced each other like old pals and had a good laugh.  They knew that it was just all talks to needle each other, a kind of showmanship at the world stage but deep inside both really respect each other as man, as leaders of nations.

While the North and South Koreans are meeting and hopefully relations between the two would improve and tension reduce, what is this that Trump said the Americans would want to get involved? What has the meeting of two people, of the same country divided by a civil war got to do with the Americans? South Korea is not a state of the USA, or is it a colony and the Americans would have a say in their future and domestic affair?

Trump's statement has made it very clear that they own South Korea and would not allow the South Koreans to get too cosy and friendly with the North. The Americans are in charge and would want to keep the two Koreas divided forever. The Americans have no problems with the two Germany united but they would not allow the two Koreans to be one united people. When that thing happened, there is no more role or reason for the Americans to have bases in South Korea. The North Koreans would insist that a united Korea is an independent country and independent countries do not allow foreign military bases in their soil and to take control of their armed forces and to determine their foreign affairs.

Trump and Washington must be very worried though putting up a pretence that they don't mind the Koreans talking to each other and trying to resolve their differences. The Americans would take over the talk and put in more unreasonable terms to drive a bigger wedge between the two Koreas. That is for the benefit and interest of the American Empire and South Korea would forever be just a colony of the Empire. The Americans would want to have the final say.

The South Koreans should be glad that Kim Jong Un is able to stand up to the Americans and hold the key to their independence from the Evil Empire. But some South Koreans would not mind being a protectorate of the Americans like some Hongkies and Taiwanese. Their position is quite similar to the Bhutanese, a protectorate of India, a happy singing cage bird.

Australia day, what has it got to do with 1819?

Yesterday the white Australians celebrated Australia Day, the day the white Europeans invaded Australia and robbed the aborigines of their land and their culture. The white Australians are damn proud of this day. They would tell you about the brutal massacre of the aborigines when they invaded this land. While the original natives of Australia opposed this day as a day of joy and celebration, the recalcitrant PM Malcolm Turnbull refused to budge, claiming that ‘It’s a day that should unite us…I think Australia Day has become a great national celebration of everything that is magnificent and wonderful and unique about Australia. We should cherish it.’ Were genocide magnificent and wonderful? What about the robbing of the land from the natives? Such insensitive and arrogance of the white Australians were repeated by former PM Tony Abbott who said, ‘What happened on the 26th of January 1788 was on balance, for everyone, Aboriginal people included, a good thing.’ Quotes from an article by Jonathan Pearlman in the ST on 26 Jan 18.
 
To the aboriginal people of Australia, 26 Jan ‘is a day of mourning and protest’. To them it is a day that ‘marks the beginning of a destructive period with consequences lasting till this day.’ According to an indigenous leader, a Pastor Ray Minniecon, ‘It was a deliberate invasion of our people,…The massacres, the genocides of our peoples from this country and we’re still suffering form the aftermath of that brutal history.’
 
The celebration of Australia Day, similar to the Americans celebrating Thanks Giving Day or the day Columbus invaded America and did the same cruel things to the native Americans, would never be celebrated by the natives that were massacred and robbed of their land.
 
Singapore is going to celebrate the bicentennial of 1819 in less than a year. What does this date signify to the people of Singapore? Is it a day for celebration like what the white Australians are celebrating the Australia Day? Or is it a day to remember how the white colonialists came to Singapore and claimed it as theirs? Stamford Raffles proudly proclaimed that he had founded Singapore for the British Empire! Were there massacres of the natives when Raffles landed, or he just took the land as a part of the British Empire?
 
What would Singapore and Singaporeans be celebrating comes 2019? Some may be thankful to the British for their good life here today. Their poor immigrant forebears were given a chance to live here. But their forebears would not have to be so desperate if the European colonialists did not invade their home countries and looted everything, resulting in extreme poverty and forcing them to leave their mother land. For the few forebears that survived, many perished in their homeland, along the journey in rickety boats to reach Singapore, many died in oblivion while trying to work and to live as decent beans, all because of colonial conquest of their mother land, just like the natives of Australia and other conquered land.
 
It is important to know your history or you will be worshipping murderers, thieves and gangsters.