When caught with food in the mouth, discreetly cover it with your hands, make no eye contact and hum a tune. Try to make your getaway with small steps.

Where is the samurai sword to live by the samurai code?

If there is one, Wong Kan Seng would have been chopped for MSK’s escape.
LHL would have to go for bringing in the minibombs.
GCT would have to go for allowing these minibombs to explode in our faces.
LKY would have to go for the mentoring that produced these imbeciles.

The list goes on and on and on. In short, the whole PAP has to ( as you’ve said it) commit Seppuku.

Dare to talk integrity when there is none.

and that’s a nice quote…so there is no secret in SG? now we know that’s true…no secret but there is a hush hush and vague answers + beating around the bush and tai chi…

There have been numerous attempts by this PAP govt to paint itself as having the highest level of integrity built along the reputation it declares itself to possess and having the mandate to do what it does, from the people who voted for them, because they are the best in the land.

To give an example of what I mean, let’s hear Vivian Balakrisnan’s own words on transparency being the key to Singapore’s success:

Vivian: ““Everything we do is under public scrutiny. In Singapore there are no secrets, if I cock up you will know. At least within the PAP, we select on the basis of merit, and we are also totally unsentimental about dropping people. It’s almost a samurai code. We’re not a group of friends who got together one night and decided we want to run Singapore and enrich ourselves.”

Now tell me, how not to hold him to these words. He has spoken on behalf of PAP, the party. How not to hold the PAP accountable to these words?

Hi Gem, I also think so lah all these people could be a special team send in here to counter attacking our comments, maybe they are even been paid to do the job lah, “part-time cyber team”

I mean, there are people out there who says that we are asking too much from the gahmen, but i say, if the gahmen is getting such a high pay, then they need to justify with action. and when we criticize the gahmen, these people will pop up and tries to defend them, citing example of how lucky we are. however their defense sound so empty as what we are stating are fact.

I am waiting for wishbone’s reply, leh.
Seems like he had disappeared into thin air like the rest (Lazarus and his 20 lizards, auntielucia and her paragon kakis and Elaina & her cymbal-banging cheerleading gang).

that’s a good one…my sentiments…

… I see that you guys are looking at things very superficially. I mean have you guys ever done any community work before? Obviously not enough experience helping people. Let me give you some scenarios that resembles what I personally see on ground.

There is a standard format every time someone speaks up for the govt.
1st: tell the audience what they have been hearing are nothing but naïve, superficial and brainless opinions from people with nothing better to do but sit behind a computer and write nonsense.
2nd: tell the audience that these same people do not have the correct ‘facts’ when they wrote what they wrote.
3rd: share his own expert and firsthand experience to convince the audience why his thoughts are the correct ones and must be believed.
Why can’t they just go ahead and share what they have to share without having to run others down first. Such insecurity and low-self esteem.

I shall not list here the community work I have undertaken mainly because; let’s just say; it will put you to shame by comparison.

Assuming you have the power to give welfare to people. Cash is in your hands. You need to spilt them. Some to develop the economy, some for defence, some to educate our young and some to give to our sick and injured.

The answer is simple. When you have the political power and the means are in your hands to make decisions as you deem fit, then your responsibility is toward the people who voted to keep you there to look after their interest.

Go tell the govt to break down the list of priorities you have listed here and tell them to give us the monetary figures that goes into each item. After that, tell them to tell the electorate during election time that $XXXXmillion will be used to attract businesses, $XXXmillion will go into Defence, $XXmillion will go into Education, $Xmillion into Healthcare; while welfare will be on a case-by-case format. Tell the govt to use this to ask for the peoples votes.

In the case of uncle A, take away the unforeseeable elements in his case and you will see that 15 years ago, he had a healthy income of 2k/mth and a nice little 4 room flat with good value. When his daughter got married, he must have thought his life’s duty was completed and that he wanted to live life differently away from the rat-race that is Singapore. The early 90’s came with promises of a good life by the GCT govt, remember? So what is wrong for the people to take the words of their leader literally and go on vacations and be a bit more laid back. Probably we can attribute his kidney failure to the good life espoused by GCT.

And now, after voting for the PAP and doing the things the PAP had called the citizens to do, even setting up business, the same PAP now turns its back on him because he is now deemed to have squandered his life away?

Auntie B. Her husband died when their down-syndrome child was 4 years old, 20 years ago. For 20 years, she was earning a meagre $500/mth. How come no one found it necessary to help her out all these years and now after 20 years we are still deciding if her case warrants priority help over other cases? Do we step in to help only after she ’suddenly’ suffers from osteoporosis?

… Singapore, a small vulnerable city state with an economy that is easily affected by any sneeze and cough of the global market. It does not have unlimited amount of money. It has to keep itself attractive and competitive in order to maintain its economy so that every Singaporean can maintain their livelihood.

And who is making this possible? The PAP govt and the PAP govt alone? If that is the case, then leave the people out of the equation and we won’t be demanding anything. It is the people who make it possible for the country to remain competitive and for the govt to be able to stand with world leaders to promote their wares – because of the people’s support. Why then do this PAP govt dump these same people and ignore them when they have outlived their usefulness, or rather, PAP’s purpose?

Singapore, although a socialist-like state, does not operate like a welfare state. Reason is simple: we do not have enough resource to do this and we do not wish to tax ourselves and out investors too heavily…

Can the excuse be as lame as this? We have TCs accumulating funds by the billions; same with our National Reserves. We have independent self-help groups and institutions to source out and help these poor folks while the govt pretends they don’t even exist. If the govt do not have the resource, as you claimed, then they have failed and failed miserably. Mind you, our taxes are not small change for that matter.

THERE ARE SINGAPOREANS THAT KEPT ASKING WHAT THE COUNTRY CAN DO FOR THEM. Thankfully, there are other Singaporeans who ask themselves what they can do for their country and their fellow Singaporeans.

You have totally missed the point. These Singaporeans have answered the calls made by this PAP govt to support their policies and they are now asking, after having contributed and committed themselves to the country their whole lifetimes, for a little help from the govt to have their basic needs look after. The PAP govt cannot ignore this responsibility for to do so is to become a liar and a thief.

DO YOU GET IT NOW?

People have to be responsible for their own doing. They cannot expect people to help them when it was foreseeable that they would end up in a dire strait. However some people are struck by calamities that we have to help them. Its not that we choose who we want to help. But we have this much money and we can only give to deserving people.

Who is it then to ascertain if one has lived his life responsibly? What do we need to produce when we grow old and need help? Video evidence? What is foreseeable in your examples? The failed kidney as a result of GCT asking people to live it up and enjoy the good things in life?

I understand that it is hard wrenching when you see a video posted by someone on Youtube …

Why do you think people who do not think the way you do are those who have watched too much Youtube videos? Why do you have this stereotyped thinking that causes you to see think from a biased perspective of what people are honestly trying to present here?

…to tell a fake story about evil officials squandering the money of poor folks.

Are you implying those cardboard aunties and uncles screen actors?

I have stories to tell of rich people who have been born with silver-spoons in their mouths but yet found it needful to be paid by the millions. These same people have the audacity to come begging the citizens for such increments and even when the people answered, No, they still proceeded to do what they wanted to do after dishing out a few threats here and there. Anyway, this is for another day. If you want I can share with you the stories of Rich Uncle A and Tai-Tai Aunty B.

Ahh,unlike us, you mr wishbone, is someone who look really in-depth into the situation? Come on, everyone of us have differing opinions, just because you have a different opinion doesn’t mean that others are superficial.

Let me just sum it up for you…helps need to go both way… what we are discussing over here is how the gahman have been helping the citizen…and you were not able to give us a concrete explaination on what is been done and is it effective? we just feel that more can be done.

a person need to help themselves otherwise even if someone gives them the lift, nothing will be achieve out of it…there are people out there who are trying to make life better for themselves and they need some help. however, when they are requesting for help, they are given the cold shoulder. When Dr Neo request for extra support, she knows that those are the needies and they deserve the assistance, thus she voice out her request, and look at the reply. Now, don’t tell me Dr Neo is trying to help Scenario Uncle A, and that was why she is rejected. We are not asking the gahmen to help everyone, but at least try to listen and provide more assistance for those who genuinely needs it. This happen in real life, unlike your scenario, which differ.

and as you have said ” we not not have unlimited money” and we agree…however what most of us here feels is if we don’t have that much money, why are the MIW drawing such a high pay, from the tax payer’s money when it can be used to help the needies…

furthermore, you said that “you are sacrificing funds that are used for defence and education” hello…what about their pay? i guess you accidentally miss that out. Yes, we can’t compromise on defense and education, but paycheck is another different issue. and i don’t think a huge amount is needed for this issue at hand,until it will compromise security and education

but mr wishbone, what you have been posting is very nice, questioning us as it helps us to improve on our case.

I wish you would be more restrained and discerning.

I’m a volunteer with a VWO, having spearheaded major public education campaigns in the last three years for an underprivileged community of people. If that doesn’t count as community service, I’ve also constantly referred unemployed persons to employment opportunities, and preparing them for it. I also raise funds regularly for people in financial hardship.

In every society, there will be constraints as to who and how much we can help. We are not advocating welfare without strings, or welfare for one and all. Many suggestions have been made in this forum that will help cushion the impact of economic downturn or even prevent people from having to turn to the Govt for help – eg. drawing on CPF, temporary reduction in GST/other taxes, rentals, utility, levies, realistic cost-based HDB prices, etc. Most have supported the call of no welfare, but implement sound and fair policies such as minimum wage to prevent exploitation of foreign workers, and to review “market-subsidy” for public housing and the privatization of essential goods and services that have led to higher prices. Many are also questioning the value of re-training when job opportunities are scarce in the light of our foreign employment policies.

Being an open economy with no real market leadership, unlike South Korea, Japan, China and India, Singapore is vulnerable to trade fluctuations and we recognise that. We recognise the importance of staying attractive and competitive to ensure the long-term survival of this island nation. What we are asking is this:

1. Can the Govt do away with the steep fiscal revenues and reverse recent hikes, and re-implement this when the global economy is back on track?
2. Is the Govt spending enough during downtimes like this for the people, or channeling proportionately yet more money into questionable investments overseas?
3. Are our policies truly in line with the needs of the people in view of the economic & employment realities?

Let’s not be too quick to judge and blame people for bad decisions in their life. Even Govt leaders make bad decisions that people have been asked to overlook and move on. I would ask if the Govt would be as gracious to help those who are in dire straits now, but are willing to restructure their lives to move on.

To summarised all these, now you people know WHY they always penalise anyone that dares to question them, not even our late president Ong TC was being spared.

But sometimes we need to put ourselves in the shoes of others. Let’s trying fitting into the shoe of the government. Would it make sense to come up with unpopular policies and getting cursed and sworn because of that?

Give me $300,000 a month and I’ll try to fit myself in to the govt’s position.

Gem,
give me that $300.000 a month and not that I will try to fit myslef in their position, I can make even the whole entire nation love me so much almost immediately. How? very simple! give me the key to the vault and I will release all the cpf monies in full to those already hit 55. Not enough to pay out, no problem I am pretty sure I will have the permission of all the singaporeans to withdraw 50% of the risky foreign investments back because these money belongs to the singaporeans.

For defence and education only ? As what those people up there and you would want us to believe.

You have written a long article but can be best summarised by zeroing into the situation of uncle A and with it in having the intention of giving some logical closure to your case.

In the case of uncle A, car, travel, starting & failing in business and kidney failure are all different events happening perhaps in different or concurrent times having a net impact to his current predicament.

Failing a business and having kidney failure cannot be construed as wrong life decisions. Entreprenuership, with widely known high attrition rate, is encouraged even here in our country.

No one asked for failure and kidney failure. Having a car & travel which is so common may be done during good times. You know the facts better.

“As usual, these videos operate like propaganda. Let’s be mature about it and not be influenced.”

Propaganda ? Please do not make me laugh. This is child play compared to our MSM. Remember, they made so many first calls only until only recently where YouTube or a lot of whatever tubes in the internet are becoming one big leveller in the whole propaganda, information or disinformation games.

Uncle A:
This uncle is 65 years old and is now suffering from kidney disease. His wife died 5 years ago. His has only 1 daughter having her own family living in a 3 room flat with a total family income of 1k/mth, barely enough for her family expenditure. Uncle A is now picking up old newspaper, cardboards and metal cans to recycle for money. He is unable to pay for his rental for 1 room flat. Now he wanted to seek help but does not know how.

15 years ago, Uncle A had a job as a security guard earning 2k/mth. He owned a 4 room HDB flat in Toa Payoh that is valued at 250k. When his daughter got married, he sold the flat and started to rent a 1 room flat with his wife. He spent the most of the money on a car, some travelling with his wife and started a hawker stall business selling drinks. He did not save much and had very little CPF. The business eventually failed. After his wife died, he suffered from kidney failure and had taken up aid from KDF for dialysis.

Auntie B:
Auntie B is 59 years old. She was widowed at the age of 35 and her only son suffered from Down Syndrome. She worked as a cleaning lady ever since her husband died 20 years ago and earning $500/mth. Recently, she suffered from serious joint infections and can no longer work. But she still has to pay the rent and take care of her son. She does not own any property and her husband only left her with 2k. She seeks help to solve her housing arrears from HDB and for her living expenditure.

Background:
The country is Singapore, a small vulnerable city state with an economy that is easily affected by any sneeze and cough of the global market. It does not have unlimited amount of money. It has to keep itself attractive and competitive in order to maintain its economy so that every Singaporean can maintain their livelihood.

Concerns:
Singapore, although a socialist-like state, does not operate like a welfare state. Reason is simple: we do not have enough resource to do this and we do not wish to tax ourselves and out investors too heavily if not our economy would fall and we would revert to our kampong status with surrounding neighbour countries eyeing on us. Singapore is not invulnerable. It needs its people to be strong and able if not it will fall.

THERE ARE SINGAPOREANS THAT KEPT ASKING WHAT THE COUNTRY CAN DO FOR THEM. Thankfully, there are other Singaporeans who ask themselves what they can do for their country and their fellow Singaporeans.

Now:
Assuming you have the power to give welfare to people. Cash is in your hands. You need to spilt them. Some to develop the economy, some for defence, some to educate our young and some to give to our sick and injured.

Looking at Uncle A and Auntie B. Tell me who will you give the welfare to? Uncle A who made the wrong life decisions, spent his money on cars and travel or Auntie B? If you chose uncle A, then what you are ultimately doing is to use tax payer money to recover his loss of hawker business, pay for his car and his travel. If you choose both, you are sacrificing funds that are used for defence and education, making Singapore weaker and vulnerable (if Singapore fails, EVERYONE suffers).

DO YOU GET IT NOW?

People have to be responsible for their own doing. They cannot expect people to help them when it was foreseeable that they would end up in a dire strait. However some people are struck by calamities that we have to help them. Its not that we choose who we want to help. But we have this much money and we can only give to deserving people.

I understand that it is hard wrenching when you see a video posted by someone on Youtube depicting old uncles and aunties picking up newspaper and begging for money while showing other people (and most often the Ministers depicted as talking or enjoying) having a good life. But if you looked deeper, things are not as simple as what the video maker is trying to do – to tell a fake story about evil officials squandering the money of poor folks. As usual, these videos operate like propaganda. Let’s be mature about it and not be influenced.

Well, you can choose to verify what I painstakingly explained. Go join a community service (one that is not operated by the government since you guys hate the government so much) for at least half a year. See for yourself what others who are doing something instead of venting their frustration on a website.

I like this part…

Would TOC take up logicalman’s suggestion?

The same goes with beach families, uncles in the park and aunties pushing trolleys. Perhaps these are mythical creatures for some of our friends in Singapore. It would be an eye-opener for TOC to do a documentary on these whom most busy folks have no time or heart for.