Club 30's "Kill the Boredom Demon" Jive Pad, 34th Edition
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Hmmm... you should be resting at home. Can you go home early after you've done what you need to do?
Is your throat infection having anything to do with the tonsil? Drink plenty of water in the mean time and take care.
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hiya udon... you're still obsessed with Anderson Cooper?
Originally posted by udontknowme:i watched knut....on AC360~!
morning everyone~
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meeting is at 3pm.. on the other side of the islandOriginally posted by honeymouse:Hmmm... you should be resting at home. Can you go home early after you've done what you need to do?
Is your throat infection having anything to do with the tonsil? Drink plenty of water in the mean time and take care. -
okay.. this is not helping lower the blood pressure..
so... we are the "ruled" while they are the "rulers" ??
Title : Will we see a new deal between the ruler and the ruled?
Date : 16 April 2007 1045 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/270580/1/.html
Expect a good lawyer to cut out the verbiage, zoom in on the heartbeat of an issue and articulate it in language that is clear and emotionless.
K Shanmugam didn’t disappoint. “I cannot think of another issue where there is such a disconnect between what is really the correct policy and how the public view that policy,” the long-standing MP told Parliament last week.
But he shouldnÂ’t have wondered aloud. It was really a no-brainer because the timing of an increase of about $400,000 a year in the starting salaries of ministers soon after a GST hike, despite the payouts to offset the increase, and a $30 increase a month in aid for the poor was just, well, off centre.
Apart from the timing, the three-day debate took on a life of its own, both inside and outside Parliament, with new points being brought up by the government ministers and each one being countered with another.
Linking economic growth to ministersÂ’ performance got MPs rushing to speak.
How does the Health Minister, for instance, see his ministryÂ’s good performance linked to GDP, asked Denise Phua.
Corruption, one main reason given when the benchmarking of ministersÂ’ salary was first raised more than a decade ago, was hardly mentioned this time round.
Then, the fact that pensions are still being paid to some political office-holders got dragged in with Minister Teo Chee Hean trying to explain the historical backdrop for this perk and finally responding to calls for a re-look by saying: “It is quite a complicated exercise but we’ll have a look and see whether it can be done and how it can be done.”
And when the PM wrapped up the session on Wednesday, he put in sharper focus another reason for the pay increase when he framed it this way: It is not to take care of this Cabinet, but to make sure Singapore has a strong group of future leaders.
Even the decision to donate his salary increases for five years had a counter: This was a sweetener to make the decision more palatable, even though Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters the PM had made up his mind some time ago.
With clarity of purpose being pushed out of and onto the House floor, the debate missed two issues which are likely to decide what kind of society we want to be.
One, leadership. Will young Singaporeans see leadership — in the home, government and their place of work — as a privilege or as a burden?
Are the types of leaders like Minister of State Balaji Sadasivan, who missed the boat to become a full minister but did not want to go back to his former job as a neurosurgeon despite the PM offering him that choice, a rarity in a money-chasing Singapore?
He must have seen leadership as a privilege, a calling. Search high and low and getting such individuals is not impossible.
Two, how will the rules between the ruler and ruled be re-defined with this gruelling debate?
With a Lee Kuan Yew, it was “trust me and I will make you all first world citizens”. With a Goh Chok Tong, the mantra was “trust me and I will make this society not just a first world country but a kinder and gentler one”.
Singaporeans, in most instances, bought the arguments without much of a quarrel.
With a Lee Hsien Loong at the helm, what will that one line be?
He, his ministers and MPs can expect the citizens to ask more of them.
Expect Singaporeans to be more demanding at meet-the-people sessions, ministriesÂ’ information counters and other places where contact with the public is very close. That 40-year-old social handshake between the government and the governed will come under scrutiny. With some grassroots leaders, that vital link to the citizens, already signalling difficulties in explaining the salary decision with clarity and a sense of mission, PM Lee and his team have their job cut out for the next four/five years.
And in those four/five years, good GDP figures may not be the only magic answer. Making sure the good times roll down to those people feeling trapped in their individual circumstances must be one KPI.
If the PM swings this one, then expect a new deal to be signed, sealed and delivered. That can only be good for Singapore. - TODAY/ra -
does this asswipe know he just pissed off the whole world??
what the hell are these idiots talking about??
will they just STFU???
Title : It's not about the money
Date : 16 April 2007 1139 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/270577/1/.html
Think not of the ministerial pay hike in terms of dollars and cents, but about the kind of Singapore that you want, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim on Sunday.
Echoing the sentiments of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Yaacob said that the unique case scenario that is Singapore does not allow for a wide margin of error.
“Really it’s not about me, it’s not about the Cabinet, but I think the best question for you to ask is the first question asked in Parliament: What kind of a country are we? What is Singapore?” he said.
Dr Yaacob was responding to a residentÂ’s question on the link between the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike and the ministerial pay increment at a dialogue session with residents during his ministerial visit to Tampines Central.
“I always explain this to visitors. I say you go to the US, if you have a riot in New York, you can go and stay in Los Angeles. In Singapore if you get a riot in Bedok, you cannot stay in Jurong,” he said.
“The smallness of Singapore gives us a certain flexibility but ... our room for making mistakes is very, very narrow and ... if we get our policy wrong, I think that will be disastrous.”
Because of that, he said, continuity in leadership is required in governing the country. He cited the GovernmentÂ’s ability to overcome SingaporeÂ’s water issues as an example.
“Supposing the Government changes every five years, different policy, I don’t think we could have a sustainable water supply for Singaporeans,” he said. “Only because the Government has been on it for the last 40 years, the same Government, committed to the same outcome, we have been able to achieve resilience in our water supply.”
Explaining the GST increase, Dr Yaacob said it is needed “primarily because we have some long-term problems emerging”.
“In order to fund projects for low-income families, we need to be able to raise some revenue,” he said Dr Yaacob also defended the civil service, saying the good performers deserve the pay.
“Frankly speaking, you cannot find another civil service quite like it. It’s an ecosystem. ... Look at other countries — how the civil service is corrupt, inept, inefficient. Ours is on the ball. They get the job done.” - TODAY/ra -
Originally posted by the Bear:
does this asswipe know he just pissed off the whole world??
what the hell are these idiots talking about??
will they just STFU???
Title : It's not about the money
Date : 16 April 2007 1139 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/270577/1/.html
Think not of the ministerial pay hike in terms of dollars and cents, but about the kind of Singapore that you want, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim on Sunday.
what singapore wants (or at least what i want) is commited leaders who is committed to serve Singapore not "money not enoght ministers"
Echoing the sentiments of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Yaacob said that the unique case scenario that is Singapore does not allow for a wide margin of error.
parrot talks
“Really it’s not about me, it’s not about the Cabinet, but I think the best question for you to ask is the first question asked in Parliament: What kind of a country are we? What is Singapore?” he said.
i don't see committed ministers. all are being "dragged into parliament" and entice with money to stay
Dr Yaacob was responding to a residentÂ’s question on the link between the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike and the ministerial pay increment at a dialogue session with residents during his ministerial visit to Tampines Central.
try convincing me or at least the people out here
“I always explain this to visitors. I say you go to the US, if you have a riot in New York, you can go and stay in Los Angeles. In Singapore if you get a riot in Bedok, you cannot stay in Jurong,” he said.
“The smallness of Singapore gives us a certain flexibility but ... our room for making mistakes is very, very narrow and ... if we get our policy wrong, I think that will be disastrous.”
Sinagpore is indeed small in size but big in term of sizes paid to ministers. indeed, if ministers are underpaid, then Bush Bush is grossly underpaid
Because of that, he said, continuity in leadership is required in governing the country. He cited the GovernmentÂ’s ability to overcome SingaporeÂ’s water issues as an example.
“Supposing the Government changes every five years, different policy, I don’t think we could have a sustainable water supply for Singaporeans,” he said. “Only because the Government has been on it for the last 40 years, the same Government, committed to the same outcome, we have been able to achieve resilience in our water supply.”
Explaining the GST increase, Dr Yaacob said it is needed “primarily because we have some long-term problems emerging”.
“In order to fund projects for low-income families, we need to be able to raise some revenue,” he said Dr Yaacob also defended the civil service, saying the good performers deserve the pay.
Oh yes...it increased to help the poor. come on man, give me a better reason than this
“Frankly speaking, you cannot find another civil service quite like it. It’s an ecosystem. ... [b]Look at other countries — how the civil service is corrupt, inept, inefficient. Ours is on the ball. They get the job done.” - TODAY/ra
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tell us not to look at issues in dollar and cents and yet they look at it in dollars and sense?
i dont understand sia -
you know... it's called "talking out the both sides of their mouths", "being two-faced"...
or heck... basic hypocrisy..
like the blogger said, the asswipes should stop effing justifying and rationalising and shut the f**k up...Originally posted by laurence82:tell us not to look at issues in dollar and cents and yet they look at it in dollars and sense?
i dont understand sia -
the more they justify, the more stupid everything sounds.
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actually, i'm more concerned about them seeing themselves as "Rulers" and the common people as the "Ruled"
so, they are the kings and royalty while we are their subjects and serfs? -
since when have they made sense?Originally posted by laurence82:tell us not to look at issues in dollar and cents and yet they look at it in dollars and sense?
i dont understand sia -
okay, off for my swim!
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Ooooeeiiii....
you folks can come meet me at the airport or not?
I dont want to lug your stuffs everywhere around Singapore.
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when are you reaching the airport?Originally posted by viciouskitty74:Ooooeeiiii....
you folks can come meet me at the airport or not?
I dont want to lug your stuffs everywhere around Singapore. -
sian sian ar.. my cgh and cmpb tingy is stressing me out.
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if such little things can stress stellagirl out, goodness knows what will happen when really heavy things happen
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Our government is making us wanna hide our faces
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that is why i concur with that blog which basically ranted for the MIW to just STFUOriginally posted by elindra:Our government is making us wanna hide our faces
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Beri early in the morning.Originally posted by the Bear:when are you reaching the airport?
0125hours.
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okay.. i'm supposed to find and caption some pictures of our activities over the years...
thing is, a lot of the pics have my boss's face in it... she usually either looks deranged or a refugee from the 70s (think afro) or both... -
i can be charged under some act!Originally posted by the Bear:if such little things can stress stellagirl out, goodness knows what will happen when really heavy things happen
or possibly get into some trobule with them if i try to postpone.. -
what day?
friday morning?Originally posted by viciouskitty74:Beri early in the morning.
0125hours. -
simple.. go read them the riot act...
or are you just too lazy to actually go there and do it?Originally posted by stellazio:i can be charged under some act!
or possibly get into some trobule with them if i try to postpone.. -
Sighhhh.....beri 'bo xim'Originally posted by the Bear:what day?
friday morning?
ETA Singapore 19 April 2007 Thursday 0125 hours.
North West Airline 5.
I hear its terminal 1.