Poverty and Discontent On the Rise In Singapore?
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Singapore is a good country all rite. BUT only if you are rich or have degree. Like me only now with a lousy diploma working temp. Everyday my work a lot and got to rush. Not even much time for a break. And then you see the full time degree holder all so free. Got time to walk aorund and chit chat somemore. Ha Ha. They also don't like me much cause I don't take time to socialise with them. I only work and work. But what to do. I where got like them so free and got so much MONEY.
To all the poor guys. Work hard to find a way to get rich. Then you can follow what the other succesful low educated people do. Migrate away and occasionally come back to show off and complain. Never mind them say you quitter. Quit quit lor. Whats the big deal. Continue to say in this god forsaken country and be spitted on mei -
Hoho,i am not waiting for them to help me,Singaporeans are tough u know or not.If the government dont anyhow increase the cost of livings here,it already consider a great help to us already!We can thank god already!Originally posted by Qitai:Why wait for the government to help you? Better to help yourself then to wait for them. Become skeleton liao if you wait for them. -
Hey,since u mention this,i have a big question to ask the government.We know that the government keep asking ppl to born more babies,but what i dont understand is that when we overuse the utility,like water or electricity,we will get fined!But since there more family members,the usage of utility will of coz be higher.If the government anyhow fined ppl like that,who will dare to born more children?Originally posted by av98m:Saving lotsa money for emergencies and retirement is indeed the key. I think many are realising this, hence the falling birth rate. The cost of raising children is just way too high. Notice how those families that have problems paying their bills usually have 2 or more kids? You're much more mobile and able to work overseas at a moment's notice if you're not saddled with children and a high overhead, also able to save a much larger percentage of your income.
And education fees,medical fees keep increasing,how the hell is the low income group going to survive with more babies?
I have heard that minority races,like Malays,got subsidies if their income is low,dont know whether its true or not?If its true,why Chinese dont have? -
Yeah, the cost of living is moving in the opposite direction of our income levels. The "expiry date" of the workforce is getting faster(you're considered over the hill and a liability once you hit your late 30s or reach 40), official retirement age is being raised. Today's Straits Times has a long article/analysis on the falling global birth rate that you might find interesting. Anyone with a basic education and the ability to add numbers will find it hard not to conclude that having children is a pretty bad idea given today's social/economic climate, unless of course you're being paid minister's salaries or mp's allowances with a lifetime pension waiting for you as well. Again, you only need to look around you, the ones that are the most stressed about finances are the ones who have kids, esp if they married late. Its our basic survival instincts at work here thats contributing to the falling birth rate.
Children=financial liability
Opportunity Cost of having children=increased savings, lower overhead, more time to relax and de-stress from work, etc.
Quality of life issues are very important. Do the policy makers seriously expect Singaporeans to work much longer hours for less pay, pay more for everything, worry about employment once they reach middle age(thats when you're kicked aside to make way for younger and cheaper employees), outsourcing woes etc and still find the time, money and energy to raise 2 kids in the increasingly cut-throat/competitive educational environment which elmininates more than educates? If so I'd like some of what they're smoking, because its obviously very good stuff.
Something else I want to comment on is the sheer hypocrisy that is at work in Singapore. For all the promotion of "asian/confucian values" by our leaders, respecting age, experince wisdom of our elders etc etc, older people ARE considered a liability by all employers including the civil service. Respect for age is nothing but lip service.
Malay children do have the benefit of free education up to secondary level if I remember correctly(someone enlighten me if I'm mistaken). Not sure about other subsidies.Originally posted by drawer:Hey,since u mention this,i have a big question to ask the government.We know that the government keep asking ppl to born more babies,but what i dont understand is that when we overuse the utility,like water or electricity,we will get fined!But since there more family members,the usage of utility will of coz be higher.If the government anyhow fined ppl like that,who will dare to born more children?
And education fees,medical fees keep increasing,how the hell is the low income group going to survive with more babies?
I have heard that minority races,like Malays,got subsidies if their income is low,dont know whether its true or not?If its true,why Chinese dont have? -
Yes, this is a very good view as people should be discerning and objective in choosing government. If they are easily pleased with goodies and do not look at the whole picture, they may not deserve a good government after all. Finally they will only have themselves to blame.Originally posted by av98m:Yes, its true. We do end up with the government that we deserve. What the people should do if they really want to send a message is to ignore the "carrots" dangled in front of them before the elections, be it upgrading of flats or share allotments. However I will bet on the same thing happening again. The majority of the people will go for the carrots. Voters in Singapore have very short term memory, based on the results of the last few GEs. It does not help that we don't really have much of an opposition movement here, since most of us are content to complain and do nothing. It may take a very serious economic crisis to wake us up.
That is why, I feel that there is no need to keep singing praises for government. We can acknowedge our praises in a more mature way by expressing opinion objectively to guide the government to do even better rather to help it to become more arrogant or condenscending.
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Most of our miseries are in fact government-induced. Just look at the following 2 postings:
Business Times - 10 Aug 2004
Was SMRT's fare increase justified?
I REFER to the report, 'SMRT net profit almost trebles in Q1 to $20 million' (BT, July 31).
In 2002, when SMRT raised fares, its profit increased 27 per cent. Last year, profit increased 24 per cent; and now, for the first quarter, it has increased 175 per cent .
Makes you wonder whether the fare increase was justified in the first place?
Leong Sze Hian
Singapore
PAP Sucks and Sucks
Forum: the Sammyboy's Alfresco Coffee Shop™ Forum
Subject: PAP Sucks and Sucks Again
From: (ATOMS7)
To: (ALL)
DateTime: 05/08/2004 00:34:18
I am referring to the HDB upgrading program.
Why must the resident needs to frok out CASH or CPF money for
up-grading program, like adding extra lift, carpark, etc.
Why can;t the HBD and PAP to pay for all these stupid upgrade. If the
residents need to pay for the upgrading of car-park, and in the end
HDB
collects parking fees from the residents. Does it make sense. Why do
the profit goes to... to HDB pocket or resident pocket.
How abt those resident don;t own cars ??
The PAP is really a mother-fuckers party that sucks and sucks. Bloody
idolts to these MIW. -
Originally posted by raihanraihan:Why must the resident needs to frok out CASH or CPF money for
up-grading program, like adding extra lift, carpark, etc.
Why can;t the HBD and PAP to pay for all these stupid upgrade. If the
residents need to pay for the upgrading of car-park, and in the end
HDB
collects parking fees from the residents. Does it make sense. Why do
the profit goes to... to HDB pocket or resident pocket.
How abt those resident don;t own cars ??
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you raise a very good point in the upgrading of flats. by the way some singaporean are enlighten by the recent turn down of upgrading by singaporean in some estate. finally they realise your points.
recently while in china, i watch a very interesting discussion show on singapore political scene by a china television show. they raise some interesting topic and issue about the political scene in singapore and while singaporean can tolerate and not question the dominance of the lee dynasty here in singapore.
even foreign Tv show care abt what happen in singapore but our local singaporean are even interested in what happen in our political scene. very very sad indeed. hopefully our generation ppl will rise to challenge the system here and create a new era in singapore politics.