Pity the Singapore youths
-
Quite true, but you must admit that there are some who defend the government bodies blindly too.Originally posted by Daddy!!:to some prominent identities here in this forum, somehow along the way, whatever the topic, it is always the government's fault.
It's quite off putting to see their stance when it's obviously not happening. I do ask my friends visiting in Bangkok how they feel about the current developments back home and they do admit things are looking quite bleak for the commoners. -
Export trouble raises fears for Thai economy
BANGKOK : Exports, a pillar of strength in Thailand's wobbly economy, have suddenly slowed due to cooling foreign demand and a strong currency, raising fears the kingdom will miss already modest growth targets.
Thailand counts on exports for 60 percent of its economy. It is the world's biggest exporter of rice and also a major producer of cars, textiles, electrical appliances, fruit and shrimp.
But exports in July grew a modest 5.9 percent year-on-year to 11.8 billion dollars, the lowest level in 29 months, amid a slump in demand in the United States and Japan, the kingdom's top trading partners.
"Exports grew slower than our target of above eight percent in July because of the strong baht and a decline in demand abroad," said Tanyalak Surapol, a senior economist at the private Kasikorn Research Centre.
US-bound shipments in July dropped by 13.6 percent from a year earlier, while exports to Japan edged up just 1.7 percent in the month, the commerce ministry said.
The weak July data came as a particular shock as exports had been rising over 18 percent each month since January this year.
Exports have been among the few bright spots of the Thai economy, which has been hit by sagging business confidence and anaemic consumer spending due to prolonged turmoil over last year's coup ousting premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The military-installed government has expected the economy to grow just over four percent this year, among the lowest in Southeast Asia, while cutting the export growth forecast for the full year to 12.5 percent from 13.0 percent.
"Exports will be a far less potent engine of growth for the Thai economy during the second half," Phatra Securities said in a research paper following the release of the July export data.
"The government's 4.0-4.5 percent GDP growth target will be harder to achieve in light of the export slowdown," it said.
Apart from weak foreign demand, exports were under pressure due to the strong Thai baht, which hit near 10-year highs against the dollar on massive capital inflows pouring into the local stock market, analysts said.
A strong baht makes Thai goods less competitive abroad and cuts the value of repatriated profits. The government in late July launched a package of measures in a bid to weaken the baht.
Since then, the baht has fallen to more than 34 to the dollar, against a 10-year-high of 33.2 in early July, but economists warn of sluggish growth if exports continued to stall.
"It is worrying if export growth remains slow for the rest of the year. That will pressure economic growth in the fourth quarter," said Somchai Jitsuchon, director of macroeconomic development at the Thailand Development Research Institute.
Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn last week downplayed worries over slowing exports.
"We are confident that the decline in exports will not impact gross domestic product growth, which is targeted at 4.0 percent this year," the minister said.
But Tanyalak from Kasikorn Research said the export trend looked ominous.
"If this trend persists for the rest of the year, which is possible, exports for 2007 could miss the target and that could pressure the Thai economy," she said.
- AFP/ir -
Hahaha.... there Gazelle goes again
-
If I remember correctly, there is a poll taken last year in which majority of the local prefer to migrate to other countries compared to staying in this small
country. -
Originally posted by Gazelle:
Yes the current government is indeed horrid. Do expect an election end of this year. Anyway Gazelle do give your comments? Or do you have none?
[b]Export trouble raises fears for Thai economy
BANGKOK : Exports, a pillar of strength in Thailand's wobbly economy, have suddenly slowed due to cooling foreign demand and a strong currency, raising fears the kingdom will miss already modest growth targets.
Thailand counts on exports for 60 percent of its economy. It is the world's biggest exporter of rice and also a major producer of cars, textiles, electrical appliances, fruit and shrimp.
But exports in July grew a modest 5.9 percent year-on-year to 11.8 billion dollars, the lowest level in 29 months, amid a slump in demand in the United States and Japan, the kingdom's top trading partners.
"Exports grew slower than our target of above eight percent in July because of the strong baht and a decline in demand abroad," said Tanyalak Surapol, a senior economist at the private Kasikorn Research Centre.
US-bound shipments in July dropped by 13.6 percent from a year earlier, while exports to Japan edged up just 1.7 percent in the month, the commerce ministry said.
The weak July data came as a particular shock as exports had been rising over 18 percent each month since January this year.
Exports have been among the few bright spots of the Thai economy, which has been hit by sagging business confidence and anaemic consumer spending due to prolonged turmoil over last year's coup ousting premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The military-installed government has expected the economy to grow just over four percent this year, among the lowest in Southeast Asia, while cutting the export growth forecast for the full year to 12.5 percent from 13.0 percent.
"Exports will be a far less potent engine of growth for the Thai economy during the second half," Phatra Securities said in a research paper following the release of the July export data.
"The government's 4.0-4.5 percent GDP growth target will be harder to achieve in light of the export slowdown," it said.
Apart from weak foreign demand, exports were under pressure due to the strong Thai baht, which hit near 10-year highs against the dollar on massive capital inflows pouring into the local stock market, analysts said.
A strong baht makes Thai goods less competitive abroad and cuts the value of repatriated profits. The government in late July launched a package of measures in a bid to weaken the baht.
Since then, the baht has fallen to more than 34 to the dollar, against a 10-year-high of 33.2 in early July, but economists warn of sluggish growth if exports continued to stall.
"It is worrying if export growth remains slow for the rest of the year. That will pressure economic growth in the fourth quarter," said Somchai Jitsuchon, director of macroeconomic development at the Thailand Development Research Institute.
Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn last week downplayed worries over slowing exports.
"We are confident that the decline in exports will not impact gross domestic product growth, which is targeted at 4.0 percent this year," the minister said.
But Tanyalak from Kasikorn Research said the export trend looked ominous.
"If this trend persists for the rest of the year, which is possible, exports for 2007 could miss the target and that could pressure the Thai economy," she said.
- AFP/ir
[/b]
But then again I want to say this, this is what happens when you put people who has been in the military in politics... they know nuts about what is happening.
The same thing is happening in Singapore. -
Originally posted by hloc:
Yes. It's up to him... I've learnt to tolerate eyesores.
Hahaha.... there [b]Gazelle goes again [/b] -
I am just wondering, if anyone wants to set up a political party would the aims for the party likely be around the same as PAP. Example, WP and SDA.
Except for SDP
If one was based on communist ideas, the police may intervene and close it down and not many will support it.
If one was based on socialist ideas, perhaps those businessman will not vote for it
If one was based to have nationalistic ideas, perhaps those foreigners who become Singapore citizens will not vote for it
Does the post make sense? -
Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
I do not know how our youths will perform against the world but using my working colleagues and myself as examples of ppl who have being brought up by our educational system, I do not entirely agree with this view. And for your knowledge, memory stays as a very important characteristics even with google around. The information of this world is overwhelming, our memory capacity is still far from enough and remains the fastest way of analysing and dishing out information especially at the important moments.
They have to study so hard because the education system is not catered to teach them to think but to force them to keep as much information in their heads as possible (whatever for, when now you have google).
I've also always complained and hated the memory works in Singapore's educational system but after working for so many years, I realise and see the importance and criticality of the ability to remember and recall information.
Singaporeans are also no doubt thinkers and I definitely have no doubt that our youths will also be thinkers. I also see myself and my colleagues, some of whom are in their 20s, as better thinkers than most foreign talents and overseas colleagues in ASIA. For our closest competitor, Hong Kongers stands as another nation of hardworking ppl who thinks in their work and does not take things as it is, which was mostly the case for my SE Asian counterparts.
I am really curious as to what makes you feel that the youth today are not thinkers? -
The poor get poorer in this country....Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:Their parents used to spend ten/twenty years (like in most other countries) working in a decent job to get a private property right here in Singapore but you-know-who has pushed/allowed property prices to sky-rocket so that the youths now cannot do what their parents could do in Singapore.
They have to study so hard because the education system is not catered to teach them to think but to force them to keep as much information in their heads as possible (whatever for, when now you have google).
The are not taught to think because in a politically suppressed country and the "leaders" want to do what they like, for the people to have the ability to think, it is not good for the "leaders". The want sheep that follow and obey, not youths that can think skilfully.
As a result the youths do not learn good thinking skills and do not spend the years in school, developing good thinking skills.
Youths all over the world are idealistic and pursue their dreams but in Singapore, they have to worry about their bread and butter three meals a day concerns because everything has been priced so that they have no time to be idealistic and to chase their dreams.
Youths all over the world work hard so that they can travel and save up for a good life (or save up so that they have money to pursue their dreams) but in Singapore, they have barely enough to pay for the necessities in life because the necessities in life like housing, transport and medical are priced so high they have no choice but to work hard for necessities in life into their (now they are planning for Singaporeans to work into their eighties) old age.
In order to do that, make the youths work into their eighties, they make sure that prices go up more and more but salaries lag behind (using foreign talents to lower the wages).
Pity the Singapore youths. -
I feel there is a truth to what is said here.Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:Their parents used to spend ten/twenty years (like in most other countries) working in a decent job to get a private property right here in Singapore but you-know-who has pushed/allowed property prices to sky-rocket so that the youths now cannot do what their parents could do in Singapore.
My parents' Bishan maisonette was bought at $180,000 in 1990. Recently, they did a valuation and it came to $450,000.
If I don't remember wrongly, the 4-room flat we used to live in in Buffalo Road was bought at $40,000 in 1981 and sold at $75,000 in 1990.
An "O" level school leaver in 1981 would get a job with a starting pay of $700 to $800. Today, 25 years later, the same person would get $1,200 to $1,400.
Corrections and shared experiences welcomed.
Regards -
It's a debt trap.Originally posted by Melvin Tan:I feel there is a truth to what is said here.
My parents' Bishan maisonette was bought at $180,000 in 1990. Recently, they did a valuation and it came to $450,000.
If I don't remember wrongly, the 4-room flat we used to live in in Buffalo Road was bought at $40,000 in 1981 and sold at $75,000 in 1990.
An "O" level school leaver in 1981 would get a job with a starting pay of $700 to $800. Today, 25 years later, the same person would get $1,200 to $1,400.
Corrections and shared experiences welcomed.
Regards
A 2 bedroom HDB apartment cost close to $200,000 these years.
A newly married couple each making $1,200 would take at least 17 years to pay if they pay $1,000 monthly. (i.e. without taking into account the interest charges). -
At the rate things are going, we will sooner or later be faced with the situation similar to the United States and the UK where foreclosures are common.Originally posted by maurizio13:It's a debt trap.
A 2 bedroom HDB apartment cost close to $200,000 these years.
A newly married couple each making $1,200 would take at least 17 years to pay if they pay $1,000 monthly. (i.e. without taking into account the interest charges).
Or perhaps it has already happened? They do not release much by way of mortgage default statistics in Singapore. -
do you mean foreclosures on HDB ?Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:At the rate things are going, we will sooner or later be faced with the situation similar to the United States and the UK where foreclosures are common.
Or perhaps it has already happened? They do not release much by way of mortgage default statistics in Singapore. -
Yes.... I believe at one point of time there was a certain single digit % for foreclosures on HDB. The statistic is old though.Originally posted by Daddy!!:do you mean foreclosures on HDB ? -
HDB flats belong to the state ie public assets. Only the government can foreclose or give permission to the commercial banks to foreclose HDB flats.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Yes.... I believe at one point of time there was a certain single digit % for foreclosures on HDB. The statistic is old though.
dig out that statistic as i believe many of us would be interested to know.
i am not here to ridicule, but here to verify on this fact. -
This is one of those little unknown tidbits that is largely hidden. It was causally mentioned in Today some 1-2 years back, but I have not heard much since.Originally posted by Daddy!!:HDB flats belong to the state ie public assets. Only the government can foreclose or give permission to the commercial banks to foreclose HDB flats.
dig out that statistic as i believe many of us would be interested to know.
i am not here to ridicule, but here to verify on this fact.
Unfortunately, Today does not maintain an archive and I am not too sure about the terms of the mortgage financing as well. It is in theory possible for the HDB to repossess the flat. Other than that, I am unsure about the details as well. -
Asked if the government or HDB would step in if HDB homeowners default on bank loans and run the risk of foreclosure, Mr Mah's response was in the negative. "You cannot say 'I want more choice, I don't want to be mollycuddled' and then say 'Oh, when I run into difficulty, the government has got to help me and bail me out'."
Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/finance/markets/2003/0118hdb.htm -
And we have an answer from the horse's mouth.Originally posted by maurizio13:Asked if the government or HDB would step in if HDB homeowners default on bank loans and run the risk of foreclosure, Mr Mah's response was in the negative. "You cannot say 'I want more choice, I don't want to be mollycuddled' and then say 'Oh, when I run into difficulty, the government has got to help me and bail me out'."
Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/finance/markets/2003/0118hdb.htm
*tips hat* -
Pity for wat? Every country , no matter how rich have its share of poor ppl.
And the proportion of rich is always less than the poor.
This is because there are always smart ppl to find loopholes and get themselves richer.
Instead of ranting here, maybe we should try to learn to be smart to make use of the situation that will continue to be so for the next decades at least.
PAP or no PAP, this will still be a dog eat dog world. Unless we learn how to guard our backside from young, we will die very quickly in this pragmatic world that MAN THEMSELVES created.
Blame it on HUMAN then, if we have to blame someone so badly. -
humans create rules, human follow rules, human grow up, human create rules
the cycle will keep going on. -
The real worlds Sucks..... so ppl here wants to talk about a 'better' world.Originally posted by lagrangian1125:Pity for wat? Every country , no matter how rich have its share of poor ppl.
And the proportion of rich is always less than the poor.
This is because there are always smart ppl to find loopholes and get themselves richer.
Instead of ranting here, maybe we should try to learn to be smart to make use of the situation that will continue to be so for the next decades at least.
PAP or no PAP, this will still be a dog eat dog world. Unless we learn how to guard our backside from young, we will die very quickly in this pragmatic world that MAN THEMSELVES created.
Blame it on HUMAN then, if we have to blame someone so badly.
Forgetting that the rest of the world isn't the way they wished. And the World outside won't stop and wait for our youth.
If S'porean Youth can't handle the stress now... how will they be able to survive when the 1.1 billion chinese & 1 billion indian start to Spread around the world
We must stop feeling sorry for ourselve..... blaming others - Govt, Society, the world - won't help them in the end. If any find the education here is not good enough, fine..... please send your child to an international school. Don't sit and wait for the Govt to do it for you..... We all know how long the wait is going to be......
In any dog eat dog world..... if you take it easy and allow others to step infornt of you..... Non will feel sorry as you are left behind. -
Yada yada yada, everyone assumes all Singaporean youths are the same.
It's getting stale. Real stale. -
Very well said - dog eat dog world.Originally posted by lagrangian1125:Pity for wat? Every country , no matter how rich have its share of poor ppl.
And the proportion of rich is always less than the poor.
This is because there are always smart ppl to find loopholes and get themselves richer.
Instead of ranting here, maybe we should try to learn to be smart to make use of the situation that will continue to be so for the next decades at least.
PAP or no PAP, this will still be a dog eat dog world. Unless we learn how to guard our backside from young, we will die very quickly in this pragmatic world that MAN THEMSELVES created.
Blame it on HUMAN then, if we have to blame someone so badly.
Unfortunately, some dogs are smarter, they will not eat you, but keep you on a tight leash so that you keep running in circles on a circular treadmill - that is linked to an electric dynamo.
While you sweat running on the circular threadmill, you are helping to run the dynamo, which will keep generating electricity for the aircon to keep their dog brains cool in a room temperature of 16 degree C.
They will feed you with scraps, and if you complain too much, you will lose the privilege of running on the threadmill, and they will lock you up in solitary confinement in the cage.
Living out of the cage is considered a privilege to all lesser animals.
You want to be a humanist human, they will bring other dogs who are trained and more willing to defend their common canine interests.
IF you believe that we are HUMANS, then all Humans should be given equal opportunities, if we do not wish to live in a dog-eat-dog environment, where the winner takes all.
Why will you believe that discussion is useless ranting ?
During his time, was Socrates ranting in the many discussions of a New Political World Order ?
USA was not born out of an accident, but by debate between the fervent believers and the self-doubters.
The fervent believers of a Republic independent from the Rule of the British Crown had to debate endlessly for months, before being able to carry the day, and face the might of the British Imperial Military.
This forum has slowly but surely opened the eyes of many fence sitters, and serve a purpose in the development of poliitical awareness and activism.
First the mind is inspired to move, the fingers expressing the hearts and emotions within each of us in the expression of our feeling in prints.
Who knows where this will lead us ?
Surely, the doubters and the critics will be debunked some time into the future. -
Originally posted by hloc:
For one who claim to having powderful D6 for English, you seemed to have a remarkable ability to sprint over the hurdles in critical thinking.
The real worlds Sucks..... so ppl here wants to talk about a 'better' world.
Forgetting that the rest of the world isn't the way they wished. And the World outside won't stop and wait for our youth.
[b]If S'porean Youth can't handle the stress now... how will they be able to survive when the 1.1 billion chinese & 1 billion indian start to Spread around the world We must stop feeling sorry for ourselve..... blaming others - Govt, Society, the world - won't help them in the end. If any find the education here is not good enough, fine..... please send your child to an international school. Don't sit and wait for the Govt to do it for you..... We all know how long the wait is going to be......
In any dog eat dog world..... if you take it easy and allow others to step infornt of you..... Non will feel sorry as you are left behind.[/b]
Before a spastic gazelle species pop his infamous line, let me do the honors - are you speculating or did you rely your statement on some statistics ?
Our resident gazelle has never been honorable when facing hard facts, and will even purposefully distort data to suit his own skewed perspective - I will at least humor your efforts with some comments. -
I have no facts and figures if thats what you mean.....Originally posted by Atobe:For one who claim to having powderful D6 for English, you seemed to have a remarkable ability to sprint over the hurdles in critical thinking.
Before a spastic gazelle species pop his infamous line, let me do the honors - [color=red]are you speculating or did you rely your statement on some statistics ?
Our resident gazelle has never been honorable when facing hard facts, and will even purposefully distort data to suit his own skewed perspective - I will at least humor your efforts with some comments.
[/color]
But I will stand by my view that the World won't feel sorry if S'porean Youth can't keep up and we keep helping them find excuse to make them feel better.