Hmm... maybe cheap labourers? U seem to mean that it comes naturally that NS means doing cheap labour? Shouldnt we be training in NS? We serve in NS not to work as cheap labourers. Get it clear.Originally posted by airgrinder:Some of you consider NS as cheap labour, doing stuff for NDP, etc. So may I ask who should the government get to do?
Singaporeans not doing NS? Nan, they're too choosy, look at the times now when the economy is bad, sporeans are still picking and choosing jobs.Yup, as the Govt mentioned, there are so many open positions in the shipyard - the Govt have done their part in creating job oppotunities, its just that the people are choosy. Yeah, RIGHT. Wait a minute - shipbuilding? Now... How many people knows about shipbuilding? Would a qualified/ experienced professional, who is NOT trained in this field, want to work in shipbuilding as a Junior shipbuilding mechanic? Most people would want to have a career relevant to what they study/ their experience. Who prefers to work in a job where u totally know nuts about?
Foreign workers, since they offered the cheapest rate? I would agree if all of the "NS cheap labour" thinkers here dun mind putting their money i.e. taxpayers money into foreign economy.Nahh.... Why should we pay foreigners for cheap labour? No lar. WE should be the ones doing the cheap labour. How about letting the foreigners take up professional positions in our own country? Come to think of it... they already did.
Is 2.5 years of NS too long? How about 1.5 years? 0.5 years? 5 years? Who has the authority to say that 2.5 years in NS is too long? Do you know what is the percentage of the population in NS compared to civilians? If there is an actual invasion by foreign countries, how many soldiers do u think we can mobilised? How many soldiers do think will be needed to fight back the attack wave in order not for the state to be over run?All of us know that only the Govt has the authority to decide on how long NS should be. Well, the Govt decides on everything here, and it's final. When did the people's views matter anyway? (eg. price hike).
In spore, you can be an officer in a short 10.5 months in OCS. Do u know how long it takes to to make an officer in the US? Do u know how long it takes for a Thai solder to be made a 2LT?And the point is???
The best defender of the state is a citizen with a physically and mentally fit body. The citizen is loyal to his country. In reallife, nobody would place their interests in another country if there are no gains. This is a fact from many instants in history, from how the Brits left us in WW2, how Genphis Khan got betrayed, etc etc.I could'nt agree with u more. We can always expect a loyal citizen to fight hard for his country. If the people keep feeling that they are being taken for granted, that their views make no difference in any decision made, how long do u think they will remain loyal?
To quote from a Chinese "Wan4 shi4 nan2 chio2 wan2 mei3" translated into "Hard to wish for perfection in everything" there is no perfection in everything. Even the best diamond has its faws. NS may be youth robbing, time wasting, but can singaporeans do without it? You dare to try?That's why we are saying that NS CAN be shorter - there shouldnt be any time wasting isnt it? Youth is precious, some people have better things to do than setting up NDP seats.
At least they are respected. Are our NS boys respected here? Hell no.....and wait people say that NS boys earn more...but what about the latest stats that women are earning more than their male counter part in the same age group? Sad isn't it. All these talk about NS males being appreciated is a fallacy.Originally posted by CenturionMBT:,but doesn't it beats bashing through the jungle in brunei?
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I rather bash through jungles any day. Beats time wasting activities like putting up seats and clearing rubbish. At least I learn the art of jungle warfare in this manner.
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In countries such as Thailand, soldiers are expected to do farming too.Arn't we better off then them in some ways?
Well, just my two cents worth.
Originally posted by mfscrewu:easy said that done. if you're the boss of DEF company. You have 2 interviewees for you to choose. Candidate A has 2 years of experience, extensive portfolio of his past works with previous company but with average academic grades. Candidate B has 0 years experience(industrial attachment not valid as experience), only few portfolio with attachment companies and some temporary assignments but with higher than average academic grades. Tell me honestly who will you choose and WHY??
Very well-said, metalgear. Those people who whine about NS are usually selfish people. In their mind, they only know something as "me, and only me". They do not know that to achieve great things, there is a need for self-sacrifice.
Define clearly what do you mean by great things? Mark out the position of the NDP or setting up seat in NDP?
To those who think that 2.5 yrs of NS is too long, tell me then what do you intend to do for those time if NS was indeed reduce? Get drunk and get laid in pubs? Don't tell me any crap about looking for a better job or studying. This is because look around you, most people at that age don't even need to worry about their family. All they know is that at that age, they want to have as much fun as possible. Do you think a male yuppie at that age give a shit about his family? More likely, he is thinking of using that money to buy some new gadgets for himself. If he is thinking of getting a good job and help the less fortunate, that's a different story.
This sort of thinking only applies to you. You really think that everybody aren't matured enough at that age like you? NS is extremely good for immature people like you.
In my opinion, 2.5 yrs of my overall lifespan in serving my country at one time is nothing at all. At that time, I am at my best physically and mentally so all the more I should go and serve. Yes, NDP is not a nice job, but why can't you look at it in a more optismistic way? Can you imagine the manpower, logistics planning? Don't look upon yourself as another small fry following orders. Look upon it as your chance to contribute to the making of celebrating Singapore Independence. So ask yourself, is contributing your 2.5 yrs in NS less important than having fun enjoying your "youth"? For those who answer yes, you are just another bunch of people who view Singapore Independence as less important than yourself and your own enjoyment.
wat fun is there in 'youth'? Once you've step out of school and enter the working life. All the fun ceases and the problems start coming in... we have more realistic things to worry about then setting up NDP seats.
As for job security, I concurred with Metalgear. In this world, no one owes you a living. So what if someone has a few more years of working experience than you? If you have the ability, then likewise promotion and pay increment will come your way. Don't be a green eyed monster whinning about foreigners taking your job. Prove to them that you can do it.
I agree.In fact LKY would have agreed with you.Many countries, such as Isreal and Switzerland conscript women.Why shouldn't we follow suit?Originally posted by chamenos:i don't hate NS. i just don't see why women should be exempted. we're essentially halving the effective size of the potential army we can muster up during conflict by half.
and not to mention feminists still bitch about the higher starting pay we get, saying its discriminating against them, but at the same time they refuse to serve NS.
hypocrites.
as for the increased serving time, if it pays more i'm ok with it, since i don't usually spend a lot on a day-to-day basis. in relation to the pay increase, i'd rather they conscript women as well, rather than give NSmen the pay increase.
exactly. i read his autobiography, and he said that he initially wanted to model singapore's military after israel's, and have everyone including women conscripted. however, due to singapore's poor economy at that time the idea was put off since it would cost too much.Originally posted by CenturionMBT:I agree.In fact LKY would have agreed with you.Many countries, such as Isreal and Switzerland conscript women.Why shouldn't we follow suit?
that's not really the point lahOriginally posted by GOOSEN:The army is f***tub as it is already, pls stop asking women to join in.