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    What I hate about the current Singapore

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    • O Offline
      onemore
      last edited by

      usa-sing-1:
      I do note a dramatic population increase in the past 10 years...seemingly from mainland China and the Philippines in particular...and not just maids and construction workers either. I do not see this as a particularly negative thing...

      care to share why you do not see this as a particularly negative thing...?

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      • U Offline
        usa-sing-1
        last edited by

        onemore:
        usa-sing-1:

        I do note a dramatic population increase in the past 10 years...seemingly from mainland China and the Philippines in particular...and not just maids and construction workers either. I do not see this as a particularly negative thing...


        care to share why you do not see this as a particularly negative thing...?

        If immigration is controlled to meet the demands of a growing economy, I don't see a particular issue. For example, if foreigners are used to fill low-end jobs or manual labour jobs that most Singaporeans would disdain, or used to fill high-tech, highly specialised positions -- R&D, specific industries, world-renowned leadership, cutting-edge scientists, etc. -- which is not necessarily available locally -- I don't have a problem with that. Likewise for entrepreneurs, local or foreign, who set up legitimate businesses. I don't see a need, however, to specifically import foreign talent in areas where I believe Singapore already has sufficient talent -- such as accountancy, middle management, basic IT functions, etc. (Of course, you will always have some of that as long as Singaporeans marry foreigners who settle here).

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        • L Offline
          limlim
          last edited by

          usa-sing-1:


          If immigration is controlled to meet the demands of a growing economy, I don't see a particular issue. For example, if foreigners are used to fill low-end jobs or manual labour jobs that most Singaporeans would disdain, or used to fill high-tech, highly specialised positions -- R&D, specific industries, world-renowned leadership, cutting-edge scientists, etc. -- which is not necessarily available locally -- I don't have a problem with that. Likewise for entrepreneurs, local or foreign, who set up legitimate businesses. I don't see a need, however, to specifically import foreign talent in areas where I believe Singapore already has sufficient talent -- such as accountancy, middle management, basic IT functions, etc. (Of course, you will always have some of that as long as Singaporeans marry foreigners who settle here).
          Agree with the earlier part.

          For the part highlighted in blue, PMETs in particular.. it lowers the cost of running business that benefits the rich, and cause wage suppression for the local peasants.

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          • O Offline
            onemore
            last edited by

            limlim:
            usa-sing-1:



            If immigration is controlled to meet the demands of a growing economy, I don't see a particular issue. For example, if foreigners are used to fill low-end jobs or manual labour jobs that most Singaporeans would disdain, or used to fill high-tech, highly specialised positions -- R&D, specific industries, world-renowned leadership, cutting-edge scientists, etc. -- which is not necessarily available locally -- I don't have a problem with that. Likewise for entrepreneurs, local or foreign, who set up legitimate businesses. I don't see a need, however, to specifically import foreign talent in areas where I believe Singapore already has sufficient talent -- such as accountancy, middle management, basic IT functions, etc. (Of course, you will always have some of that as long as Singaporeans marry foreigners who settle here).

            Agree with the earlier part.

            For the part highlighted in blue, PMETs in particular.. it lowers the cost of running business that benefits the rich, and cause wage suppression for the local peasants.

            i think usa-sing-1 is no local peasant and therefore this point may not be applicable in his perspective...

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            • V Offline
              verykiasu2010
              last edited by

              limlim:
              usa-sing-1:



              If immigration is controlled to meet the demands of a growing economy, I don't see a particular issue. For example, if foreigners are used to fill low-end jobs or manual labour jobs that most Singaporeans would disdain, or used to fill high-tech, highly specialised positions -- R&D, specific industries, world-renowned leadership, cutting-edge scientists, etc. -- which is not necessarily available locally -- I don't have a problem with that. Likewise for entrepreneurs, local or foreign, who set up legitimate businesses. I don't see a need, however, to specifically import foreign talent in areas where I believe Singapore already has sufficient talent -- such as accountancy, middle management, basic IT functions, etc. (Of course, you will always have some of that as long as Singaporeans marry foreigners who settle here).

              Agree with the earlier part.

              For the part highlighted in blue, PMETs in particular.. it lowers the cost of running business that benefits the rich, and cause wage suppression for the local peasants.

              not true on the part of accountancy

              graduates from NUS, NTU, SMU all add up still not enough to meet the work place requirement

              also not entirely true to say lower PMET cost of running biz is to benefit the rich. A lot of the SME are owned by not-rich Singaporeans trying to sustain the biz and not to close shop, and it provides lower cost product / services to the local economy.

              wage suppression ? another way to look at it is some people are over paid, grossly overpaid, hence the lower cost looks like wage suppression.

              next gripe : (I say first without waiting for you to say it) housing cost - the high cost is due entirely to market-based pricing to derive the \"market-subisidy\" but there is no turning back without major market disruption to HDB resale price which would then cause many owners to go into negative equity. the market-based subsidy is no subsidy and is an unstoppable runaway train

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              • U Offline
                usa-sing-1
                last edited by

                Here’s what I LIKE:

                -Low crime
                -Low corruption
                -Low income tax rates
                -High standard of living
                -Weather (yes it’s hot and humid but I will take that over the 5+ month range of freezing cold, snow and ice where I grew up)
                -Highly developed, globalized economy – goods and services available from just about anywhere
                -Well developed hub for regional and global flight connections to most major cities
                -Good urban planning and sensible development of infrastructure (roads, utilities, housing, schools, medical facilities, shopping and entertainment)
                -Politically stable environment, generally competent, forward-looking leadership (which I would say that NO other country in the region has, to the same degree…and many countries around the world are deficient in this as well)

                THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED:
                -I would like to see Singapore not only maintain its prominence as a global trade centre/business hub, but I would also like to see it become more renowned for cutting edge arts, sports, and other entertainment…it is slowing evolving toward this
                -I would like to see more cutting edge thought and innovation with regard to useful products, services, inventions, etc. Intellectual capital plays a major role in shaping Singapore’s future…it needs to foster more of that innovation locally. It is trying to do so with pharmaceuticals and other areas…decent progress but needs to evolve more.

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                • O Offline
                  Oppsgal
                  last edited by

                  usa-sing-1:
                  Here's what I LIKE:

                  -Low crime
                  -Low corruption
                  -Low income tax rates
                  -High standard of living
                  -Weather (yes it's hot and humid but I will take that over the 5+ month range of freezing cold, snow and ice where I grew up)
                  -Highly developed, globalized economy -- goods and services available from just about anywhere
                  -Well developed hub for regional and global flight connections to most major cities
                  -Good urban planning and sensible development of infrastructure (roads, utilities, housing, schools, medical facilities, shopping and entertainment)
                  -Politically stable environment, generally competent, forward-looking leadership (which I would say that NO other country in the region has, to the same degree...and many countries around the world are deficient in this as well)

                  THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED:
                  -I would like to see Singapore not only maintain its prominence as a global trade centre/business hub, but I would also like to see it become more renowned for cutting edge arts, sports, and other entertainment...it is slowing evolving toward this
                  -I would like to see more cutting edge thought and innovation with regard to useful products, services, inventions, etc. Intellectual capital plays a major role in shaping Singapore's future...it needs to foster more of that innovation locally. It is trying to do so with pharmaceuticals and other areas...decent progress but needs to evolve more.
                  What is \"High standard of living\" :?

                  Only know \"high cost of living\"...

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                  • U Offline
                    usa-sing-1
                    last edited by

                    Oppsgal:
                    usa-sing-1:

                    Here's what I LIKE:

                    -Low crime
                    -Low corruption
                    -Low income tax rates
                    -High standard of living
                    -Weather (yes it's hot and humid but I will take that over the 5+ month range of freezing cold, snow and ice where I grew up)
                    -Highly developed, globalized economy -- goods and services available from just about anywhere
                    -Well developed hub for regional and global flight connections to most major cities
                    -Good urban planning and sensible development of infrastructure (roads, utilities, housing, schools, medical facilities, shopping and entertainment)
                    -Politically stable environment, generally competent, forward-looking leadership (which I would say that NO other country in the region has, to the same degree...and many countries around the world are deficient in this as well)

                    THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED:
                    -I would like to see Singapore not only maintain its prominence as a global trade centre/business hub, but I would also like to see it become more renowned for cutting edge arts, sports, and other entertainment...it is slowing evolving toward this
                    -I would like to see more cutting edge thought and innovation with regard to useful products, services, inventions, etc. Intellectual capital plays a major role in shaping Singapore's future...it needs to foster more of that innovation locally. It is trying to do so with pharmaceuticals and other areas...decent progress but needs to evolve more.

                    What is \"High standard of living\" :?

                    Only know \"high cost of living\"...

                    Haha, well if you use this definition as a guide...Singapore is one of the 35 \"advanced economies\" in the world. I pretty much agree with the list...

                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country

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                    • L Offline
                      limlim
                      last edited by

                      usa-sing-1:
                      Oppsgal:



                      What is \"High standard of living\" :?

                      Only know \"high cost of living\"...

                      Haha, well if you use this definition as a guide...Singapore is one of the 35 \"advanced economies\" in the world. I pretty much agree with the list...

                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country

                      Why not look at \"purchasing power\" which compares wages to prices.

                      It should give a more accurate picture of \"standard of living\". I guess SG ranking is quite below..

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                      • I Offline
                        Imami
                        last edited by

                        Yeah three cheers for USA-sing-1! Thanks for bringing up low crime rate in sg!


                        Recently my child and me needed to catch a flight at 6am. I stood there at the car park at 3.30am, with only my child toddling around, waiting for the cab to pick us. The neighborhood was poorly lit and very quiet. If it were somewhere else, I do not think I would feel so assured.

                        No need to go very far, just across sg’s borders can already. I would have freaked out if hubby arrange such flights for us.

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