Comments on: The heart of society http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/ a community of Singaporeans Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:43:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dead Poet http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Dead Poet Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:24:07 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-171 Yes, we have 48,500 millionaire and I saw the top 40 richest men list in Singapore. Of the 40 I have no problem for they are people who have achieved success on their own effort, hardwork and integrity. But what really suprised me is that a few people namely those in politics did not appear in the list especially a notable family. We all know with the given wages, directorships, pension etc we should have a few people on the list but yet we do not see it. So much for transparency. Well we only knew how much money Suharto and Marcos had only after they lost their power and perhaps that's why losing power is such a fear that it will be prevented at all cost. Yes, we have 48,500 millionaire and I saw the top 40 richest men list in Singapore. Of the 40 I have no problem for they are people who have achieved success on their own effort, hardwork and integrity. But what really suprised me is that a few people namely those in politics did not appear in the list especially a notable family. We all know with the given wages, directorships, pension etc we should have a few people on the list but yet we do not see it. So much for transparency. Well we only knew how much money Suharto and Marcos had only after they lost their power and perhaps that’s why losing power is such a fear that it will be prevented at all cost.

]]> By: sunny http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-170 sunny Sun, 11 Mar 2007 05:40:00 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-170 what is that great deception that brought about this degeneration and it is this - selling you a heart and soul that few can distinguish from the genuine article oh unless your righteousness EXCEEDS the righteousness of the learned practioners, you shall not enter into true liberty and the celebration of life oh unless you be discerning enough to distinguish your mirror image from who you really are, you shall remain placid to the false not all goodness and charity are alike. however, it is easy to rule over those who think they are one and the same! what is that great deception that brought about this degeneration and it is this – selling you a heart and soul that few can distinguish from the genuine article

oh unless your righteousness EXCEEDS the righteousness of the learned practioners, you shall not enter into true liberty and the celebration of life

oh unless you be discerning enough to distinguish your mirror image from who you really are, you shall remain placid to the false

not all goodness and charity are alike.

however, it is easy to rule over those who think they are one and the same!

]]> By: theonlinecitizen http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-169 theonlinecitizen Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:53:44 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-169 Rowen, Sadly, there is some truth to what you say. Which is why Singaporeans must be even more involved in the political issues of their country. Only with that can we guard against corruption. We may never attain 100% certainty of incorruptibility, but that does not mean we don't try, right? So, take heart. Singaporeans are slwoly being more interested. That's my view. Regards, theonlinecitizen Rowen,

Sadly, there is some truth to what you say. Which is why Singaporeans must be even more involved in the political issues of their country. Only with that can we guard against corruption.

We may never attain 100% certainty of incorruptibility, but that does not mean we don’t try, right?

So, take heart. Singaporeans are slwoly being more interested. That’s my view.

Regards,
theonlinecitizen

]]> By: Rowen http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Rowen Mon, 15 Jan 2007 10:34:49 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-168 Those in power would spend their means and ways to stay in power. The way it is said is to pay enough so people do not become corrupt. What in the world or in Singapore is stopping people who are paid enough or more than enough from becoming corrupt? It is human nature to want more. Give a person a wooden hut, he would desire a brick house, Give him a brick house, he would want a Mansion, Give him a Mansion, he would want a castle, Give him a castle he would want a kingdom, Give him a kingdom, he would want the world. What governs a person's desire, his morals and not external factors of giving him more money. Look and the NKF Mr Durai, he has a pay which is benchmarked against the CEOs of companies. Yet he wants more. Yet he is corrupt. Look at Mr Chen Shui Bian of Taiwan. He started with no money and a nobody. He declared that the ruling government then was corrupt. Yet now in his position of power less than a decade of his rise. He too has become corrupted. Powers corrupts. Those who stay in power will become corrupt. That is a simple fact of life. Those in power would spend their means and ways to stay in power.

The way it is said is to pay enough so people do not become corrupt.

What in the world or in Singapore is stopping people who are paid enough or more than enough from becoming corrupt?

It is human nature to want more. Give a person a wooden hut, he would desire a brick house, Give him a brick house, he would want a Mansion, Give him a Mansion, he would want a castle, Give him a castle he would want a kingdom, Give him a kingdom, he would want the world.

What governs a person’s desire, his morals and not external factors of giving him more money.

Look and the NKF Mr Durai, he has a pay which is benchmarked against the CEOs of companies. Yet he wants more. Yet he is corrupt.

Look at Mr Chen Shui Bian of Taiwan. He started with no money and a nobody. He declared that the ruling government then was corrupt. Yet now in his position of power less than a decade of his rise. He too has become corrupted.

Powers corrupts.
Those who stay in power will become corrupt.

That is a simple fact of life.

]]> By: Lunatic Fringe http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-167 Lunatic Fringe Mon, 15 Jan 2007 09:11:16 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-167 Welfare is a dirty word because taxing the rich to help the poor is anaethema in Singapore! We tax the poor to help the poor! (Think GST's regressive nature) We tax the rich (a little) to show they are also taxed but by golly GST hits them less severly than the lower income earners. We don't have capital gains tax - but then again, please dun introduce it cos it will hit my punting on the Stock Exchange to provide me the gains to offset the potential increase in GST. Welfare is a dirty word. Because THEY say so. LF Welfare is a dirty word because taxing the rich to help the poor is anaethema in Singapore!

We tax the poor to help the poor! (Think GST’s regressive nature)

We tax the rich (a little) to show they are also taxed but by golly GST hits them less severly than the lower income earners.

We don’t have capital gains tax – but then again, please dun introduce it cos it will hit my punting on the Stock Exchange to provide me the gains to offset the potential increase in GST.

Welfare is a dirty word. Because THEY say so.

LF

]]> By: theonlinecitizen http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-166 theonlinecitizen Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:00:42 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-166 Dear Singaporecityzen, Same as you I am rather disturbed that <a href="http://app.sprinter.gov.sg/data/pr/2006111301.htm" rel="nofollow">'welfare'</a> was described by the prime minister as a dirty word. I do believe that the govt is taking the extreme meaning of the word without giving due consideration to the fact that there are (and always be) people who are in need of state help - no matter how perfect our policies are. Treating the word 'welfare' as 'dirty' and declaring it so makes me wonder about other words they used - like 'caring' and 'compassonate'. I thought the words were related. Maybe I am wrong. Dear Singaporecityzen,

Same as you I am rather disturbed that ‘welfare’ was described by the prime minister as a dirty word.

I do believe that the govt is taking the extreme meaning of the word without giving due consideration to the fact that there are (and always be) people who are in need of state help – no matter how perfect our policies are.

Treating the word ‘welfare’ as ‘dirty’ and declaring it so makes me wonder about other words they used – like ‘caring’ and ‘compassonate’.

I thought the words were related. Maybe I am wrong.

]]> By: aliens http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-165 aliens Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:09:56 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-165 greeting eartlings, We visited you this Sunday, remember the green lights over sg hahahahahahaha! Never fear once we vat and liberate you by making you into a battery, you wouldnt even know, you are slogging away! http://intelligentsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/01/14/we-are-not-alone/#comment-3645 greeting eartlings,

We visited you this Sunday, remember the green lights over sg hahahahahahaha! Never fear once we vat and liberate you by making you into a battery, you wouldnt even know, you are slogging away!

http://intelligentsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/01/14/we-are-not-alone/#comment-3645

]]> By: ChinaMan http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-164 ChinaMan Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:38:55 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-164 If there are any resemblance in the US and Singapore, it's because of 6 years of Bush administrations. Now that both houses of Congress have gone to the Democrats, and hopefully the executive branch will follow in 2 years, life for middle class American will turn for the better. But in the little red dot, the MIW will rule till kingdom come. How to have a future? If there are any resemblance in the US and Singapore, it’s because of 6 years of Bush administrations. Now that both houses of Congress have gone to the Democrats, and hopefully the executive branch will follow in 2 years, life for middle class American will turn for the better. But in the little red dot, the MIW will rule till kingdom come. How to have a future?

]]> By: singaporecityzen http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-163 singaporecityzen Sat, 13 Jan 2007 16:41:34 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-163 Thanks for this piece, it was a good read and timely because I've been contemplating the same issues. I do not feel globalization is just an easy excuse... it does have detrimental effects, and worldwide activists who protest the IMF and World Bank are well aware of this. But I do agree the G-word is too convenient a crutch used to excuse, even justify, cold-blooded policy. I'm saddened to see "welfare" has become a dirty word in Singapore just as it has become in the US. The situations in the 2 countries are currently too similar - the American middle class is struggling, wages have not kept up with inflation, and meanwhile, more and more wealth and assets in the country are going to the richest 5%... their income keeps multiplying at the same time their tax burdens (I'm still talking about the wealthiest billionaires) are decreasing. I was alarmed when health insurance became a must-have in Singapore, because it was starting to resemble the American healthcare system, which an American will tell you honestly is in <em>shambles</em>. Americans are afraid of seeing their doctors because of cost. They putter on until they need the emergency room, the costs of which take years to pay off. I'm starting to see the "framing" war happening in Singapore that has been playing out in the US (welfare=bad, globalization=good, when it just isn't that simple), and I'm glad to see Singaporean bloggers wise to it. Thanks for this piece, it was a good read and timely because I’ve been contemplating the same issues. I do not feel globalization is just an easy excuse… it does have detrimental effects, and worldwide activists who protest the IMF and World Bank are well aware of this. But I do agree the G-word is too convenient a crutch used to excuse, even justify, cold-blooded policy.

I’m saddened to see “welfare” has become a dirty word in Singapore just as it has become in the US. The situations in the 2 countries are currently too similar – the American middle class is struggling, wages have not kept up with inflation, and meanwhile, more and more wealth and assets in the country are going to the richest 5%… their income keeps multiplying at the same time their tax burdens (I’m still talking about the wealthiest billionaires) are decreasing.

I was alarmed when health insurance became a must-have in Singapore, because it was starting to resemble the American healthcare system, which an American will tell you honestly is in shambles. Americans are afraid of seeing their doctors because of cost. They putter on until they need the emergency room, the costs of which take years to pay off.

I’m starting to see the “framing” war happening in Singapore that has been playing out in the US (welfare=bad, globalization=good, when it just isn’t that simple), and I’m glad to see Singaporean bloggers wise to it.

]]> By: spin http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-162 spin Sat, 13 Jan 2007 13:34:38 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-162 we run an efficient system, so they boasted, yet, many end their lives in meaningless death. but there are help available, they defended. their tragic deaths are their own doing and ignorance.trust them to have an answer to everything except being honest. and the honest truth is that the civil servants are totally devoid of heart and soul AT SOME POINT. and it is at this point and beyond that many who sought help lose hope,trust and faith that some end in tragic death. no one who works for a salary gives a damn really. no? the wise one said, don't pay them enough corruption sets in. their heart is as warm as the next meal on their table. if they truly care, they will share their lion's meal with you! do you see that happening? in the laws of the junggle, to each his own AT SOME POINT! we run an efficient system, so they boasted, yet, many end their lives in meaningless death. but there are help available, they defended. their tragic deaths are their own doing and ignorance.trust them to have an answer to everything except being honest. and the honest truth is that the civil servants are totally devoid of heart and soul AT SOME POINT. and it is at this point and beyond that many who sought help lose hope,trust and faith that some end in tragic death.

no one who works for a salary gives a damn really. no? the wise one said, don’t pay them enough corruption sets in. their heart is as warm as the next meal on their table. if they truly care, they will share their lion’s meal with you!

do you see that happening?

in the laws of the junggle, to each his own AT SOME POINT!

]]> By: Lunatic Fringe http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Lunatic Fringe Sat, 13 Jan 2007 13:34:17 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-161 Singapore is not a country. It is a company set up to milk its citizens of maximum profits to support the Board of Directors and CEO who are part of the elite. Your happiness as a citizen only makes sense if it makes you more productive to contribute your economic efforts to supporting the elite. Your life belongs to them because we gave up original thought and ideas and subjugated them to worshipping money and economic prosperity. We are happy in so far that our happiness is purchased using the wages of our work. Happiness beyond the economic sphere is non-utilitarian and does not benefit the elite. Welcome to UTOPIA aka Singapore. Singapore is not a country.

It is a company set up to milk its citizens of maximum profits to support the Board of Directors and CEO who are part of the elite.

Your happiness as a citizen only makes sense if it makes you more productive to contribute your economic efforts to supporting the elite.

Your life belongs to them because we gave up original thought and ideas and subjugated them to worshipping money and economic prosperity. We are happy in so far that our happiness is purchased using the wages of our work. Happiness beyond the economic sphere is non-utilitarian and does not benefit the elite.

Welcome to UTOPIA aka Singapore.

]]> By: sillyzen http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-160 sillyzen Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:53:27 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-160 You forgot to mention there are more than 1000 attempted suicide and suicides every year. For a tiny utopian nation, the number is troubling. So you can continue to latch on to this hope but I doubt the problems can be resolved the way things are going. You forgot to mention there are more than 1000 attempted suicide and suicides every year. For a tiny utopian nation, the number is troubling.
So you can continue to latch on to this hope but I doubt the problems can be resolved the way things are going.

]]> By: Rigpa http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/the-heart-of-society/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Rigpa Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:44:11 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/01/13/the-heart-of-society/#comment-159 Many people do not know what the meaning of life is. Many people simply follow others, as blinds following the blinds. Many blind leaders simply strive to keep and maintain their power. Many blind nations simply run the course of daily chaos. We are blind because: We have eyes but do not see. We have ears but do not listen. We have hearts but do not feel. We have brains but do not think. We have conscience but do not care. We have spirits but do not lift. We have consciousness but are not awaken. We have minds but have not been enlightened. Alas! Life simply goes on in a cyclic existence! Many people do not know what the meaning of life is.
Many people simply follow others, as blinds following the blinds.
Many blind leaders simply strive to keep and maintain their power.
Many blind nations simply run the course of daily chaos.

We are blind because:
We have eyes but do not see.
We have ears but do not listen.
We have hearts but do not feel.
We have brains but do not think.
We have conscience but do not care.
We have spirits but do not lift.
We have consciousness but are not awaken.
We have minds but have not been enlightened.

Alas! Life simply goes on in a cyclic existence!

]]>