I do not want to see drugs lords ruling in the streets and around out housing estates.

The other arguments from the Ang Mo, i support!

So, Preston Loon, are U ready for a good discussion? Have U check yourself what is the foreign content of Canada? Is Singapore as big as Canada for that matter? U wanna to discuss Australia instead? It’s Ok with me.

Frankly I am getting disappointed as your replies indicated you have answers to the foreign content issue, or at least what is happening in Canada. Understanding how other countries have manage their national fabric would help us understand how to build a nation. Or maybe U think we still need another 50 years. Or just another smokescreen?

Singaporeans will strongly endorsed the GRC and the PAP, you wait and see in an easy governed city. Salute the GRC. Love live GRC for greater prosperity,future and Sigh!!

So, Preston, it does not mean “the whole world knows that they exist and their illicit dealings in drugs traffickings, weapon smuggling ,prostitutions,gambling” means that democracy is to blame. Just like the whole world knows the Muslim fundamentalists exist as terrorist and their plot to blast people off does not mean Govts should shut Muslim orgns down.

With regards to mocking politicians like Clinton or Bush junior, or mocking anybody for that matter, or saying anything about anybody, it does reflect on oneself. It is up to your self respect and maturity, again democracy is not to blame. I still don’t think politicians should be any special and put on a pedestal in a glass box. If he or she knows the consequence of their shameful acts, then don’t do it is the simple answer. Taking away democracy just because of saving their skin when they make mistakes will only turn even a saint politician into a dictator.

If only it is as straight forward as the large influx of foreigners is to replenish the mass Sporean exodus. Those who come include unskilled workers (ship loads of them). Our locals who left got to be of some professional calibre, highly skilled or successful entrepreneurs before even contemplating to leave for countries like US, Canada, Aust or UK. We don’t get cleaner Ah Sohs leaving for Switzerland do we? How can the Govt even think of using influx of Siow Chang, Muthu & Imelda to replenish talents who left!

Sorry, impolite of me to forgot to include what you asked to check at www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/demo46a-eng.htm?sdi=foreign%20born%20population, which shows only 18.4% foreign-content in Canada as of 2001. If my maths is still credible, that is about HALF Singapore’s current.

I will try to find the OEDC report of 2005/2006 where I got my numbers (in early TOC article) if you can provide a proper discussion. FYI, +/-2% over a DECADE is pretty normal in the OEDC countries.

I am coming clean — there is lots of hungry people now even though they might had been the 34% that voted PAP last. Maybe you should come clean with the direction you are getting at.

Like how “condoms” comes into the discussion … maybe you mean they consider distributing condoms to the opp, wards this time round but thought that probably wouldn’t work, so die-die must spend some money on lift-upgrading.

Like “Can Makan or not” — yeah, that is the kiasu/kiasi attitude that makes Singaporeans so famous for. Way to go, brother. Can Makan the APEC people currently in town or not?

You are right , without accuracy or substance, maybe you shouldn’t be misleading anyone further. If you can’t read stats even from the source you have provided, then it is sure no one can have a proper discussion with you.

Just to be sure, we are talking percentage of foreign-born population, right? In absolute numbers, any developed country intake will likely look larger than ours — any 5-yearold can tell you. Or perhaps you don’t see it that way, like Singapore is as big as Canada?

Come clean lah brother. Singaporeans are smarter than you think. That’s why they will continue to vote in the PAP and not become hungry people like the rest of the world.

“44% did not get to vote at all ” – Why? Walkovers lah. Stupid!

Who dares to go into a fire and burn one’s deposit? Try challenging MM’s ward for example?

It’s between safe and unsafe. Can makan or not.

For such wards condoms won’t work lah.

“….C’mon,you and i know the reason why there are large influx of FTs
coming to Singapore.Like anywhere else in the world,the Singapore Government
in doing its best to replenishing its citizens who have moved out to a greener
pasture or somewhere have offers of good paying jobs …”

This view is becoming less and less defensible, at least with anyone I talk to daily. Don’t get me wrong as I am truly interested in why this continual faith placed on this reason, or are you simply echoing the govt. position? (Cos’ I used to think that 67% of voters did vote for the ruling party, something that is echoed until it becomes fact).

As I have mentioned often in TOC, the larger developed countries even don’t have foreign influx to the extreme of 36% like Singapore. Next is probably Australia/Canada at 20+%. If everyone is indeed replenishing their citizens with imports, kindly inform everyone which country is more than 36%, and is seeing positive results from it, apart from maybe increased GDP.

Otherwise, don’t you ask yourself why we are in such dire need to “replenish” our population? Do you not think it is somehow related to failed policies, past and present? That the large foreign intake is just a quick-fix solution for purely economical reasons? Pls do share your views with everyone. I don’t think anyone is trying to kill any politician, but that doesn’t mean that politicians are NOT accountable to the citizens.

Yah, not one – only because we have very strict gun laws. But one must not forget also that Singapore’s government is too clever than to use guns to kill off its opponents. It prefers killing in a slow and sadistic manner – leaving it opponents to die a slow death. It is more pleasurable not only to see them die slowly but to see their friends and families suffering along with them.

Only when you are a direct threat to its hold on power will they make sure that you die a sudden death a la Teh Chean Wan style.

- If an adult does not behave as an adult, similarly if a politician fails his or her people because of stupid mistakes, a message need to be put across immediately (not wait 5 years for election time). I think it is brilliant that the Western media put the message across in a fun way. Eg if there is a corrupt politician, at least everyone gets to know a certain politician is lining his or her own pocket. What is so wrong about this? Only a bad politician himself or herself, will not like this democratic system as he or she always has something to hide. Are you one of them?

The beauty of a democratic society is, people become mature and the fun or mocking thrown at these politicians is nothing more than entertainment plus the subtle message behind it. It actually reverses what you said about people’s violent demonstration. The fact that people are allowed to put their message across (and in a fun way) cools matters down and forces other politicians to act to resolve the matter. How will politician problems be resolved in an authoritarain society esp if the leader himself or herself is also bad, where respect means you do not say anything bad about politicians?

Your post: “We do not assassinate them just because we disagree with their policies.We do not organize violent demonstrations.”

- Are many politicians being assassinated in Western democratic societies? Where did most of the violent demonstrations happen? Is it in Tianamen, China, Tibet, China, Maymar? They are not even in the West!

Your post “We have a 1st class educational system”

- You must be the Minister of education so only you say so! I beg to differ and differ greatly. May I remind you that scoring in Spore exams is not a measure of good education. If the education is soooo good, why do we need entice foreign talents with so much freebies which even our own don’t get? Why Spore scholars need to go US or UK to pursue higher education? Why no scientific breakthrough? Why not a single product or brand made it to international stage? Why the inability to think of alternatives (always following)?

Your post: “Unlike the West,we do not legalize racist groups or bikers gangs or mafia as legitimate organizations”

- Please name them. I haven’t heard of any LEGAL racist group. There may be illegal group operating underground. They are not in a tiny country like Spore ok, in a vast country like US or Australia where there are outbacks, even Spore Minister (highest paid) won’t have a clue about them. Do you ?

Only this time, we’ll take him around the heartlands and allow him to take a look at the situation on the ground, instead of being herded by bureaucratic civil servants.

IIRC, he mentioned that opposition used an anti-immigration populist platform. We can walk around and show him all the foreign workers everywhere, explaining that influx of foreigners is a most valid concern.

We can show him the old folks picking cardboards on the streets and the cleaner who is earning $400 a month.

We can show him the ST and allow him to understand that it is truely a “great” paper.

We can show him our social studies textbook (must get the old one though which is more blatant in promoting progandistic BS).

Since the elections are forthcoming, we hope that the Prof would be able to join us then. Maybe he’ll have a clearer understanding of the grievances the citizens have and the mentality of the voters. An election where voters vote based on the politicians’ qualifications, not platform.

1. Conscription – enlisted at 18, get to vote earliest at 21, 2.5 + 13 years cycle later, how many times voted? New citizens in 2-5 years, voting rights immediate.

2. For those still too stupid, 67% did NOT vote PAP in 2006. Only 34% did. 44% did not get to vote at all — legally marginalised. That 34% gets massaged to 67% that gets massaged to 98% seats in Parliament that gets massaged to total control that get massaged to highest pay for ministers.

3. US President = USD400K salary; Singapore PM = USD2.05 million. Still clueless why no corruption in Singapore?? (See pt.2 above on how to snowball bank…err .voting…. numbers legally)

4. US = 12.5% foreign content (Ok, understand plus about 11% illegals); Singapore = 36% and still counting (Ok, no idea plus how many illegals here. All I know is Minus one illegal — MSK, having made it across to Johore).

5. One week one bonzo announced HDB prices are “affordable”, next week another announced release of more land for housing — indeed uniquely Singapore.

6. @1) Robox on November 9th, 2009 7.25 am
Yes our friend Caplan sure fits the definition of FTs we are so desperately in need of ….. did we give him a blue IC to flash on CNN??

7. Effects of failed policies like Stop-at-2 are not recognised and even stone-walled. We don’t even have a minister name on who is responsible for our declining TFR — tortoises hiding in their shells? Events like ministers kissing babies gets big time coverage on our MSM.

8. After 50 years, we are told we are not a nation nor country (only a city) and the National Pledge is only an Aspiration. We are at needle-end what other “surprises” in store for us, e.g. we will soon be a province of China?

9. Junta-established countries use tanks as voting machines; our regime uses lifts and flats (aka upgrading).

etc…etc…

So, Prof. Caplan, your list smells like (yesterday’s) roses ……

67% out of the pool of citizens, who were eligible voters, who had the chance to vote in a contested ward, who were sufficiently informed about person(s) they were voting for – what is the absolute percentage of those who consciously prefer the present government, after all these discounts?