the PAP government
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very very good point calvin.Originally posted by Calvin86:Is First Hand experience always necessary to make good conclusions?
3-4 years back, i was arguing with a friend that the Govt is sending agents on the internet. My friend challenge for facts and asked me not to speculate.
My reply was, one did not need first hand experience to make reasonable conclusion.
My premise was that the Govt has an obsession over the control of existing media. (which was a fact).Since Internet is a form of media, logically,wouldnt the govt would attempt to control it, or least contain it?
I guess in dealing with people who persistently questions for first hand facts is to make a more general statement. For example, instead of saying "The govt does not listen to its citizens when making decisions",a statement with wider scope such as "The govt does not listen to its citizens most of the time when making decisions" would be more defensible than the former.
Looking at the statements by LKY
“I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn’t be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters - who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think.”
and also the way they handle ministerial pay hike, its logical and reasonable to deduce that the govt does not listen to its people most of the time.
In Singapore, its always like that, secrets are 'open' (ie everyone can see what is going on), but yet, PAP is good at making all legal aspects of the secret invisible, such that though we know its there, we cannot say it openly, unless we want to be sued or jailed.
For people like Gazelle or oxford mushroom, who demand proof and statistics (even stats can be fabricated) for EVERY single thing, of coz its hard to obtain proof and statistics since every thing's well controlled.
But, as I spoke to some of the forumers here, in Singapore, you can train your intelligence by seeing beyond what you see, not with your eyes, but with your heart.
Then, you will realize that, beneath that calm surface, there are a lot of potential problems that are kept away from the public eye
For those who don't understand, I suggest watching V for Vendetta or even the Matrix
For those who don't want to understand, I just feel its a very sad case (like the traitor in The Matrix) -
Perhaps this idiot chap could go and do us a favour and bring us evidence instead of dancing around doing some rain dance over the perceived insult to his political masters.Originally posted by zix1:The facts and info we have are from the local media which are controlled by the govt so I really don't understand why that chap with ID called "daddy" keeps insisting we verify these. When people read these facts and info, we have our freedom to express our opinions, concerns and comments, so what is there to be verified. Think this fellow is just attempting to change our mindset about the way we look at the "pay and pay".
I simply can't stand people who wear a slave's shackles and instead sell his brains off to the karung guni man. Fools who want to wear shackles should by all means wear them, but don't ask others to wear them just because they were too afraid to now take them off! -
no worries, let's just wait for his response to the people here. if he still insists his way, no matter what I believe I will not do as he says. There is really no sense in what he insists, really!!Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Perhaps this idiot chap could go and do us a favour and bring us evidence instead of dancing around doing some rain dance over the perceived insult to his political masters.
I simply can't stand people who wear a slave's shackles and instead sell his brains off to the karung guni man. Fools who want to wear shackles should by all means wear them, but don't ask others to wear them just because they were too afraid to now take them off! -
The Internet is not a plaything for the government to dick around with.
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I remembered an emeritus professor from NTU was rebuked by the govt for making false allegation on the percentage of jobs going to foreigners when the govt is hiding the real data from the public. There is also little means to get the official data unless you can find a civil servant willing to violate official secrets act and get arrested by ISA.Originally posted by soul_rage:In Singapore, its always like that, secrets are 'open' (ie everyone can see what is going on), but yet, PAP is good at making all legal aspects of the secret invisible, such that though we know its there, we cannot say it openly, unless we want to be sued or jailed.
With the control of both the media and vital data, the govt can appear to be always right. if you question them, they would ask for the "facts"which they control of course! -
Fellow Singaporeans, neither am i a fan of certain policies that affect the livelihood of us as costs continue to rise, it is my humble opinion that we should not always seek to justify things as right or wrong! In retrospect, many of the unpopular decisions that have been made in the past have all reaped fruit!
We are not were we are today through the need for the government to continually make popular decisions. Do i feel that more can be done by the government, my answer is a resounding Yes. But have we been grateful for what we have today? In the Budget speech, though many points and criticisms have been made and do carry a certain level of weight, we cannot deny that it is all for the better of many industries! Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
It truly is our freedom and right to express our opinions and the government should not stop us. At the same time it will never hurt to get behind and support the ones who seek to ultimately enrich the lives of the people. -
let us know what have we not been grateful? Well the govt "enrich" the lives of the people by giving themselves super high increment, keep raising the cost of living, constant increase of many stuff. Please let us know why should people, the taxpayers, seek not to justify things as right or wrong? In other words, you expect people to follow and support the govt blindly and allow them to do whatever that please them at the expense of the local taxpayers and citizens of singapore? Please do not deprive the freedom and right of the people to voice out.Originally posted by sWaiZZy:Fellow Singaporeans, neither am i a fan of certain policies that affect the livelihood of us as costs continue to rise, it is my humble opinion that we should not always seek to justify things as right or wrong! In retrospect, many of the unpopular decisions that have been made in the past have all reaped fruit!
We are not were we are today through the need for the government to continually make popular decisions. Do i feel that more can be done by the government, my answer is a resounding Yes. But have we been grateful for what we have today? In the Budget speech, though many points and criticisms have been made and do carry a certain level of weight, we cannot deny that it is all for the better of many industries! Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
It truly is our freedom and right to express our opinions and the government should not stop us. At the same time it will never hurt to get behind and support the ones who seek to ultimately enrich the lives of the people. -
for the better?Originally posted by sWaiZZy:Fellow Singaporeans, neither am i a fan of certain policies that affect the livelihood of us as costs continue to rise, it is my humble opinion that we should not always seek to justify things as right or wrong! In retrospect, many of the unpopular decisions that have been made in the past have all reaped fruit!
We are not were we are today through the need for the government to continually make popular decisions. Do i feel that more can be done by the government, my answer is a resounding Yes. But have we been grateful for what we have today? In the Budget speech, though many points and criticisms have been made and do carry a certain level of weight, we cannot deny that it is all for the better of many industries! Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
It truly is our freedom and right to express our opinions and the government should not stop us. At the same time it will never hurt to get behind and support the ones who seek to ultimately enrich the lives of the people.
Is a pay hike for the better of many industries? Do you even know that in the private industries, many are upset with the way the govt positioned themselves this time round with regards to pay hike?
In short, us in private industries feel they DO NOT have the right to compare themselves with the private sector since theirs is an iron rice bowl, while the private sector fights with intense competition.
Healthcare rated as one of the best? Maybe you should do proper studies before coming to that conclusion.
Enrich the lives of the people? Are you telling me that the pay hike is to enrich the lives of the people.
To date, I hear many pro-supporters talking talking talking, but they have not been able to provide adequate justifications to the pay hike.
Don't forget, in the private sector, each of us is judged by a KPIs before deciding how much pay hike we will get. Since they enjoy comparing with the private sectors, then they should justify if they met or exceeded their KPIs -
agreeOriginally posted by zix1:let us know what have we not been grateful? Well the govt "enrich" the lives of the people by giving themselves super high increment, keep raising the cost of living, constant increase of many stuff. Please let us know why should people, the taxpayers, seek not to justify things as right or wrong? In other words, you expect people to follow and support the govt blindly and allow them to do whatever that please them at the expense of the local taxpayers and citizens of singapore? Please do not deprive the freedom and right of the people to voice out.
another guy that goes to buy a sofa without checking if the sofa is worth the price he should pay.
Another guy that is willing to buy the digital camera at $3,000 at Sim Lim Tower, when the same (or a BETTER) digital camera can be found for $1,000 or less somewhere else (paying politicians > 3x more than the most powerful country's politicians) -
Why is it with Singaporeans and the damn need to be grateful for everything? Is it some Chinese culture thing? If so, I will be damned if people still stick with some old notion of gratefulness, which includes bootlicking.Originally posted by sWaiZZy:Fellow Singaporeans, neither am i a fan of certain policies that affect the livelihood of us as costs continue to rise, it is my humble opinion that we should not always seek to justify things as right or wrong! In retrospect, many of the unpopular decisions that have been made in the past have all reaped fruit!
We are not were we are today through the need for the government to continually make popular decisions. Do i feel that more can be done by the government, my answer is a resounding Yes. But have we been grateful for what we have today? In the Budget speech, though many points and criticisms have been made and do carry a certain level of weight, we cannot deny that it is all for the better of many industries! Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
It truly is our freedom and right to express our opinions and the government should not stop us. At the same time it will never hurt to get behind and support the ones who seek to ultimately enrich the lives of the people. -
Haha....on the contrary, had the decisions been popular, could have reaped even more fruits until the storehouses overflow.Originally posted by sWaiZZy:Fellow Singaporeans, neither am i a fan of certain policies that affect the livelihood of us as costs continue to rise, it is my humble opinion that we should not always seek to justify things as right or wrong! In retrospect, many of the unpopular decisions that have been made in the past have all reaped fruit!
We are not were we are today through the need for the government to continually make popular decisions. Do i feel that more can be done by the government, my answer is a resounding Yes. But have we been grateful for what we have today? In the Budget speech, though many points and criticisms have been made and do carry a certain level of weight, we cannot deny that it is all for the better of many industries! Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
It truly is our freedom and right to express our opinions and the government should not stop us. At the same time it will never hurt to get behind and support the ones who seek to ultimately enrich the lives of the people. -
strange, these couple of days we have that person with ID "daddy" and this new one called sWaiZZy here to in their own ways discourage or stop us from voicing out. I am curious to know if these two are related to the MIW.Originally posted by soul_rage:agree
another guy that goes to buy a sofa without checking if the sofa is worth the price he should pay.
Another guy that is willing to buy the digital camera at $3,000 at Sim Lim Tower, when the same (or a BETTER) digital camera can be found for $1,000 or less somewhere else (paying politicians > 3x more than the most powerful country's politicians) -
MIW counterinsurgency anyone?Originally posted by zix1:strange, these couple of days we have that person with ID "daddy" and this new one called sWaiZZy here to in their own ways discourage or stop us from voicing out. I am curious to know if these two are related to the MIW.
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Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:MIW counterinsurgency anyone? Their usage of the term "counter-insurgency" is a joke in itself
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Oh yes, I'm sure being terminally ill and decimating at a paid public healthcare institution here in your final days struggling to cope with the bills must be a luxury...Originally posted by sWaiZZy:Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
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Very interesting.
The "Daddy!!" guy has not provided us his opinions (imaginations) on the issues we raised.
The other poster on how we should be grateful blah blah is also in hiding.
I am really curious as to who the above people are...
but then again, sgforums is so well known, I wouldn't be surprised they are really sent in from PAP. -
Being grateful is indeed part of Chinese culture, old? of course, Chinese have been around for 5000 years.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Why is it with Singaporeans and the damn need to be grateful for everything? Is it some Chinese culture thing? If so, I will be damned if people still stick with some old notion of gratefulness, which includes bootlicking.
Don't mix up culture with politics, gratefulness is not bootlicking! Gratefulness means you show appreciation for the good deeds done to you. You bootlick because you want something good in return. See the diff?
You don't need to be grateful for everything. The Chinese says:"yin shui si yuan", when you drink water, remember where it comes from. If you don't drink the water, but also wonder where the water comes from, then your room is leaking.
What does your culture tell you about gratefulness? -
Ah, but these people are sooo grateful they would even lick the boots of their political masters. That's their idea of "appreciation".Originally posted by sgdiehard:Being grateful is indeed part of Chinese culture, old? of course, Chinese have been around for 5000 years.
Don't mix up culture with politics, gratefulness is not bootlicking! Gratefulness means you show appreciation for the good deeds done to you. You bootlick because you want something good in return. See the diff?
You don't need to be grateful for everything. The Chinese says:"yin shui si yuan", when you drink water, remember where it comes from. If you don't drink the water, but also wonder where the water comes from, then your room is leaking.
What does your culture tell you about gratefulness?
Sometimes, people simply have no brain. -
With the colonial government gone, there are no political masters as such. There are people who are indeed grateful for the past. Why can't they just say it to show appreciation? Why say they are licking the boots?Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Ah, but these people are sooo grateful they would even lick the boots of their political masters. That's their idea of "appreciation".
Sometimes, people simply have no brain.
Some people are happy with a roof over their heads, some people must have landed house with cars. They need brains, but also ability or capability. Trying to achieve beyond their ability is no brain. -
Originally posted by sWaiZZy:
Healthcare is still rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!
healthcare is till rated as one of or if not the best in the region and even the world!Originally posted by walesa:Oh yes, I'm sure being terminally ill and decimating at a paid public healthcare institution here in your final days struggling to cope with the bills must be a luxury...
REally? go look at the no of complaints on the way they treat patients and their service to patients and their families in the public hospitals. There are so many many complaints about the doctors and the service of the public hospitals. A friend who works in the govt hospital is in the dept dealing with complaints said the number of complaints is increasing. Increase the costs but still no improvement! -
ha, just a guess - could be the ministers themselves who came here to blah blah blah!!!Originally posted by soul_rage:Very interesting.
The "Daddy!!" guy has not provided us his opinions (imaginations) on the issues we raised.
The other poster on how we should be grateful blah blah is also in hiding.
I am really curious as to who the above people are...
but then again, sgforums is so well known, I wouldn't be surprised they are really sent in from PAP. -
All i wrote is to suggest that one should try his best to seek the truth before concluding, not only in politics. Likewise, one who objects to this suggestion, would suggest himself otherwise. Are you lying beyond your conscience?
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There are many different comments about singapore's government in this public forum. some are stating facts, some are somewhat hoping to see singapore disappear for unknown reasons, some are supporters of pap, wp, sdp etc, some are in for fun, some are genuinely concerned, some are scared of future.
i would like to say that everyone wants "face" and that include PAP mps and ministers. so probably the correct approach is to collect whatever facts presented by some knowledgeable but anti-pap forumers here and then present/discuss in private with the ministers directly. this is not impossible.
i met one minister at an old coffeeshop (80 cents per cup of coffee that type) near where i stay. he was there with his family for breakfast. We smiled at each other. All it took was one additional step from me to start a conversation and a feedback. I admit i did not take the additional step because i was with my family too and i was not ready to engage in any political discussions.
if having a coffee talk sounds difficult, one could join the PAP and feedback through the proper channels or even directly to the PM office and attempt to change things for the better.
remember it is attitude. if someone says something you dont like to hear, first decide whether he is factual or just anyhow whack, then analyse whether you agree. if you agree and feel that singapore should improve in some manner, and you are willing to step out, i think the proper way is try talking to the ministers or MPs directly first. They are humans with family too.
i have several encounters with people who are good with words. They can talk black to white and then white to black just to push their cases. Most interestingly, they use facts to support their arguments.
From this experience, I make it one of my life's lessons that however convincing the arguments and facts, I must verify it MYSELF before believing in it.
By watching the government does or implements is insufficient to draw a single conclusion.
because the govt make public policies, there are official statements or reasons to support them, just like in private sector. normally there are other factors at work which would not be discussed openly. let me give you an example.
US invaded Iraq unilaterally with a few coalition countries against the wishes the majority of the united nations and security council. The official statements were weapons of mass destruction and spreading democracy in middle east through Iraq. Do the rest of the world really believe in the official statements? are official statements always telling the whole truth?
likewise, when the ministers got a big pay rise, the reason might not convince everyone. the next question is, what then is the real truth? the real truth can be good, it can be bad too. it is up to our imaginations. I can easily imagine a few good reasons why they do it. you certainly imagined the bad ones. But you and myself are none the wiser. only when we make the extra effort to discover the real truth, it is back down to speculation.
Did USA justify their invasion of iraq convincingly?
the american citizens themselves are unhappy but the us govt insisted to fight on. "In the eyes of the american public, they did not justify their reasons well because the money used is TAXPAYERS' money. "
what you wrote about that happen in singapore already happened in usa long ago.
are the american govt ignorant? i bet my last cent on it that they are a brilliant bunch of people deserving our respect.
then why is the usa govt not providing the real truth or real reasons over the iraq war to their people? there are other factors which could not be discussed openly in public by public figures.
same thing happens in every countries. and it happen in singapore too.
the onus is on you and me to dig up the truth. otherwise, we simply dont know.
Then I get some responses which I extract below.
Rock^Star: wants me to demonstrate one or two truths, without offering any of his.
zix1: thinks I am pinning him down
soul_rage: seeking my opinions of the four pointers.
Fingolfin_Noldor : Asking people to seek the truth in this damnable country, is akin to asking someone to go to jail for breaking the Official Secrets Act literally. Idiots/morons/nitwits demanding we present evidence is akin to asking us to report to a Police Station and say we are gays and just had some gay sex.
walesa: With the greatest respect, the world doesn't have any evidence that Hitler orchaestrated the event that came to be known as the Holocaust which resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million to 6 million Jews. As a matter of fact, he was never tried and indicted for war crimes, so obviously the Holocaust must be a myth - that, in truth, is a view backed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad merely reinforces the notion.
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some even speculated that I work for the government. please, do you have any evidence? Of all possibilities, ie I can be anywhere on earth, you guys paint me up to be an agent for the government. I guess it fits your agenda well to do that. To distort the truth for your own interests?
Fingolfin_Noldor, I am talking to you now. Singapore is a small island somewhere that even many Americans and Chinese donÂ’t even know about. What about this small little island that you think is damnable? Do you hold a pink ic? How do you know? To me, I give you a distinction for your command of written English in condemning others. You fail miserably in reasoning. So shallow is your content that I begin to suspect that you have in between your ears full of the sticky brownish stuff all of us pass out in our public toilets. -
wow, hu li zhong yu lu chu wei ba!!!Originally posted by Daddy!!:All i wrote is to suggest that one should try his best to seek the truth before concluding, not only in politics. Likewise, one who objects to this suggestion, would suggest himself otherwise. Are you lying beyond your conscience?
********************
There are many different comments about singapore's government in this public forum. some are stating facts, some are somewhat hoping to see singapore disappear for unknown reasons, some are supporters of pap, wp, sdp etc, some are in for fun, some are genuinely concerned, some are scared of future.
i would like to say that everyone wants "face" and that include PAP mps and ministers. so probably the correct approach is to collect whatever facts presented by some knowledgeable but anti-pap forumers here and then present/discuss in private with the ministers directly. this is not impossible.
i met one minister at an old coffeeshop (80 cents per cup of coffee that type) near where i stay. he was there with his family for breakfast. We smiled at each other. All it took was one additional step from me to start a conversation and a feedback. I admit i did not take the additional step because i was with my family too and i was not ready to engage in any political discussions.
if having a coffee talk sounds difficult, one could join the PAP and feedback through the proper channels or even directly to the PM office and attempt to change things for the better.
remember it is attitude. if someone says something you dont like to hear, first decide whether he is factual or just anyhow whack, then analyse whether you agree. if you agree and feel that singapore should improve in some manner, and you are willing to step out, i think the proper way is try talking to the ministers or MPs directly first. They are humans with family too.
i have several encounters with people who are good with words. They can talk black to white and then white to black just to push their cases. Most interestingly, they use facts to support their arguments.
From this experience, I make it one of my life's lessons that however convincing the arguments and facts, I must verify it MYSELF before believing in it.
By watching the government does or implements is insufficient to draw a single conclusion.
because the govt make public policies, there are official statements or reasons to support them, just like in private sector. normally there are other factors at work which would not be discussed openly. let me give you an example.
US invaded Iraq unilaterally with a few coalition countries against the wishes the majority of the united nations and security council. The official statements were weapons of mass destruction and spreading democracy in middle east through Iraq. Do the rest of the world really believe in the official statements? are official statements always telling the whole truth?
likewise, when the ministers got a big pay rise, the reason might not convince everyone. the next question is, what then is the real truth? the real truth can be good, it can be bad too. it is up to our imaginations. I can easily imagine a few good reasons why they do it. you certainly imagined the bad ones. But you and myself are none the wiser. only when we make the extra effort to discover the real truth, it is back down to speculation.
Did USA justify their invasion of iraq convincingly?
the american citizens themselves are unhappy but the us govt insisted to fight on. "In the eyes of the american public, they did not justify their reasons well because the money used is TAXPAYERS' money. "
what you wrote about that happen in singapore already happened in usa long ago.
are the american govt ignorant? i bet my last cent on it that they are a brilliant bunch of people deserving our respect.
then why is the usa govt not providing the real truth or real reasons over the iraq war to their people? there are other factors which could not be discussed openly in public by public figures.
same thing happens in every countries. and it happen in singapore too.
the onus is on you and me to dig up the truth. otherwise, we simply dont know.
Then I get some responses which I extract below.
Rock^Star: wants me to demonstrate one or two truths, without offering any of his.
zix1: thinks I am pinning him down
soul_rage: seeking my opinions of the four pointers.
Fingolfin_Noldor : Asking people to seek the truth in this damnable country, is akin to asking someone to go to jail for breaking the Official Secrets Act literally. Idiots/morons/nitwits demanding we present evidence is akin to asking us to report to a Police Station and say we are gays and just had some gay sex.
walesa: With the greatest respect, the world doesn't have any evidence that Hitler orchaestrated the event that came to be known as the Holocaust which resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million to 6 million Jews. As a matter of fact, he was never tried and indicted for war crimes, so obviously the Holocaust must be a myth - that, in truth, is a view backed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad merely reinforces the notion.
***************************************************
some even speculated that I work for the government. please, do you have any evidence? Of all possibilities, ie I can be anywhere on earth, you guys paint me up to be an agent for the government. I guess it fits your agenda well to do that. To distort the truth for your own interests?
Fingolfin_Noldor, I am talking to you now. Singapore is a small island somewhere that even many Americans and Chinese donÂ’t even know about. What about this small little island that you think is damnable? Do you hold a pink ic? How do you know? To me, I give you a distinction for your command of written English in condemning others. You fail miserably in reasoning. So shallow is your content that I begin to suspect that you have in between your ears full of the sticky brownish stuff all of us pass out in our public toilets.
the truth is what is published on local newspapers, on tv, on radio and on govt website. These are controlled by the govt, so there is no need to seek the truth, it is the truth already. -
Well I am not condemning you, or making a personal attack at you.Originally posted by Daddy!!:Rock^Star: wants me to demonstrate one or two truths, without offering any of his.
zix1: thinks I am pinning him down
soul_rage: seeking my opinions of the four pointers.
Fingolfin_Noldor : Asking people to seek the truth in this damnable country, is akin to asking someone to go to jail for breaking the Official Secrets Act literally. Idiots/morons/nitwits demanding we present evidence is akin to asking us to report to a Police Station and say we are gays and just had some gay sex.
walesa: With the greatest respect, the world doesn't have any evidence that Hitler orchaestrated the event that came to be known as the Holocaust which resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million to 6 million Jews. As a matter of fact, he was never tried and indicted for war crimes, so obviously the Holocaust must be a myth - that, in truth, is a view backed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad merely reinforces the notion.
***************************************************
some even speculated that I work for the government. please, do you have any evidence? Of all possibilities, ie I can be anywhere on earth, you guys paint me up to be an agent for the government. I guess it fits your agenda well to do that. To distort the truth for your own interests?
All I am asking for is your opinions on the 4 topics raised, because you yourself promised to share your 'imaginations' (opinions) with me.
So far, I have not heard a proper opinion from those who think that the pay hike or GST hike is justified. All I am getting are accusations that we should not be ungrateful, we don't appreciate blah blah blah...
To quote one of my juniors in university
"If one continually blows his trumpet about how much sacrifice he made, how much he has contributed, how good he is, how intelligent he is, then this person will most likely incur the irk and disdain of the people around him, and the people will see no need to comment about how grateful they are to him anymore for his help in the past"
Basically, our govt is happily blowing their trumpets about how they should get 100% credit for what Singapore is today, and that we will become maids and labourers if we did not have them.
The rise of Singapore comes from many factors. Without the people, these leaders can't even blow their trumpets now. And yet, all they think about are themselves. Never once did they genuinely show their appreciation to the average Singaporean. -
I would also like to separately state.Originally posted by Daddy!!:All i wrote is to suggest that one should try his best to seek the truth before concluding, not only in politics. Likewise, one who objects to this suggestion, would suggest himself otherwise. Are you lying beyond your conscience?
In Singapore, we get to practise our intelligence. What is in front of our eyes may not at most times be the truth.
There are many open 'secrets' (for eg, many related people to a certain person in very high positions is not a coincidence), but they are all legally controlled such that there is no legal proof to say certain things influenced these people into their positions. Therefore, we cannot say anything legally.
But use your heart, and it becomes obvious that many things cannot be just mere coincidence.
You cannot just say that just because legally or statistically speaking, we don't have any proof, means that certain things that we 'know' are not the truth.
conversely, just coz legally or statistically speaking something looks like the truth, doesn't mean its necessarily the truth