Are you ready for 7 million people on tiny Singapore?
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:siao: Hmmm now all the MIWs are busy explaining that we have ALL misinterpreted, the 6.9 million is worst case for their planning purposes and they are hoping that we wil NOT reach 6.9 million? Oh really? The entire SG and even the MSM all thought the same thing?
If what PM Lee said is correct, then the whole panel of ministers led by TCH who held the press conference should be sacked, cannot even get the right message across. Why suddenly they can get the message across so clearly in 1 clarification?
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WeiHan:
Agree. Gov should set quotas by industry. But that's what WP proposed in their manifesto. So, got that face problem hee hee hee. :oops:Not all problem can be solved by throwing money at it...This may be true but it was not what I was driving at. Universal health care was just an example that I cited. The main gist of my point was that why the need to increase tax while no social welfare program will be implemented? The nurse problem that you bring up...FW/FTs quota should be considered in a industry by industry basis. More work for gov? yes....we live a complicated world so more work is necessary get work done correctly.
About PMEs...yes...I am curious. according to the white paper, by 2030, 70% of the citizens/PRs will be PMEs. So, how are there so many people for you to \"me\" over? 70% 'me\" over 30%?
Yah. That's the question everybody should be asking. How so many people can \"ME\" over so few? It appears that the white paper road plan is for them to \"ME\" over FTs. Still not happy, then bo bian.
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pirate:
Exactly!
Don't just say what you don't want. Say what you want. Then think about the costs of what you want. After that, decide again whether you still want it. -
JannettLee:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/5-cs-actually-happy-singaporean-012052570.html
-------------------------------------------------
New 5 Cs that will actually make you a happy Singaporean
By Daniel Wong | SingaporeScene – 12 hours ago
I’m sure that many of you readers out there believe the number one way to become a happier Singaporean is to vote for the correct political party in 2016.
Regardless of your political views, this article isn’t about politics or about what the government can do to make you happy.
It’s about what you can do to make yourself happy.
Let me start by asking you a few questions:
Are you unhappy about your job?
Are you dissatisfied with the public transportation system?
Are you frustrated by the high cost of living?
You probably answered “yes” to at least one of those questions.
It seems like we have plenty of reasons to be unhappy. According to this recent report, we’re the unhappiest people in the world.
(We’re even more unhappy than people living in Iraq and Afghanistan. I find that unbelievable!)
Many people think they’ll be happy when they have the 5 C’s: cash, car, credit card, condominium, and country club.
The new 5 Cs that we should all be chasing after
But, on their own, these 5 Cs won’t bring you long-term happiness.
I’d like to introduce you to the 5 Cs that will:
1. Compare less
The more we compare ourselves with others, the unhappier we become. There will always be someone who is:
Smarter than you
Richer than you
Luckier than you
Better-looking than you
More popular than you
More charismatic than you
More accomplished than you
You don’t benefit from comparing yourself with these people. The only person you should compare yourself with is you.
Are you wiser than you were a year ago? Kinder? More generous? More courageous?
If your answer is “no”, then it’s time to reflect and to commit to making real changes in your life.
2. Cherish what you have
Every expert on happiness will tell you that grateful people are happy people.
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, in her book The How of Happiness, describes from a scientific perspective why counting your blessings makes you happier.
Following Dr. Lyubomirsky’s advice, we should write down at least one thing we’re grateful for every day. That’s sure to make us happier.
By expressing gratitude, we’re not denying that some things in life aren’t ideal. We’re simply acknowledging that, in many ways, we’re blessed.
We can all become happier by making a conscious effort to cherish what we have: family, friends, religious freedom, food to eat, a safe country to live in.
3. Choose your attitude
I’ve heard a saying that goes, “Your attitude determines your altitude.”
Cheesy but true? I think so.
You can’t always choose your circumstances, but you can always choose your attitude.
Your boss gave you a difficult assignment? You can either see it as a problem or as a challenging opportunity.
Your project didn’t get off to a good start? You can either see it as a stumbling block or as a stepping-stone to future success.
Attitude is a choice, just like happiness is a choice.
4. Complain less
Complain—it’s something we all do. But whenever we complain, without also proposing an alternative, we’re being irresponsible.
Some people believe that it’s the citizens’ job to complain and the government’s job to provide solutions.
But this isn’t the right attitude. As a responsible citizen, if we oppose government policy, then we should also take the initiative to suggest a viable solution.
When we’re whining, nobody’s winning. So let’s complain less.
5. Change your circumstances and yourself
When things don’t go your way, it’s easy to feel frustrated, helpless or confused.
Any time you feel this way, ask yourself:
“What is one thing I can do right now to improve the situation?”
This is an empowering question, because it makes you realize that there’s always something productive you can do.
Always.
You just need to focus on the one action you can take immediately.
If you’re unhappy about your relationship with your boss, schedule a conversation with him or her.
If you’re unhappy about your salary, improve your skills, enroll in a course, find a mentor, or negotiate a pay increase. You could even start a business on the side.
There’s an endless list of things you could do to make your life better. If you’re not willing to do anything on that list, then you shouldn’t complain.
Instead of complaining, take action.
In closing…
Happiness isn’t just an emotion. It’s a choice—a daily one.
Finding real happiness takes dedication and determination, so it’s not for the fainthearted.
It’s time to embrace the new 5 Cs.
It’s time to build a happier life and a happier Singapore.
It’s time to get to work.
Daniel Wong is the bestselling author of \"The Happy Student: 5 Steps to Academic Fulfillment and Success\". He offers The Exam Excellence (TEE) Mentoring Programme to help students to find exam success, while discovering new purpose in their journey of education. He writes regularly at. Download his FREE e-book,\"The Unhappiness Manifesto: Do You Make These 150 Mistakes In The Pursuit Of Happiness?\", here. Download his other FREE e-book, \"Singapore Scholarship Guide: The $500,000 Decision\", here.
Great piece! :thankyou:
Palm prints on many's face! -
sunflower:
We need FT lah, unless there comes a time when everyone in Singapore changes mindset → not to keep upgrading, not to keep chasing after money / wealth and material things, have lower expectations of life, not concerned about social status, not wanting everything to be cheap and good, be more self-reliant (in terms of repairs / house maintenance / even minor renovations!), don’t mind all shops close at 6pm everyday, have more social consciousness, be more aware of social responsibilities, more innovations so depend less on people to do the work, then yeah, maybe can survive without or much less FT.
:goodpost: -
WeiHan:
Actually hor, I've been thinking about that part too. Since Singapore is not a welfare state like other countries, am wondering why need high whatever tax?Not all problem can be solved by throwing money at it...This may be true but it was not what I was driving at. Universal health care was just an example that I cited. The main gist of my point was that why the need to increase tax while no social welfare program will be implemented? The nurse problem that you bring up...FW/FTs quota should be considered in a industry by industry basis. More work for gov? yes....we live a complicated world so more work is necessary get work done correctly.
About PMEs...yes...I am curious. according to the white paper, by 2030, 70% of the citizens/PRs will be PMEs. So, how are there so many people for you to \"me\" over? 70% 'me\" over 30%?
I understand in some other countries, on top of other social schemes and transport/healthcare benefits (either for the aged, disabled or poor), those unemployed can get money from government and there are also pension schemes for those who retire. This, I believe, need A LOT of working-age citizens to support them, and also need high tax to maintain.
For Singapore, we have somewhat similar (maybe less than some other countries) in terms of social schemes and benefits MINUS unemployment dole and pension schemes, so hmm.., don’t think our tax will reach to the other countries’ level?
I’m a bit puzzled about the current 5.9 working-age citizens SUPPORTING each citizen aged 65 and above (pg 12 of white paper). Supporting in what sense? Don’t they have CPF? Not enough ah? Cannot take out ah? Didn't work the whole life ah? Children cannot give money or no children to get money so all tax payers chip in to support, in what ways? I can think of transport and healthcare subsidies, money given to VWOs to manage eldercare services, err… and what else hah?
Sooo…our income tax /GST will be raised high high if cannot maintain the 5.9:1 ratio izzit? Sooo…we can’t tweak our income tax % payment system to have the rich pay more, otherwise they’ll all run away izzit? So need an ever increasing working force to “support” the over 65? No other “think out of the box” way izzit?
Am I missing something? Sorry, just thinking out loud and pardon my rumblings. Whoever has the knowledge know how, please share. -
from DR TCB FB
[quote]Future Shock 03/02/2013
The White paper on population growth has caused great anxiety amongst Singaporeans. They are concerned that as Singaporeans will make up only 55% of the total population in 2030, what will the country become? Easily the balance can tip us to become minorities in our own country.
Singaporeans are currently trying to cope with the daily overcrowding of trains and buses, higher health costs, competitions for homes and jobs etc. The various measures just released before the by-election have yet to be felt.
Thus this package of population change has caught them off guard. The back log of infrastructure should have been addressed and made right first. Such a move would have instilled confidence.
What is worrying is when PM admitted the govt. did not have 20/20 foresight over the last influx of immigrants to explain the infrastructure lag. This have cast doubt on the previous planning
I quote ST Sat feb2 pg D5 (Jessica Cheam) “In 2007 , when Singapore’s population was 4.6 m….URA revised its planning parameters …………based on – to 6.5m , up from a 2001 projection of 5.5m “ unquote. How then did our infrastructures of housing, transport ie road and rail, social and health amenities be so woefully short when 2001 forecast was already 5.5m? This is worrying as the govt has total control over immigration?
PM has assured that this time round the planners will create a greater buffer in its planning. Be that as it may, the projection of 6.9m is overwhelming and should be thoroughly debated.
Most, if not all people, seek a comfortable space for their family. We do not want to risk driving away our own.[/quote] -
Dora1:
Their tactics is to say that it is just a plan to build the infrastructure only. But if you build so many houses, how can we leave it empty and let house price crash as a result of oversupply? then, everybody will have no choice but to let the population increase. They are trying to turn thing the other way round but the objective is still to increase population.:siao: Hmmm now all the MIWs are busy explaining that we have ALL misinterpreted, the 6.9 million is worst case for their planning purposes and they are hoping that we wil NOT reach 6.9 million? Oh really? The entire SG and even the MSM all thought the same thing?
If what PM Lee said is correct, then the whole panel of ministers led by TCH who held the press conference should be sacked, cannot even get the right message across. Why suddenly they can get the message across so clearly in 1 clarification? -
WeiHan:
To increase population to achieve what? To lose their votes?
Their tactics is to say that it is just a plan to build the infrastructure only. But if you build so many houses, how can we leave it empty and let house price crash as a result of oversupply? then, everybody will have no choice but to let the population increase. They are trying to turn thing the other way round but the objective is still to increase population.Dora1:
:siao: Hmmm now all the MIWs are busy explaining that we have ALL misinterpreted, the 6.9 million is worst case for their planning purposes and they are hoping that we wil NOT reach 6.9 million? Oh really? The entire SG and even the MSM all thought the same thing?
If what PM Lee said is correct, then the whole panel of ministers led by TCH who held the press conference should be sacked, cannot even get the right message across. Why suddenly they can get the message across so clearly in 1 clarification? -
This very little red dot is already an overcrowded fish tank…it cannot take in more people. Land space is so limited. MRT trains are often very packed. There is also no guarantee that more FT brought in will necessarily lead to more babies.
It makes me very worried thinking about the future our children will face.
Do we really need so many people???
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