LKY: Political divide should not become national divide
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caroline3sg:
As I stated earlier... the political divide stems from the roots of social divide and would flower into economic divide.
To me, I view national divide as:
1) Old PAP vs New PAP
Parliamentary debates leading to gridlock just like US Democrats & Republicans. This definitely slow down implementing policies which LKY is concerned about affecting economic progress.
2) Pro PAP vs Pro Opp
When this becomes personal, it would be similar to racial riots as in the beginning years. This would be more pronounced especially now there are more PRs & new citizens in recent 5 yrs. Such \"intenal fighting\" will stagnate the economy and affect S'pore's social stability.
SG is very unlikely to have a racial problem... that is Uniquely Singapore. However, the tests come in curry events like that of last month. Still, I do not see a racial problem.
One must recognize that this foreigner influx is a conscious effort to counter the low fertility rate... it started way beyound 10 years ago, and only in the last 5 years perhaps became a little more obvious. The roots of it I suspect is a lot deeper... one that starts from a mistake that led to a psychological implantation of beliefs, to a national boo-boo of housing supply.
One thing is very clear... that the masses will be sacrificed for the national economics. That's where I get very concerned as we are like standing at the beach with a small pail, waiting for a tsumami wave to come so that we can bail as fast as we can to save ourselves.
On the stagnation... or I'd rather call it stagflation... it will come, we may not be able to prevent it, but can mitigate it, depending on how we choose and what we do today. Thing is... we are still going after economic productivity and being in denial that we cannot keep up this pace.
Good or bad, today we are seeing the effects of the decisions made yesterdecade by our leaders since the birth of our nation... similarly, what they do now, will seal our future. Conditions have changed - very clearly. -
concern2:
The fall of the Roman empire was very similar... including hyperinflation, a fall in birthrates and a foreign invasion, if I may crudely put. While SG is unlikely to fall into its demise, it would nevertheless be painful for those who are left behind.
Coincidentally, this issue has been ringing in my mind. We are building so much infrastructure - hospitals, transport, housing, retail malls, etc, - due to the influx of the 'needed' foreigners, yet continuing to rely on imports of basic necessities such as food... So when one day, something happens, and all the foreigners leave, and we only have ourselves to count on, what then?MadScientist:
Imagine, if we had a catastrophe which would cripple SG in economic and social terms, think earthquake and tsunami,... who will stay and rebuild, who will work together for a common good (as opposed to own good)?concern2:
You are most welcomed... it is an awesome book wrote in the 80s about the 2000s being a time of financial destruction, amongst other things. Google it and a lot of synopsis and interviews are available for free. The book itself is a little heavy reading but intellectually thought provoking.
Thanks for the recommendation! Will look it up and see what I can learn from there!MadScientist:
The answers I have found are mostly in the book called The Fourth Turning... we have been heading down the same road, fortunately or not.
Enjoy! -
Ah… so it sounds like all this "divide" could have been avoided if our leaders had let us "multiply" with natural numbers in our earlier years.
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ChiefKiasu:
Ah... so it sounds like all this \"divide\" could have been avoided if our leaders had let us \"multiply\" with natural numbers in our earlier years.
We need more births among Sg native Chinese. -
ChiefKiasu:
Ah... so it sounds like all this \"divide\" could have been avoided if our leaders had let us \"multiply\" with natural numbers in our earlier years.
Yes, Chief. One can only access how far-sighted a leader is when the time comes. -
Jennifer:
CKS... you are spot on.ChiefKiasu:
Ah... so it sounds like all this \"divide\" could have been avoided if our leaders had let us \"multiply\" with natural numbers in our earlier years.
We need more births among Sg native Chinese.
Fiddling with nature's course only results in dire consequences.
Jennifer... it does not matter of race IMHO... as long as they are born and bred SGporeans, period.
IMHO...
We (as in you know who) messed up not once, but twice...
First, at the level of reducing the future fertile cohort (at the worry of economic instability)... and then when this reduced number was ready, they limited the number of housing (at another economic worry - again), which resulted in many within the already small cohort to delay natural plans further.
Together, economic sustainability was the priority and everything else fundamentally important was sacrificed. We still are not learning the lessons of yesteryear, and continue with stop-gap measures.
This article on a study done underscores how SG is likely to end up... http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1151560/1/.html
Quote: \"A key conclusion obtained from the study is that without immigration, the total population will decline, even if Singapore's total fertility rate rises from the current 1.15 to 1.85. The number of working people available to support each elderly person is also set to drop in all the scenarios.\"
What seems to be lacking is that there is a lack of understanding of cycles... baby boomers will rise and fall. Thereafter followed by generations of non-boomers. History repeats itself and is clearly demonstrated in the book previously mentioned... The Fourth Turning.
When will we really learn?
All the best SGpore... -
A lot of problems (birth rate, costs of living, job security etc etc) Singaporeans faced are related one way or another…
In my opinion, the policies to aid higher and higher GDP, is the root and will make it worst…
Favour Investor > Suppress Singaporean > Housing expensive, living costs high, expensive medical etc —> Need to secure a job —> Minimise expenses —> Dare not give birth —> Govt chose to import —> More competition at work, school, common places etc etc —> Social Problems & Unfair feeling –> etc etc
Its a cycle…
My 2 cents from an average Singaporean on-the-ground view… -
MadScientist:
I like your points! :goodpost:
First, at the level of reducing the future fertile cohort (at the worry of economic instability)... and then when this reduced number was ready, they limited the number of housing (at another economic worry - again), which resulted in many within the already small cohort to delay natural plans further.
Together, economic sustainability was the priority and everything else fundamentally important was sacrificed. We still are not learning the lessons of yesteryear, and continue with stop-gap measures.
This article on a study done underscores how SG is likely to end up... http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1151560/1/.html
Quote: \"A key conclusion obtained from the study is that without immigration, the total population will decline, even if Singapore's total fertility rate rises from the current 1.15 to 1.85. The number of working people available to support each elderly person is also set to drop in all the scenarios.\"
What seems to be lacking is that there is a lack of understanding of cycles... baby boomers will rise and fall. Thereafter followed by generations of non-boomers. History repeats itself ... -
EllaEmma:
Hello EllaEmma! (My heart beats louder and faster when I see new contributors in similar topics! )A lot of problems (birth rate, costs of living, job security etc etc) Singaporeans faced are related one way or another...
In my opinion, the policies to aid higher and higher GDP, is the root and will make it worst...
Favour Investor > Suppress Singaporean > Housing expensive, living costs high, expensive medical etc ---> Need to secure a job ---> Minimise expenses ---> Dare not give birth ---> Govt chose to import ---> More competition at work, school, common places etc etc ---> Social Problems & Unfair feeling --> etc etc
Its a cycle...
My 2 cents from an average Singaporean on-the-ground view...
It sounds like you are inferring money is the root of all evils - which can be true. Wealth is a measure of a one's / government's status. And it is \" when everything else fundamentally important was sacrificed\" (from Madscientist) that we lose our direction and pursuit of what it means to live and be living.
Like you, I am also an averyage Singaporean. You see, if everyone of us put our 2 cents worth to voice our thoughts, KSP - (and Singapore) will be rich! :boogie: -
I like... \"to live and be living\" :goodpost:
Awesome phrase!
I shall remember that...
:thankyou:
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