1) Singapore is ranked #2 in the World Competitiveness Ranking according to the AT Kearney's Foreign Policy Article. Now, Competition means that prices should be low and consumers should be facing competitive prices in the market. Of course, inflation is always present in any economy, so if the Prata Man revises his prices up by 1 cent, then Singaporeans would also have to revise their income up by the same percentage. It's called, "real income" versus "nominal income".
2) In Singapore, 48.5% of the total population is employed. It is ranked 12th in the World in terms of employment vis a vis total population. In the labour market, 3.3% of the population is unemployed, a far cry from the 10 +% in Germany. Now, we are an Asian country, so in comparison to other Asian countries, we are on a comparable standard.
CIA's World Fact Book says:
Singapore, a highly-developed and successful free-market economy, enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest West European countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-03 by the global recession, by the slump in the technology sector, and by an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which curbed tourism and consumer spending. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004, with real GDP rising by 8% - by far the economy's best performance since 2000 - but growth slowed to 5.7% in 2005.
Now, the citizens complaints:
1) The wage gap is increasing. The Government is "not doing enough" to help the poor in Singapore. To this, there are two questions.
a) Who are the poor in Singapore? Is the poor those able to afford healthcare? Or those who are not able to afford that brand new spanking hi-fi system that your neighbour has?
Response: The government has in place a social welfare system - Medicare, CPF etc. that tries it's darnest to secure the living standard of the retirees. Now, we aren't as poor as people in Africa, but we sure are going to raise hell if one doctor's appointment costs $20% of the monthly budget. And so we have "needs based" financing, and this comes under fire too, because, who are we to draw the line between who is needy and who isn't? Who? A Civil SERVANT? Don't make me laugh. The line has to be drawn, it has to be done by someone, and whether the cut of is 25% or 20%, there will be disgruntled citizens who feel "left out" of "progress".
b) Press Freedom. According to "Reporters without Borders", Singapore is ranked 140th out of 167th countries in the 2005 Worldwide Press Freedom Index.
Response: So we want press freedom. As Lee Hsien Loong said (jokingly I hope, though not in the same "joke" as Mahathir), what if we have more opposition members in Parliament? "Then I have to think of ways to FIX THEM, . . . and this will distract me from my work" (paraphrased). Now, I challenge other citizens, who likes to be wrong? Who likes to be stood up to, and challenged, and debated against? (Maybe Wong Shi Ming), but then again, Asians in general are non confrontational and would rather seek mediation then outright debate. Think whether the American System would work in Singapore. If someone 50 years your elder comes along and gives you advice, you'll be branded a "Fucktard" if you dare stand up against your elder. It's Asian roots, Confucian values etc. etc. In short, PATERNALISTIC GOVERNANCE i.e. I'm smarter than you, so listen to me, Your Father.
And of course, we all knew how Germany and Hitler turned out.
The truth is, Singaporeans hate to lose face. We hate to be proven wrong, and we want to be right in everything we do. That is why my Mum has such a big ego (yes mum, you do), that is why I hate to be judged, that is why Philip Yeo exists, that is why Sim Wong Hoo lost Creative's lead in the Harddisk MP3 player market to Apple. (Remember the Nomad Jukebox?) That is why Aztech lost it's lead in Thumbdrive technology. When on top, Singaporeans get complacent. They get comfortable, and they rest on their laurels.
Of course, I could go into the whole tirade about the Judiciary system and how it affects Singaporean mentality (essentially, a jury system encourages political participation and critical thinking - and the ability to bring a case to court easily would be much better (a value judgement)).
Which is why, I admire people who have the guts, the ability, and the daring to dream big. You call them cocky, you try to put them in their place, but in the end, they follow their big dreams and end up in a place further than you'll ever be in.
So, what does this have to do with Press Freedom now? In a nutshell, everything. The government requires it's aura of invincibility to stay intact, in order to push and cajole the country towards economic progress, and to do that, it requires acceptance of its packages, its price raises, its schemes and "pay-more-everywhere". While the layman points to $125 bn in reserves and wonders why a small bit can't go to him to help offset the inevitable inflation. Economics and public policy is not that easy, and frankly, there will always be dissent in any country. The thing is, while other countries accept dissent, Asian countries in general seem to abhor dissent, and focus on Confucian "harmony". Bullshit.
There will always be dissent. But whether dissenting voices are heard, and whether they influence government policy is another discussion altogether.
Think about the 60s, when the US was embroiled in Vietnem, when Muhammed Ali was against the draft, when there were mass protests in the Universities. Now, I think the students are realised - the government does what it does without giving a shit about what you think. They think they know best, we think we know best, what gives?
So Singapore, loosen up, let the dissenting voices be heard. We all feel better that way, and continue to do the job. Dissent is essentially a "complaint department" of the country, and who doesn't know what Singaporean's favourite hobby is? You say democracy doesn't work, and thus it hasn't been tried out. Well, one day, if the Worker's Party leader Sylvia Lim doesn't screw up as big as Dr. Chee has, then Singapore would be a Bi-party state, and frankly, I would like that to happen - if only to give ordinary Singaporeans a platform to voice their dissent.
Until they realise the government doesn't give a damn to what you think:)
P.S. I'm not participating in Partisan Politics, just expressing my viewpoints on Political Theory and Social Thought =p
lip
ranting
1 comment:
hear hear!!
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