Originally posted by av98m:
One MAJOR cause of discontentment:
Lots of points have been brought up. Rising costs of living, losing our jobs to cheaper foreign "talent", our leaders telling us to work longer, add value, re-train, accept less pay etc. My question is, why are our ministers still taking home their huge salaries? Compare that to the leaders of the other countries including the US! To say nothing of their lifelong pensions (even for normal MPs who have served a minimum of 2 terms, I think). Pension scheme is longer offered in the civil service but the MPs and ministers are still enjoying the benefits. Have they added any value to their "work"? Do they work harder than their counterparts in other countries? Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Perhaps we should outsource our entire Cabinet to China or India.
The reason for the cabinet to have such high pay bracket was to prevent any chances for the MPs to accept bribery. ThatÂ’s why our cabinet staffs are very well paid so that they wonÂ’t fall into the possibility like their counterpart in this Asia region. But nonetheless they are ok with the citizen here to accept lower pay and not themselves as MPs. Oh by the way their pay will be back to where they have drop before, this coming Sept I think.
The observation made by Blueray is real, it basically tells that the current society and cost of living does not allow any people to be poor and/or entirely retired even when youÂ’re old. Though these folks who works at the hawker center as cleaner has low education, all I can say is that they live in a time without a choice. But they should be given a chance to live their lives without the stress of worrying will their money be enough for their bills or even a simple meal. They have contribute to our nation during their younger days however much they may have contribute, it is only right to help these folks to have their bills and meals taken care of. After all I believe the reserve that we have would or may have enough funds in taking care of these poorer folks, anyway strictly speaking the amount of funds in the reserve has their contribution too.
Everything here cost money, ranging from basic necessity to medical & education. The amount has rise and nothing has fall. So why are we complaining and relying on our government? Basically to seek for a chance of relieves or at least give us a chance to take a breather. At the rate that they are trying to “drain” us, eventually this country is only good for the “rich” and the “poor”, but not for the in between, because the in-between are the one feeding both end.
It may be true that we should not complain our government for our poor financial planning, but then again if only our government could ease us on the basic necessity then we certainly would be better off for awhile. Not when economies are in the recovery state then everything starts to goes up. What about when economies are down would the price of the necessity follow suit? Our Power station get our supply from Indonesia when both countries government signed a few years of contract without the change of price but yet when oil prices rise our electrical bills follow suit too. How fair is this?
It may be true that the foreigners have lower expectation but you must understand that they come from a place where their cost is so much lower than ours. After staying here for a period of times they would end up like us too, finding it difficult to survive even with the pay they are drawing. The fundamental cost on the necessity is still presence however low their expectation may be, why then would these Chinese ladies who bring the children here for further study requires to earn “extra” cash. This is because the cost of living here is something that they have never expected to be, then again you may say to differ. Let ask ourselves would a normal lady be willing to “sleep” around to earn an extra buck if they have a choice? This is also a classic case of poor financial planning (as describe in previous comment) and they shouldn’t blame on the government, but themselves and also creating a nuisance to the society too.
The way I notice is that the trend of our employer is different as before. Previously they would ask for loyalty staff. Nowadays it cost before loyalty, the only value added that you could differ yourself from others is when you are able to bring extra business or money or saving some cost to the company. Then you are considered “value added”, otherwise you’re no difference from the rest of the workforce be it local or foreigners. Think about it. Just to give you an example imagines in an administrative role, would a newbies be of any different from an old bird? Other than the experience, the boss would believe that everything could be trained or taught to the newbies, all they waste is only time but in long run they save on the cost… think about it. The trend of outsourcing is happening too, be it sooner or later such role could be outsourced too. Now look at your own role in the company, can or will your job be outsource too?