Feeling the pulse of the post-75 generation

I work in a private company, and I know what it's like.

When I was 21 yrs old, I could multi-task 24/7 at $2k. No complaints. Now when I'm nearly hitting 40, I must admit, I can't do that anymore. I have other priorities, I want a less stressful life, but do not want to compromise on my lifestyle.

I want to do less, delegate more, and cruise along - I'm not hungry anymore.

Sooner than later, if I do not measure up, other younger, hungrier, smarter Singaporean, not only foreigner will take over me. And I see this as a fact of life - whether it's PAP or OPP party at helm.

I sympathise with your situation. And if your MP did not do anything for you, shame on them.

But I also want credible OPP who will recommend sound policies and not populist measures just to win vote. Someone who thinks long term as well as proposing short term solutions.

Question is, can I trust OPP party to do that? Because all proposals come with trade offs - something got to give.

Eg, if I build more childcare centers, where do I get the teachers? I believe that's a real challenge. Because not all Singaporeas want and can be childcare teachers/minders.

Do we then get more foreign talents as a results - and then start the vicious cycle of complaints about FT again.

Or, maybe we should put quotas. 10 Singaporean babies for 1 foreign one to be admitted to childcare centers.

But then the problem is, some childcare centers are more desirable then others...so you'd find some centers got not enough Singapore babies (hence foreign ones cannot come in - and hence the center losses money) if you go by the ratio, and some centers would be bursting with waiting lists.

But childcare centers are private companies, governed by their own P&L.

So what should the govt do? Enforce laws or build more national childcare centers?

Law enforcing would turn off childcare operators. It's not a free market anymore. Still it can be done, take it or leave it. We make them abide. Childcare centers operators will vote against PAP in next election.

National childcare centers are 'not premium' aka my PAP kindergarten. And not many 'middle income' family wants to put their child there.

To make the national childcare center more 'premium', again you need good teachers, brand names, etc....some of these cannot be achieved overnight without some trade offs.

For the simplistic solutions I mentioned, there're always trade offs and personal preferences - the key thing is, the govt cannot please everyone.

So do I have a solution? Nope. Does OPP party have very good ones? I don't think so, because I can already foresee the 'trade offs' with their proposals. Is govt solution the BEST? Nope.

But can the govt do better - certainly! I believe once they start listening, they'd get things done..

(03-05-2011, 05:00 PM)whywhy Wrote: I work in a private company, and I know what it's like.

When I was 21 yrs old, I could multi-task 24/7 at $2k. No complaints. Now when I'm nearly hitting 40, I must admit, I can't do that anymore. I have other priorities, I want a less stressful life, but do not want to compromise on my lifestyle.

I want to do less, delegate more, and cruise along - I'm not hungry anymore.

Sooner than later, if I do not measure up, other younger, hungrier, smarter Singaporean, not only foreigner will take over me. And I see this as a fact of life - whether it's PAP or OPP party at helm.

I sympathise with your situation. And if your MP did not do anything for you, shame on them.

But I also want credible OPP who will recommend sound policies and not populist measures just to win vote. Someone who thinks long term as well as proposing short term solutions.

Question is, can I trust OPP party to do that? Because all proposals come with trade offs - something got to give.

Eg, if I build more childcare centers, where do I get the teachers? I believe that's a real challenge. Because not all Singaporeas want and can be childcare teachers/minders.

Do we then get more foreign talents as a results - and then start the vicious cycle of complaints about FT again.

Or, maybe we should put quotas. 10 Singaporean babies for 1 foreign one to be admitted to childcare centers.

But then the problem is, some childcare centers are more desirable then others...so you'd find some centers got not enough Singapore babies (hence foreign ones cannot come in - and hence the center losses money) if you go by the ratio, and some centers would be bursting with waiting lists.

But childcare centers are private companies, governed by their own P&L.

So what should the govt do? Enforce laws or build more national childcare centers?

Law enforcing would turn off childcare operators. It's not a free market anymore. Still it can be done, take it or leave it. We make them abide. Childcare centers operators will vote against PAP in next election.

National childcare centers are 'not premium' aka my PAP kindergarten. And not many 'middle income' family wants to put their child there.

To make the national childcare center more 'premium', again you need good teachers, brand names, etc....some of these cannot be achieved overnight without some trade offs.

For the simplistic solutions I mentioned, there're always trade offs and personal preferences - the key thing is, the govt cannot please everyone.

So do I have a solution? Nope. Does OPP party have very good ones? I don't think so, because I can already foresee the 'trade offs' with their proposals. Is govt solution the BEST? Nope.

But can the govt do better - certainly! I believe once they start listening, they'd get things done..

That is the current problem of PAP now...
Isn't that ????

THEY JUST DO NOT LISTEN..

In fact, they already declared that they are deaf to all criticism in parliament !!!

Bingo! That's the root of the problem. It's about them not listening. Not about picking all sorts of problems with the Govt. Maybe it's because they don't listen that's why all sorts of complaints arise, whether they are valid or not.

It's like the case of my director. Govt will not listen not matter how much you complain simply because they did NOT experience it themselves. the only way to make them feel it is to vote in more opposition. Lousy opp never mind lor, since we also have quite a lot of lousy ft and we compete with them. Let our govt experience more opp themselves then they will know.

If the garmen has decided to open the flood gates and flood Singapore with foreign talent.
We should do likewise with politics. In their own words 'To enhance the competitive landscape' 'Overall positive for the economy'

It does not take a genius to see that

1. Singapore is becoming crowded and congested
2. Housing is becoming unaffordable
3. Life is getting harder for the average joe due to rising costs

While not all issues can attributed to the garmen. A huge part of it is (without a reasonable doubt) a result of their policies.

I'm beginning to think that a lot of people just want opposition for the sake of opposition; but to what ends?

Low and Chiam has been in parliament for > 20 yrs. Have they do anything to advance the cause for the common people?? Even when there was 4 opposition MP in parliament, I dun exactly hear the voice of the people being championed in parliament.

Wait. I hear some pple saying - of cos they can't do anything, they are only 2 people. So what's a critical mass for the opposition to be effective? And what's gonna be the trade-offs?

LKY is correct when he says that if PAP loses 1 or 2 GRC, its not the end of the world. Just like no one is indispensable - even a talented fellow like Geroge Yeo. But the trade-off would be that LHL will need to shuffle his pack and get someone else to take over George Yeo's portfolio or other portfolio that may be lost in the elections. Its not ideal but life will go on.

I think people are incredibly naive to think that voting in the opposition will make a difference to the way PAP governs Singapore. Its ironic that a lot of the hot-button issues are actually a result of the success of their policies; and for getting things mostly right.

I think its possible that PAP will lose a GRC but it may not be the one that everyone seems to think.

When LTK was MP in Hougang, I dun like him. I still dun like him even though I have moved from Hougang but I have to respect him for moving to Aljuined GRC to contest there. Unfortunately, despite 20 yrs in parliament, he does not have a lot to show for.

Thanks lonewolf.

Even though I am an Opposition supporter, I appreciate alternative views as well.

I personally would welcome PAP to lose 1 GRC or 2. Not because I pro-opposition or anti PAP. I am pro good people.
It's part of Singapore's maturity and nation building to live with what decide. Sometimes we need short term pain to have long term gain.

During the 1991 election, the opposition had one of their best results since 1963: http://www.singapore-elections.com/parl-1991-ge/

Practical singaporeans quickly booted out the 2 oppositions members that did not perform as promised.

For me, it's not about party politics. It's more about people. I vote for the person I trust and respect.

And most of the PAP candidates I trust and respect.

I respect Chiam See Tong a lot too. And on that note, I too would like to share my appreciation for the residents of Potong Pasir. You paid a price for giving Singapore a gentleman's opposition voice. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.

It's not that they won't advance the cause of the people but I believe they are being blocked by the ruling party.

Low and Chiam could have stayed back in hougang and Potong Pasir and played it safe but I think this is where many people do not understand. PAP have many candidates and resources to hold out a long time but if you look at the opposition camp, Chiam is now 75 and Low 55 how long more will they be able to hold out. At some point they need to strike out from their camp and give it a try, maybe their lot will improve if they try or maybe it won't maybe they will lose everything but you keep defending all the time it will be a no-win game they could survive this election but what about the next and subsequent I understand why they doing this it's now or never that they have to give it a shot and try. There is a tiger in the hills now you why Low and Chiam are risking to capture it.

From attending several opposition rallies I think there are very good potential leaders but even such leaders need a chance they need time and space to grow, if we don't even want to give them this chance then there is no hope. I too have read ngiam tong dow's article before and agree we should be as enduring as athen's It's time we each stopped looking at our own individual interest in this election. Be brave give it a try. Most of us are born here and will die here at least try to make it a more enduring place for future generation of singaporeans.

I keep hearing people asking what opp can do, and what they have done. My view is that the Opposition can do nothing much with just few seats neither enough talent, money nor resources. The answer actually lies what we can do to help grow them.

The only way Gov will listen is to give the Opposition more and more seats. If gov still refuses to listen, after few elections, the Opposition seats will grow and gain experiencs through many elections and parliamentary sessions while more importantly, strong talents will join them, as we can see in this year election. Nevermind if opp lose or fails. They will be strong enough to form a credible alternative government one day as time goes.

That's how is going to work.


Cory