Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:"well, we have different issues from Malaysia and the general population there are more angry than Singaporeans."
I beg to differ. Tell any rational person about the pay of the Singaporean ministers and see whats their reaction. + recent losses by Temasek and Mat Selemat "Houdini". Talk about overpaid, overfed monkeys. The only way I think they can defuse public anger is to reduce their pay but I think they will only announce that on April's Fool Day.
Does the losses of Temasek affect your life ? Does the pay of Singaporean ministers affect your life ? They don't. That is why I'm saying that Singaporeans are not as angry as the Malaysians. Complaining about the government and Singapore has been the our favourite hobby for decades but come election day, people are still voting for the PAP. The Malaysian opposition can promise to scrap the NEP, can promise to weed out corruption etc, things that affects peoples lives. What can and have the Singaporean opposition promise you that will change your life ? Don't get me wrong, I'm not running them down. Its just that we already a very strong government but few ministers should really resign (Raymond Lim and Wong Kan Seng).
"Does the losses of Temasek affect your life ? Does the pay of Singaporean ministers affect your life ?"
If you are a taxpayer (includes 7% GST), yes. Until the Republic of Singapore officially becomes Singapore Pty Ltd.
+ in general, no one likes people with ill gotten gains.
"What can and have the Singaporean opposition promise you that will change your life?"
Its not GE2010. The "strong government" also promises nothing that will change my life except for more banal mediocrity.
Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:"Does the losses of Temasek affect your life ? Does the pay of Singaporean ministers affect your life ?"
If you are a taxpayer (includes 7% GST), yes. Until the Republic of Singapore officially becomes Singapore Pty Ltd.
+ in general, no one likes people with ill gotten gains.
"What can and have the Singaporean opposition promise you that will change your life?"
Its not GE2010. The "strong government" also promises nothing that will change my life except for more banal mediocrity.
"If you are a taxpayer (includes 7% GST), yes. Until the Republic of Singapore officially becomes Singapore Pty Ltd.
+ in general, no one likes people with ill gotten gains."
It doesn't answer how it affects your life. If you feel that the 7% + whatever pittance you pay for income tax is there to pay for the losses and their pay then i got nothing to say.
"its not GE2010. The "strong government" also promises nothing that will change my life except for more banal mediocrity."
It really says a lot that you have to wait for GE2010 for promises. How many elections have passed already ? If you are waiting for a government to make you feel "superior" then continue to live in mediocrity.
"It doesn't answer how it affects your life. If you feel that the 7% + whatever pittance you pay for income tax is there to pay for the losses and their pay then i got nothing to say."
Its not just MY money, its OUR money. If Singapore Inc. does not collect tax, then it does not need to face any scrutiny from any of it's citizens. BTW, a millionaire is only one vote and vote buying is "illegal". Just out of curiosity, kramnave how much do YOU make?
"If you are waiting for a government to make you feel "superior" then continue to live in mediocrity."
I am waiting for a government that does not churn out crap like the Straits Times, Mediacorp, etc. and people who can't understand nuances or more advanced English. If a person faces a constant barrage of idiocy and are surrounded by idiots...
Come Election Time, its pork barrels from the government and promises from the oppostion. Ever heard of democracy? Every election is different fyi. Do you want more of the same which is $3 million pay for PM ($1 per person) and millions more Ho Ching and the rest?
Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:"It doesn't answer how it affects your life. If you feel that the 7% + whatever pittance you pay for income tax is there to pay for the losses and their pay then i got nothing to say."
Its not just MY money, its OUR money. If Singapore Inc. does not collect tax, then it does not need to face any scrutiny from any of it's citizens. BTW, a millionaire is only one vote and vote buying is "illegal". Just out of curiosity, kramnave how much do YOU make?
"If you are waiting for a government to make you feel "superior" then continue to live in mediocrity."
I am waiting for a government that does not churn out crap like the Straits Times, Mediacorp, etc. and people who can't understand nuances or more advanced English. If a person faces a constant barrage of idiocy and are surrounded by idiots...
Come Election Time, its pork barrels from the government and promises from the oppostion. Ever heard of democracy? Every election is different fyi. Do you want more of the same which is $3 million pay for PM ($1 per person) and millions more Ho Ching and the rest?
Don't get me wrong, I think they are paid too much as compared to governments overseas and i do not like it when Temasek loses money as well. However, if Temasek never lose money and if the ministers draws a salary similar to yours, what difference does it make to your life ? It'll just make you feel better thats all. I'm not trying to change your views or anything like that. I'm just trying say that we have very different problems as compared to the Malaysians. They have problems that directly affect their lives (NEP, Corruption, ministers waving the keris etc, religious issues etc).
"NEP, Corruption, ministers waving the keris etc"
Does minister waving keri DIRECTLY affect the normal Malaysian life? Does HIDDEN corruption DIRECTLY affect normal Malaysian live? Ditto for religious issues if you dont convert or an atheist.
However, if Temasek never lose money and if the ministers draws a salary similar to yours + reduces tax (GST etc.) further, it DOES directly affect my life and as well as inspire confidence in the leadership. Isn't citizenship a shared responsibility or National Day Parade only overblown expensive wayangs?
Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:"NEP, Corruption, ministers waving the keris etc"
Does minister waving keri DIRECTLY affect the normal Malaysian life? Does HIDDEN corruption DIRECTLY affect normal Malaysian live? Ditto for religious issues if you dont convert or an atheist.
However, if Temasek never lose money and if the ministers draws a salary similar to yours + reduces tax (GST etc.) further, it DOES directly affect my life and as well as inspire confidence in the leadership. Isn't citizenship a shared responsibility or National Day Parade only overblown expensive wayangs?
When you can't go into the local medical faculty with straight As because of quotas and the education minister waves the keris at you when you complain, it affects your bloody life. I can don't convert but what can i do when my church and temple is pulled down and not replaced ? I can don't convert but what happens when my spouse does and naturally so does my kid ? This affects your life. Corruption is not only about money. Corruption is about shoddy public works, inefficiency, denial of fair competition etc. We can perhaps pay the ministers 10million each legally and Singapore will still run as it is. We start getting businesses to pay the ministers 10million each, we are screwed. It is no coincidence that the world's most screwed people are living in very corrupt countries, its not just about the money your government earns. As i said, we have very different problems from Malaysia. Problems that may not be big enough to change governments, I may be wrong but that is what i feel.
Corruption is not only about money. Corruption is about shoddy public works, inefficiency, denial of fair competition etc.
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"I can don't convert but what can i do when my church and temple is pulled down and not replaced ?"
Which is built on ILLEGAL land. What would have happened if this occured in Singapore?
"When you can't go into the local medical faculty with straight As"
Who says that you CAN'T. Remember top students only. Show me the proof. Straight As means super good results good enough to go into top Us in USA? Personally I am not a top student so it does not affect me. BTW good grades doesnt mean that a person has the right aptitude or mentality to be a good doctor. If the mentality is JUST to make money and have good social status, then they are looking into the wrong profession. If you are talking about quotas arent there quotas for Medical facility in Singapore?
"Corruption is about shoddy public works, inefficiency, denial of fair competition etc. "
Like Circle Line, TT Durai and Temasek and the whole slew of GLCs intended to stunt competition.
I can agree there are different problems between Malaysia and Singapore. There's another list I will probably go into in the future. The severity are about the same.
The NEP affecting normal people and not helping the poor as it is intended to resulted in Malay defection, not just Indian and Chinese disgruntlement. That I can agree.
Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:"I can don't convert but what can i do when my church and temple is pulled down and not replaced ?"
Which is built on ILLEGAL land. What would have happened if this occured in Singapore?
"When you can't go into the local medical faculty with straight As"
Who says that you CAN'T. Remember top students only. Show me the proof. Straight As means super good results good enough to go into top Us in USA? Personally I am not a top student so it does not affect me. BTW good grades doesnt mean that a person has the right aptitude or mentality to be a good doctor. If the mentality is JUST to make money and have good social status, then they are looking into the wrong profession. If you are talking about quotas arent there quotas for Medical facility in Singapore?
"Corruption is about shoddy public works, inefficiency, denial of fair competition etc. "
Like Circle Line, TT Durai and Temasek and the whole slew of GLCs intended to stunt competition.
I can agree there are different problems between Malaysia and Singapore. There's another list I will probably go into in the future. The severity are about the same.
The NEP affecting normal people and not helping the poor as it is intended to resulted in Malay defection, not just Indian and Chinese disgruntlement. That I can agree.
You can think that way but you would have to convince many many Singaporeans out there who actually do not have much of a problem.
Really we will see.
In case i didn't make things clear about the university thingy. There are students with straight A's who can't get into the medical faculty because of racial quotas.
How many straight As? Why only the medical faculty? Racial quota is a sensitive thing - Malays in Malaysia say not required any more but should be based on family income instead which I wholeheartedly agrre.
Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:How many straight As? Why only the medical faculty? Racial quota is a sensitive thing - Malays in Malaysia say not required any more but should be based on family income instead which I wholeheartedly agrre.
Can't recall..read sometime back already. You want more malaysia shit go to www.malaysia-today.net . Yah, quotas should be based on family income...not for things like education though.
Corruption can take many forms.
You ever heard of lobbyists in the USA? Most are legal. What about directorships for PAP current people. These are not included.