Government determined to increase population to 7 mil in 2030.

[kichialo]

This is the probem when there is little or no political competition. After a while the complacency and groupthink set in, and you end up with an idiot running the country.

[Musicwhiz]

This is the probem when there is little or no political competition. After a while the complacency and groupthink set in, and you end up with an idiot running the country.

I completely agree. But too bad we got to wait till 2016 to be able to make any concrete changes to the line-up!

[level13]

Another BT article has form but NO substance

Unlike 1970s & 80s, time has change. Most citizens exercise critical thinking now

Are you in favour of white paper?

For those who are blinded by the common fallacies about immigration and population, namely:

1) foreigners are taking away the job of locals
2) by stopping low unskilled foreigners, local unskilled workers will be better off

Pls do yourself a favor by reading page 20 in Business Times.

How do you define substance?
No substance just because it doesnt conform to your thoughts or the things you see?
At least the author laid out the facts, gave his independent views based on evidence obtained either through statistical research or publicly available sources.

I agree that all should practice critical thinking. But pls note that things have to be put in perspective. I have seen so much one-sided criticism (either online or in-print), but nothing to offer in return. Chances are, critical thinking is absent in their arguement.

Btw, i dont work for the govt nor am i affliated to any political party. At the end of the day, what i support is sound decision making based on rigorous research and not forgetting the trade-offs in the process.

I have not gone through the white paper fully so i shall refrain from making comments.

[FA+TA]

The best way is follow Inderjit Singh's guidelines:
1. STOP the growth in the number of permanent residents and new citizens for 5 years and focus on improving the lives of Singaporeans.
2. SOLVE all present problems
3. SHOW ME YOUR RESULT (adapted from Teh Hooi Ling's Show Me Your Money).
4. Give us back our CONFIDENCE in you - the government

Talk is cheap, PleaseActionProgressively!

[Contrarian]

> Fundamentally, what all this means is that the government is not interested ENOUGH to raise the
> birthrate. Immigration is viewed as preferable - hence the growth in immigrant population

a. Fund cost of the 'subsidies' --> $$$$

b. Import --> FOC, just print red IC. Get some grateful votes

Isn't it clear, what they are trying to do?

[zhangwuji]

The best way is follow Inderjit Singh's guidelines:
1. STOP the growth in the number of permanent residents and new citizens for 5 years and focus on improving the lives of Singaporeans.
2. SOLVE all present problems
3. SHOW ME YOUR RESULT (adapted from Teh Hooi Ling's Show Me Your Money).
4. Give us back our CONFIDENCE in you - the government

Talk is cheap, PleaseActionProgressively!

Not only our confidence in our gov is shaken, how about trust? How many Singaporean really trust those those numbers provide by various gov dept? Unemployment rate currently below 2%? I read from somewhere that this figure does not include those who were jobless for more then 6 months. What kehlengkia formular is used to derive the figure?

Why use the figure of 6.9mil instead of 7mil? Doesn't this look like supermarket price tag? Everything ends with the magic number "9". Our gov is becoming like unscrupulous saleman now.

For many GEs, the PAP gov treat our vote as a blank cheque given to them to do whatever they want. Including denying opposition wards of HDB upgrading, using public fund for their election campaign in the name of PA and the list goes on.......

It's up to us to stop these nonsense in the next GE. The only to make them listen is to deny them absolute power.

---

> Fundamentally, what all this means is that the government is not interested ENOUGH to raise the
> birthrate. Immigration is viewed as preferable - hence the growth in immigrant population

a. Fund cost of the 'subsidies' --> $$$$

b. Import --> FOC, just print red IC. Get some grateful votes

Isn't it clear, what they are trying to do?

Yes, as long as I am concern, the main motive behind free immigrant is to collect grateful votes. As can be seen in the last GE, support from the local bred is eroding. PAP is pressing panic button now.

[Temperament]

This is the probem when there is little or no political competition. After a while the complacency and groupthink set in, and you end up with an idiot running the country.

"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

HA! HA! HA!
i think i will be the same if given absolute power. i think no human being is different except GOD. So American system where the president is only for 2 terms in office for life and no more is so much more fairer; to prevent "Absolute power corrupts absolutely if i am not mistaken.
Now Papy's (LEE's) dynasty has existed for > 50 years already.

[pianist]

I am sure i am in the minority for thinking this but i have sold all my sing equities to allocate elsewhere, and am looking to sell my properties as well. I am happy to pay rent and put my money on my view.

where do u recommend to re-allocate asset to?
i think if u think like this, i bet a few ministars are/already been thinking/moving their assets out of this island..
and they are in a much better position to do that..got money got power easily relocate themselves or their assets of of this tiny island..

ty...this will always be a transit place....until it is being merged or acquired by a bigger nation...

[Contrarian]

> Looked at the way they attacked WP, they don't seem to have changed.

THere is a saying: Leopard never changed its spots.

On the other hand, WP people talk too airy fairy... They have lawyers, professors, people on board. Should not be too hard to put some credible suggestions in...

[arthur]

Singaporeans Plan a Protest Next Week

Our Parliamentary debate on the White Paper reaches the international media. Bloomberg has a short clip on it. See above.