[redbean]

Indians are the best financial brains

Tharman is not only the Finance Minister, he is also Chairman of MAS. And he is also Chairman of IMF’s International Monetary and Financial Committee. The MD of MAS is also an Indian. The CEO of DBS is an Indian. The CEO of CitiBank and probably several American banks and financial institutions are also of Indian origins.

And the finance graduates of Indian Universities are in great demand both in the US and Singapore. The Indians have crafted a niche in the American finance industry, occupying many top and senior positions. Needless to say, many Indians are in the top echelons of the UN and IMF.

The Indians shall be very proud of their finance talents and their achievements, especially Tharman, who is widely tipped as the next minority PM of Singapore.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

To cry or not to cry?

We are a full fledged first world country, prosperous and well endowed with the best of everything. These cannot come about with half baked no brain citizens. They are called daft today, but nevermind. The fact is that we crowed of the best education system in the region, comparable to the best in the West. And parents invested heavily on their children, given them the best education money can buy.

Our children, many, went through the best childcare and kindergartens with facilities and education systems that the parents were willing to pay good money for. The same kids went through the best primary and secondary educations and tertiary educations with exceptionally good grades. Including the pre schools, most would have spent 20 years of good guidance in the education system.

Then what? They are not good enough when competing with the products of third world countries coming from less well equipped education system, lowly ranked relative to ours. Many have hard times applying for jobs and lost out to foreigners. And many top posts were given to foreigners because our local products were not good enough.

What is wrong? The gene pool has retarded? The education system is flawed despite the accolades? Or is it that a prophet has no place in his own home? Or really, the foreign products are much better than the daft locals?

Maybe it is all a myth. Our miraculous growth is a myth, our education system is a myth, the quality or ability of Singaporeans is a myth. What we are today is all the contributions of foreigners. We need more foreigners to replace the daft Singaporeans. All the tuitions and best kindergartens and best schools, and straight As are all myths, maybe fakes! I am referring to the straight As for Singaporeans. The straight As of foreign talents are real. In fact foreign talents with less than straight As are far better than locals with straight As, imported models.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

Citizen’s savings become Nation’s reserves

According to Ngiam Tong Dow’s article, the country’s reserves comprise CPF contributions, budget surpluses, revenue from land sales and dividends from GLCs. I would believe all the profits made by the ministries and stats boards would also be included in the reserves under surpluses.

Does it mean that the funds managed by the GIC and Temasek Holdings are not part of the reserves but funds managed by them from the govt? Technically that could be the case as it would lead to double entry and recognition.

What I am curious is the assigning of the people’s savings in the CPF as the country’s reserves. Aren’t this money the people’s money? The govt’s money is money it generated from its services, profits and surpluses. There cannot be any misunderstanding that the people’s savings is not the country’s money. It is a more acceptable general description that the country’s savings or wealth is the people’s money as the people is the ultimate owner of the country. Definitely the country cannot claim that the money the people saved belong to the country and become its reserves. If that be the case, it has an additional reason to boost up the savings in the CPF to inflate the reserves. Have all the lockup schemes got anything to do with this?

This distinction must be clearly defined or else it is easy for the administrator of the people’s saving to think that it is their money and they can do anything they want with the money. The often changes in the withdrawal date and amount to be withdrawn and what or how the people can use their savings are manifestations of a mindset that puts questions to the ownership of the people’s savings in the CPF.

The people cannot take it lying down that the govt can dictate how and what it wants to do with their savings, locking it up in all kinds of schemes. Should this be a time to redefine the people’s savings in the CPF as the people’s savings and not the nation’s reserves? As a reserves it is good to know and to see but cannot touch except by the govt. Does not seem very right is it? It is better to remove the people’s saving from the definition of reserves so that no one will harbour wild ideas about them.

Your money is my money, my money is my money.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

The most exclusive social club in Singapore

SICC, Singapore Island Country Club, must be the most exclusive club in the island. Among the members are the Who’s Who of Singapore. Anyone worth his salt will want to be a member of the Club and be seen there sipping tea. And membership is not cheap, at $220k current market price. There is a cheaper version of social membership that does not include golf for those who want to be there but not willing to pay for the hefty $220k.

It is reported in the ST that the Club had a big pow wow at last Friday’s EGM. It was the biggest turnout the Club ever had for an EGM, 700 attending and 300 viewing from the TV in the sideline. And the hot issues, upgrading of a golf course and to keep the club exclusive. The latter was pitted between two camps, one for more inclusiveness and to open the door a bit wider for more new members while the other half to keep it exclusive, to keep the door close.

The exclusive group won. The Club shall retain its exclusivity as the most elitist and high end Club in the island. In the earlier days the Club was more or less given to the elite at a token fee for the use of this choiced property. I think today they will have to pay a market rate to PUB for the continued occupancy of this prime land, and to use the exclusive name of SICC instead of PUBIC Club, an acronym for PUB Island Country Club.

It is good that the elitist members won the day and keep this rarity longer. Having such an elitist Club will be a good motivation for those who are striving to be recognized to work that bit harder to earn that $200k to cross the first hurdle. Subsequently, I am not sure what other procedures or regulations they will have to comply to be invited to be a member of the elite.

In any society, it is natural for a divide to be formed between the very successful and the losers. Trying to blend the two together, to be inclusive, is a defeated cause to begin with. It is like trying to make the MRT a gracious place to be in and expect people in suits and evening dresses to sit or stand side by side with the dirty overalls or sweaty singlets and slippers. Arrrrrrghhh….

Society must honour the ablest, let them have their own playground, let them enjoy their success and hardwork, let them be exclusive, as long as they can afford it, and not by seizing the use of public land and pay a token $1 for their exclusive entertainment and flattery. SICC shall keep the elitist flag flying high, as a testimony that it is not wrong to be rich and successful. Bravo SICC.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

Big man, small man

This concept of big man, small man(da ren, xiao ren) has a very long history in the Chinese culture. The rich and powerful were called da ren while the poor and weak were called xiao ren. This was rooted for centuries that it became part of the culture and character of the Chinese people. And the poor and weak submissively referred to themselves, very naturally, as xiao ren when speaking to the da ren. In the palace or among officials, they went one step further by referring to the servants and those of lower ranks as nou cai or slave servants.

By accepting and acknowledging such demeaning terms, the weak and poor were psychologically defeated and accepted their stations in life as people with lesser or no rights vis a vis the rich and powerful. This kind of mentality seems to be so deeply engraved in the bones of some Chinese people, even those in modern Singapore, despite receiving western education that preaches equality and democratic rights of every citizen. There are still Singaporeans who believed and willing to accept that they are less equal than the rich and powerful, that they are the xiao ren in life.

The Indian Singaporeans could be bettered off here after breaking away from their caste system when some are da ren or bigger da ren and some xiao ren or smaller xiao ren in a similar sense. Just by their names they could tell where and what cast the person is. With the influx of the higher castes and richer India Indians as new citizens or PRs, some of the caste system and antics are starting to seep into our society. The lower castes would be shunned naturally. But a Samuel Jacob or a Peter Vincent will keep the new Indian citizens puzzled. Where did they come from, some Tuans from Britain. It is quite an ingenious way to discard and break away from the stigma of lower castes by the adoption of a western name. Now all is equal in some ways.

I am not too informed of the Malay Singaporeans and their perception of their position in society vis a vis the royalties. Fortunately we don’t have royalties here and all is equal.

How relevant is this da ren and xiao ren mentality to modern day Chinese Singaporeans? Ingrained deeply in their bones, and in their blood, the xiao ren are full of humility and self deprecating behavior. They still cannot understand nor accept what democracy and the rights of citizens mean to them. They cannot see themselves as equals even to those elected as their representatives in govt. They still look up to them as the da ren, to listen to, to obey and to do what they are being told. No questioning of their authority or bad decisions that were detrimental to their xiao ren interests. Just accept the position and status of xiao ren and remain, and live life as the unthinking and obeying xiao ren. And the da ren will insist that the xiao ren know their place when talking to them.

I was rebuked for addressing our da ren by names in all my articles, in TRE. In the minds of the xiao ren, this is no big no small, not knowing our position in society. Talking or addressing da ren, one must show respect and humility. How can xiao ren refer to a da ren by name. Very unbecoming, very unacceptable. Obviously that xiao ren has never worked in a MNC before.

From the chat sites, it is often repeated by the bloggers that the xiao ren must plead with the govt to have mercy on them, to change policies to be nicer to them. Their gripes are mostly about obscene housing prices, foreign talents taking away good jobs and unable to take out all their CPF savings. And they could only think of pleading with the govt to be kinder to them, to make housing prices not so expensive, to take in lesser foreign talents, to let them have a bit more of their CPF savings.

In their xiao ren psychic, they never know that they can vote out all the da ren that does not serve their interests and vote in a govt that will work for them. They even fear the govt will come down hard on them like the old days of imperial China. They forgot that their CPF savings are their money. So they choose to plead with the govt like xiao ren pleading to da ren.

The precedents set by the Hougang and Aljunied voters did not seem to wake up the xiao ren mentality. They are still locked or trapped in being xiao ren for good. No amount of education, enlightening of their rights to be equal to every citizen will shake them out of their mental prison. Hey, the ministers that were voted out are now ordinary citizens like you and me.

The surprising change is that the China Chinese have actually discarded this ancient entrapment and are freer as a people. They will protest and fight for their rights as an equal, the rights that every citizen has. There will still be oppression, but they are fighting. They no longer fear authority. The have been liberated from the yoke of the past embedded into their DNA as xiao ren. They no longer called themselves xiao ren anymore. They will demand for their rights as citizens of their country.

The xiao ren of Singapore should learn from the unrefined China men and women on what it is like to be treated equally among all citizens. No doubt there are still many da ren in China that are still corrupt to the core in power politics. But things are improving with many been caught and hanged. The table is turning, and time to learn from the students.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

For the love of money or justice

This is an era extremely starved of ideals (骨感), but precisely because of this, our ideals can take flight.

In such an era, what expectations and aspirations do I have for you? I know that a professor from Beijing Normal University once told his students, “If you don’t get 40,000,000 dollars within 10 years after graduation, don’t come and look for me.”

I won’t say the same thing to our graduates.

I don’t hope that you people become prominent elites. I will only say that 10 years from now, if any of you dare to plot against the good and the loyal, I will refuse to let you step across my door, I will refuse to acknowledge you.

You don’t have to be Bao Gong (a historical figure from the Northern Song Dynasty known for his sense of justice), but you cannot frame the innocent and get the loyal and the good into trouble. This is the most basic and minimum baseline to follow and live by.

The above is an extract of a graduation speech by Professor He Bin of China University of Political Science and Law that went viral. Professor He is the Vice Dean and Department Head.

His speech is a dig at the money driven motives of modern Chinese and the widespread ills of corruption and injustice in the Chinese society, where the elite have no qualms to do the innocents in, for their own selfish agenda.

It is a plea and a revelation of how sick a society can be when the elite themselves are sick and abusing the trust and power of their office.

PS: I copied the quotation from an article in The Kent Ridge Common.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

Putting our oldies away in a foreign land

I read Andrew Loh’s articles on the number of senior Singaporeans having to make do with nursing homes across the causeway. It was much cheaper and more caring staff, but a resting in a place so far from loved ones, so far from everything that is familiar.

In Singapore, the cost of nursing home has rocketed from slightly over a $1k to $2k or even more over the last few years. The oldies have little practical values and no economic value at all. It may be a little different if we can house them in a $200m state of the art building for them to narrate their stories as living history to the young and paying visitors. They all have a story to tell, a rich past that connects the present from what it used to be.

What we need is a living museum of sort, well equipped with the best sound and visual systems to share the contributions of the oldies. I think they have more value and should be better care for than some bones from Wyoming and needing a $300m building plus $12m public donations to acquire.

The old are living assets, if we care to look at them from a proper angle. They can be turned into money generating specimens too if money if the only reason for their existence. But maybe they would attract the oohs and the aahs and the whoas. Maybe JB is where they should be.

PS. The strays are much better taken care of.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

The new meritocracy

Regardless of race, language or religion, regardless of one’s background, worker or RMS, everyone who is good can aspire to be the best he can be in paradise. Through education, everyone can change his station in life and rise to the top of his profession or calling.

For several decades, many Singaporeans have lived their dreams, many become successful and living well. Singapore is a land of opportunities. If one is good, one can do well. There are no serious false ceilings to talk about, except one or two.

The country is run on meritocracy. No favouritism. This meritocracy has taken on a new meaning, regardless of nationalities. We welcome foreign talents and they can find their dreams here based on meritocracy. Membership has its privileges but meritocracy is paramount. Citizens that are no good will be discarded based on merits.

The new National Day Pledge may need a little modifications like the Gaga Song. We the people of Singapore, regardless of race, language, religion or nationalities….The National Day Message must be one where we acknowledge that we welcome foreign talents based on meritocracy. Maybe they can become political leaders and run for PM and the Elected Presidency as well.

One more thing, all the restrictions against foreign talents owning or buying properties must be removed. We cannot discriminate against our foreign talents. And so are all the unjust policies where foreigners should pay more for this or that. Let this be a truly meritocratic country where talents are welcomed from across the world, to help the daft Singaporeans and to give them a lift to better life.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

Taking the people for granted
This kind of attitude must come to an end sooner or later. Though the trend is changing, that the govt had admitted that they did not have the monopoly of ideas, the other truth is saying otherwise. The political leaders are still shafting their ideas and policies down the throat of the people. They are still saying that one party govt, or the ruling party, is the only party that can run this country for the good of the people, forever. Opposition parties, multi parties, will ruin this country.
They cannot accept that there are better educated and talented people outside the ruling party and in the opposition parties. What is seen is only the surface. There are many able people that will come out when the time is right, to represent the people to run this country for the people.
The cries of over population by foreigners are simply ignored. We will think what is best for the people, and we will do it, like deaf frogs. This has not changed. More foreigners will be coming. So what can you do about it?
The policies of paying political leaders crazy will not be changed. The policies of making the people pay dearly for their homes, cars, transportation, will not be changed. There is no other better ways.
The policies of holding on to the people’s savings, increasing minimum sum, increasing Medisave, raising withdrawal age, increasing CPFLife, will be there no matter how much the people are complaining. There is no regard to how the people feel about their money being kept away from them. The govt think that it should be done, it is done.
And the political leaders will keep calling the people daft. Only the political leaders are bright and know best for the people. And the people, the daft Singaporeans, cannot do anything about it. They will continue to be daft and continue to vote the ruling party to rule over them, to decide everything for them, in their version of ‘for the good of the people’.
This will go on and on, as long as the people accept their station in life, to be taken for granted, as daft.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

Changing trends in political persecution
JB Jeyaratnam, Tang Lian Hong, Chee Soon Juan, James Gomez are familiar names in the local political scene. They have many things in common, from being in the wrong camp, persecuted in the courts of law, for personal or political digressions etc etc. All were victims in the game of Predators and Preys. Three were bankrupts except for Gomez.
Their persecutors were tenacious, never letting go after the first bite. And they were on the run, desperately trying to fend off every attack but in vain. Once the process of the Predators and Preys game started, there was no where to hide, only how badly would they be mauled.
The last of such preys was Andrew Kuan, though he did not suffered as much, but the process was quite similar. It was like a pack of hyenas appearing from all corners in the the pursuit of their lonely victim. He was rudely dismissed and his aspiration to be a candidate for the Elected Presidency came to naught.
This game seems to have taken a different character after the last GE. On the wrong side were Tin Pei Ling, Foo Mei Har and Puthuchery. Could have been more but when the preys went into hiding the pursuit ended. The tenacity of the predators was not of the same degree and zeal. Not until the latest attack on President hopeful Tony Tan.
Tony Tan became the newest prey in the game. The attackers were different, not from any political party, but the anonymous masses in cyberspace. And the battle zone too is not the main media but the new media. The attacks came fast and furious, appearing to be concerted but not, more like spontaneous. There is no chance that Tony will end up in the courts of law, but he will face a different kind of justice that will not see him becoming a bankrupt.
Tony will appear in the people’s court of justice. It is the people, or some of the people, that are putting Tony on trial. It is not a personal vendetta or a feud. They have accused him of favouritism or abuse of authority in granting special exemptions for his son in National Service. Would this be proven or would Tony be found guilty by the people’s court? For the time being, they have screamed guilty.
Tony and his son have been defending furiously against the accusations. Both the media, new and old, were giving him space to present his case. The Ministry of Defence too issued statements to support his defence.
The interesting part will be the findings and judgement. In the people’s court, there will be no official findings or an official pronouncement. The rights and wrongs will be formed in the hearts and minds of the people. There will be just as many who will think he is guilty as those who will think he is not. One thing for sure, Tony will not be made a bankrupt and neither can the predators make any unreasonable claims of compensation from him.
The glaring difference of this game of Predators and Preys is that the victim now comes from the ‘right’ side as oppose to the ‘wrong’ side as in the past. No one will ever imagine that the elite could be put on trial and have to defend themselves to clear their names. They need not have to as it is not really a court of law. It is a kind of common law, a kind of natural justice, a prick on the conscience. The victim can totally ignore the persecution and dismiss the whole case without answering, and remain silence. The sore point is that keeping silence is no longer an option.
The rules of game have changed. The Predators and Preys have also changed. The political climate is set to be changed.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

The changing ethos of govt officers

The story of a permanent secretary driving around in his old 1.6 Japanese jalopy was legendary. Those were the days of thrift and leading by example. I remember a govt link company CEO was only comfortable with a 2000cc Mercedes Benz. Anything above was seen as flaunting and undesirable. A GM actually got a bollocking when he ordered a 3 litre limousine. That was seen as unbecoming. Thrift and propriety were important values to observe.

The ethos today is quite different. Not only is a 3 litre limousine common, some even flashed around in Lamborghinis and Ferraris. These are things that were frown upon in the good old days. I am not complaining as we have climbed the ladder of economic prosperity and what is a 3 litre car? It is time to enjoy our hard work and our success. Who would dare to announce a $50k cooking class in Paris then?

The ethos of new is to be who you really are. We need to announce that we have arrived. Perhaps it is also a dignity issue. In those days, a permanent secretary’s title is enough dignity to carry a long way. There is no need to show the pay slip and the number of zeros behind. Respect was more easily achieved and earned, and was real. Today, you need to be a billionaire to be respectable, or at least earn a million a year. Just flash it in the face of whoever and there will be instant recognition.

The ethos of the day is always set by the leaders. Monkeys see, monkeys do. Good example and exemplary behaviour at the top will be carried downwards. When the top is senget, you bet the bottom will be too.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

Great Britain and London on Fire
The looting and burning in London has England up in flame. Starting at Tottenham, it spread to more than 15 areas in London and now Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol. The causes, some highlighted the big income divide between the haves and the have nots, some seemed to be getting things for free, and the lost of jobs.
This is almost unheard of in the developed world. Riotings, lootings, breakdown of law and order are associated with third world countries. The events in the Middle East are different as they are politically motivated with foreign forces in play. The events in England are mainly social and economic. The inequalities in society will lead to tension and stress. Don’t pooh pooh away big income gaps as part and parcel of rapid economic progress. It only needs a little spark to tear down everything. Economic inequalities cannot be taken for granted as a necessary evil. They must be addressed when times are good.
For those who are enjoying the richness of their good fortune, they are numbed by their wealth and would not care a dime about what happens in the poorer neighbourhood. To them, it is all due to their cleverness and good fortune to be living in luxury. The poor are in a state due to their own laziness and dullness and ought to be blamed. Can’t be helped.
Let’s pray that the lawlessness in UK will not spread like the Arab Spring to other parts of the world.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

The silent revolution
Spring is here. I can smell it. No it is not the Arab Spring. This Spring is uniquely Singapore, totally silent. Not a sound. No street demonstrations or looting. No gun shots, no Molotov cocktails, no IED, no suicide squads. The streets are completely peaceful and life goes on as normal.
The battle has begun. The battle for Singapore, where Singaporeans are determined to reclaim their island, their rights, their money, their freedom and dignity, has started. The hit squads are there, the snipers, commandos, the infiltrators, the moles, the sleepers, the provocateurs, the squirrels, all are working furiously to gain more grounds.
The establishment is under attacked. Anyone associated with the establishment will not be spared. The presidential hopefuls could swear to it. All the past has been dug out for display, the wrongs, the ill conceived agenda, indiscretion, transgression, the self serving logics, will be retold by those in the know. Many victims wanted to tell their stories, they wanted justice and a reparation for their wrongful detention. They are fearless and standing up crying for justice. Nothing is going to frighten people who have been locked up for many years and in their twilight years.
The establishment is under attacked in all fronts. The latest, the People’s Association and the HDB, proclaimed to be non partisan, non political, are being hung up for a beating. Anyone from the establishment that talked foolishly will become instant targets.
Some from the establishments have crossed over. More will do so. Would those who have compromised themselves while with the establishment also waiting to cross over, to bear witness with their testimonies of their misguided acts?
The revolution is on going, in all fronts, in the silent world of cyberspace. The weapons are as harmless as a note book, laptop, an iphone or an ipad. The insurgents are taking each other out at every battle site. Some were direct and vicious, some were more discreet, some were smoking and you can’t tell which side they are from.
This is a battle without bullets and bloodshed. It is a battle for the truth, for the hearts and minds of the people. Truth shall prevail and triumph with its believers. The playing field is much level and the combatants are equally committed to wage this war.
This is a silent revolution, a soundless revolution, but just as vigorous and exacting on the wills of the soldiers. Who will emerge the victor in this new warfare of netizens?
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

The storm over Sun Yat Sen
There are two camps taking sides for and against the Sun Yat Sen Museum. Those in favour could see the relevance of this revolutionary and his brief sojourn in the island. It was a time in our history when most of the residents were non citizens but migrants here only to earn a living and would probably return to their motherland. The Chinese were Chinese from China, Indians were Indians from India. The colonial masters would not grant them citizenship so easily as they owned the island. They would not be so silly to give citizenship to foreigners. They could come and work, but no citizenship. Citizenship is a valuable status and not to be given away freely. Only govt that do not think citizenship is of any great significance will give away citizenship freely. They did not understand that such an act is like giving the country away, to the new citizens.
The history of Sun Yat Sen tells us that citizenship is important and should not be treated foolishly as an economic good. The Chinese and Indians of those days fought for their countries because they were citizens of those countries. They identified and belonged to their motherland.
History has since taken a turn and many are now citizens of this island and no longer think of China and India as their motherland. Maybe we are revisiting this old phenomenon with new citizens thinking like the old Chinese and old Indians, and are still attached to their motherland. It would take several generations to change this mindset.
For those who were against the museum, they are also the descendants of the past, who now think that the past, especially foreigners, should not have too much of a place in our history. They forget that many of those in Bukit Brown were non citizens, some even with official titles from their motherland. Then again, they should deserve some honour and recognition. We have a very short history and very few heroes and fables. We need to create more. We can’t just live on Hang Tuah alone. We need more histories of our past, more folk heroes to tell their stories to our young. Our past, our predecessors, should form part of our rich heritage. Maybe they were not in too eminent a position to be recognised. They could be the forefathers of our Kennedy’s and our Carnegies, our Tans and our Lees.
If Indonesians can feel proud of Obama just because he was there as a child, now a President of the US, there is no reason why we should treat the presence of Sun Yat Sen with lesser importance. He was here not as a nobody child but then already a revolutionary leader. Histories are made of these. Every little bits to form the tapestry of our history. We need to treasure our history, our past.
Without our past, we will all be silly Singaporeans, without roots, like duck weeds floating in the sea, thinking everything and everyone was great except our own kind and our own history.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.

[redbean]

The affordability plea
A stay at home mum, Cheryl Lee, wrote to the ST forum pleading to the govt to make housing more affordable. She is a graduate, a professional but is being forced to stay at home to look after children and work part time. She lamented the days when as a fresh graduate her starting salary was only $800. Though the salary of graduates has quadrupled, housing prices have gone up by at least 10 times. A 5 rm flat then was $35k but $450k today. Are we really better off?
To her this is not affordable. To the govt it is, very affordable. It depends on what is meant by affordable. We know, it shifted from one income and a 15 year mortgage to two incomes and 30 years of mortgage. Funny, why is this kind of arithmetic seen as being clever and even brilliant? And people in high places can tell the people straight in their faces that they are not lying, that it is affordable!
And this Cheryl Lee is making a plea, to make housing affordable in terms of one income so that mother can stay home and look after their precious children, and not leave them at the mercy of strangers that may be deranged or have very poor childcare skills, or even bad attitude or values.
The children are the most valuable gift of life, the blessings that no amount of money can trade for. (Bullshit. What children, only softies and losers are sentimental about children). But this gift of life is being neglected, put at risk, because of our enslavement to money and material goods. We are willing to sacrifice the bringing up of our children, good parental care and bonding, for money. Actually no. It is the first world and most envious social economic system that we have created, minus happiness and human warmth, that we believe is the best for us. This is the best system in the world, all glitters, all money and nothing else. This is what life and living is all about.
The plea by this stay at home mum that values her time and relationship with her children will go to the wilderness. She will be very lucky if they did not extend the mortgage to two generations or four incomes to service. To return to the days of one income and 15 years is a never, even if it is a one income for 30 years. That is our meaning of progress and world class standard of living. And it is good.
Did we compromise anything that is really valuable to life and living? No, money is everything. Material well being is everything. Children and their welfare are only lip service. Don’t believe in them. If we don’t have more head counts, we can buy them, import them, to feed our labour force. That is what children are meant for.
And the parents should continue to be in the workforce, to raise the GDP. That is the only thing that counts. And be prepared to work till one drops dead. That is our meaning of a well lived life, minus the irritating stuff of bringing up children. Keeping pets could be better option. But no, we still need children for our workforce.
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what i posted is just my personal view. feel free to disagree.