Give Us Back Our Country

[jw5]

And give the people their dignity.

On Sunday, I saw a PRC family sauntering happily towards the shopping mall. They were talking loudly in northern accented mandarin, that's how I knew they were from prc. Consisted of a man in his 30s pushing a pram with a baby in it, a woman in her 30s holding the hand of a young boy, presumably his wife and son, and an elderly couple, presumably his parents or in-laws.

I also saw a Singaporean old man looking through the garbage, probably looking for whatever trash of value he could pick up for the day. Seen him many times before. Later at the coffeeshop, I said thank you to the Singaporean old lady who cleared and cleaned the table before I sat down. Her colleagues, another old man and old lady were working just as hard.

As an individual, I don't have anything personal against the pap, any of its members or their supporters. Neither do I have any personal liking or dislike for pap and opposition members and supporters.

But as a Singaporean, if the pap doesn't make great efforts and take great lengths to help every single individual citizen facing poverty in SG, this citizen will refuse to support the pap as well as any actions or words from pap members, including advice like "Integrate with the foreigners and make them feel at home". Why should I? Let's take care of our own first. Doesn't every country and every individual all over the world do that? It doesn't mean that you treat "others" badly, but you look after the welfare of your own first.

Not the guy who is trying to upgrade from hdb to condo. Nor the guy who is trying to upgrade from a honda to a lexus. Not those who wail to their mps how poor they are and are given food and grocery vouchers to go away. Not even those who are working hard to pay their mortgages, but can still at least afford a fairly comfortable life for themselves and their families. But help those quiet hardworking Singaporeans, who due to some misfortune or disadvantages, are poor, needy, elderly or disabled, but who continue to struggle along in a bid just to survive.

On second thought, the old men and old ladies I saw have plenty of dignity.
It is the supposedly super-talented indispensable policymakers, their supporters and sycophants, who require a big dose of dignity, compassion and empathy for their fellow Singaporeans.

 

[cass888]

Not the guy who is trying to upgrade from hdb to condo. Nor the guy who is trying to upgrade from a honda to a lexus. Not those who wail to their mps how poor they are and are given food and grocery vouchers to go away. Not even those who are working hard to pay their mortgages, but can still at least afford a fairly comfortable life for themselves and their families. But help those quiet hardworking Singaporeans, who due to some misfortune or disadvantages, are poor, needy, elderly or disabled, but who continue to struggle along in a bid just to survive.

Sorry, my friend, in Singapore society, that is called a fucking outlier.

It's okay to be living in a 1-room flat as long as you're thriving for a 3-room. And to be living in a 3-room as long as you're thriving for a 5-room. And to be living in a 5-room as long as you are thriving for a condo/private. Singapore can feed poor hungry people. To live in a condo/terrance if you're thriving for the Orchard Road condo or CGB. It is the people who want to stand still whom we cannot have, else we fail. Even if you're living in a semi-D, if you want to stand still and stretch your hand for a handout coz you're old, you're a loser!

 

[Logisex]

I just saw the oldest cleaner in the world at Bukit Panjang Plaza. He must have been at least 70-80 years old. No bull. Can't even walk probably. He was pushing his trolley and sweeping up the trash outside Startbucks.

I feel sad and embarrassed at the same time. Isn't this supposed to be a first world country?

It is no wonder that Singaporeans are not proud of their country.

 

[bodycells]

Dignity cannot be given back by other, it has to be fight for. You got the balls to fight it, sinkie?

 

[moolightaffairs]

驅逐蠻夷!!!
還我河山!!!

驱逐蛮夷！！！
还我河山！！！


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our country now is invaded by hordes of barbarians!!! we must chase them out!!! lets follow 岳飞 example!!! fight fiercely to chase those barbarian out!!!

 

[Ramseth]

怒发冲冠凭栏处，潇潇雨歇。
抬望眼仰天长啸，壮怀激烈。
三十功名尘与土，八千里路云和月。
莫等闲白了少年头，空悲切。

靖康耻犹未雪，臣子恨何时灭！
驾长车踏破贺兰山缺。
壮志饥餐胡虏肉，笑谈渴饮匈奴血。
待从头收拾旧山河，朝天阙。

 

[red amoeba]

I just saw the oldest cleaner in the world at Bukit Panjang Plaza. He must have been at least 70-80 years old. No bull. Can't even walk probably. He was pushing his trolley and sweeping up the trash outside Startbucks.

I feel sad and embarrassed at the same time. Isn't this supposed to be a first world country?

It is no wonder that Singaporeans are not proud of their country.

---

go to redhill market, there is a cleaner / dish collector who is 90+ ...i know becos a few years ago, the MP even praise her for working at old age (politically correct = remain active) - then she was already 90 yr.

 

[aurvandil]

On second thought, the old men and old ladies I saw have plenty of dignity.
It is the supposedly super-talented indispensable policymakers, their supporters and sycophants, who require a big dose of dignity, compassion and empathy for their fellow Singaporeans.

Good post. Unfortunately it will not happen this election. At best, we will see some cracking of the status quo. Many of the same tired PAP faces will return to Parliament to enjoy another 5 years of luxury and privilege.

Previously I had written about how 2017 is the real fight due to the demographic change. There is now a new phenonmenon which can be observed to be quietly building. This is a gradual political awakening of Singaporeans. This has been observed only starting in the past year. At many MPS sessions, you see an increasingly large number of disgruntled citizens asking difficult questions. You see the grassroots and the occasional MP/Minister on the backfoot trying to defend unpopular policies.

The YOG was the defining moment. Beyond the comical screw ups, it awakened a huge number of Singaporeans to the fact that something is not right with our country. This is the enduring legacy of the YOG which will far outlive the memories of the specific screw ups and mistakes.

Once a poltical awkaening has occured, it is very hard to put back to sleep. There is now a critical mass of Singaporeans "making noise" and asking all sorts of questions about the way Singapore is run. The first sign of just how fast the awakening is taking root can be seen from the reaction to PMs NDR. He has expected a compliant audience who would be wowed by his wisdom. Instead he got a barrage of difficult questions and a very low approval rating for his speech.

What can the PAP do to put Singaporeans back to sleep? The only thing which I can think of is a "golden age" of 5 to 10 years where we enjoy high personal income growth and a resolution of many of the current problems. Can it be done? I seriously doubt it if we have the current Ministers in office. Like Minister Balakrishnan, many of them are proven failures.

So vote wisely for the coming elections. We will be in for another 5 years of bad governance by the PAP but after that, we will enter a new chapter in Singapore's history.

 

[Ramseth]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIQ2JxF_Kis

怒发冲冠凭栏处，潇潇雨歇。
抬望眼仰天长啸，壮怀激烈。
三十功名尘与土，八千里路云和月。
莫等闲白了少年头，空悲切。

靖康耻犹未雪，臣子恨何时灭！
驾长车踏破贺兰山缺。
壮志饥餐胡虏肉，笑谈渴饮匈奴血。
待从头收拾旧山河，朝天阙。

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

Of all the replies, 888 couldn't put it more succinctly (thanks again for upping my points, cass888 )

Outliers, they are indeed, whilst something could be done to assist them, we have to face the reality of life in Singapore.

YOG a defining moment? aurv bro, I suggest you stop reading TR less often.

Singaporeans only care about property prices, holiday trips, and sending their kids to "enrichment" classes. That's the reality.

Sorry, my friend, in Singapore society, that is called a fucking outlier.

It's okay to be living in a 1-room flat as long as you're thriving for a 3-room. And to be living in a 3-room as long as you're thriving for a 5-room. And to be living in a 5-room as long as you are thriving for a condo/private. Singapore can feed poor hungry people. To live in a condo/terrance if you're thriving for the Orchard Road condo or CGB. It is the people who want to stand still whom we cannot have, else we fail. Even if you're living in a semi-D, if you want to stand still and stretch your hand for a handout coz you're old, you're a loser!

 

[giggity_shit]

Good post. Unfortunately it will not happen this election. At best, we will see some cracking of the status quo. Many of the same tired PAP faces will return to Parliament to enjoy another 5 years of luxury and privilege.

Previously I had written about how 2017 is the real fight due to the demographic change. There is now a new phenonmenon which can be observed to be quietly building. This is a gradual political awakening of Singaporeans. This has been observed only starting in the past year. At many MPS sessions, you see an increasingly large number of disgruntled citizens asking difficult questions. You see the grassroots and the occasional MP/Minister on the backfoot trying to defend unpopular policies.

The YOG was the defining moment. Beyond the comical screw ups, it awakened a huge number of Singaporeans to the fact that something is not right with our country. This is the enduring legacy of the YOG which will far outlive the memories of the specific screw ups and mistakes.

Once a poltical awkaening has occured, it is very hard to put back to sleep. There is now a critical mass of Singaporeans "making noise" and asking all sorts of questions about the way Singapore is run. The first sign of just how fast the awakening is taking root can be seen from the reaction to PMs NDR. He has expected a compliant audience who would be wowed by his wisdom. Instead he got a barrage of difficult questions and a very low approval rating for his speech.

What can the PAP do to put Singaporeans back to sleep? The only thing which I can think of is a "golden age" of 5 to 10 years where we enjoy high personal income growth and a resolution of many of the current problems. Can it be done? I seriously doubt it if we have the current Ministers in office. Like Minister Balakrishnan, many of them are proven failures.

So vote wisely for the coming elections. We will be in for another 5 years of bad governance by the PAP but after that, we will enter a new chapter in Singapore's history.

Not to put you down or anything but i heard this 'demographic shift' and new heights of political disgruntlement before.

And it was in 2006 where everyone said the game had changed. Where the internet was the tool of a growingly disaffected youth that was voting for the first time.

So I dont really buy into your 2017 thesis.

 

[aurvandil]

Singaporeans only care about property prices, holiday trips, and sending their kids to "enrichment" classes. That's the reality.

The PAP managed to mess up on all of the above.

1) Property prices spiralled out of control. Those who bought eneded up with double income 30 year loans. Prices are now about to collapse by as much as 50% thanks to Minister's Mah new policies.

2) Singapoeans love to take holidays. Unfortuantely income has stagnated for the past 5 years. Depending on how and when they bought their place to live, increasingly difficult to find spare $$$ to go on holiday.

3) The PAP even maanged to get entangled in the issue to tuition classes as a conseqeunce of their education policies. Minister Lui was seen deperately trying to tai-chi the blame back to parents.

 

[aurvandil]

Not to put you down or anything but i heard this 'demographic shift' and new heights of political disgruntlement before.

And it was in 2006 where everyone said the game had changed. Where the internet was the tool of a growingly disaffected youth that was voting for the first time.

So I dont really buy into your 2017 thesis.

It has nothing to do with Internet and disaffected youth. More to do with old people dying.

 

[giggity_shit]

It has nothing to do with Internet and disaffected youth. More to do with old people dying.

And replaced by youth of today. You speak of a critical mass of Singaporeans and a political awakening. So wouldnt you be referring to the youth of today?

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

Let me put it this way.

For every voice of dissent you hear on the internet, there are 3 who share similar views but won't dare to do anything. Then there are 6 more who are so politically apathetic they just don't care and "strive" to make ends meet.

So the math is 1 vs 9. That's the reality. No chance, aurv bro.

It has nothing to do with Internet and disaffected youth. More to do with old people dying.

 

[Robert Half]

Sorry, my friend, in Singapore society, that is called a fucking outlier.

It's okay to be living in a 1-room flat as long as you're thriving for a 3-room. And to be living in a 3-room as long as you're thriving for a 5-room. And to be living in a 5-room as long as you are thriving for a condo/private. Singapore can feed poor hungry people. To live in a condo/terrance if you're thriving for the Orchard Road condo or CGB. It is the people who want to stand still whom we cannot have, else we fail. Even if you're living in a semi-D, if you want to stand still and stretch your hand for a handout coz you're old, you're a loser!

I think there is something wrong with your brain. Every human being have equal right here.
And I don't think you can afford to buy a condo or semi-D in SG.

So what wrong with people thriving higher ? You moron

 

[rodent2005]

The reality is if the PAP does not provide jobs and take care of Singaporeans, it will be out of business pretty soon. Many people cannot survive without carrying PAP's balls. Are you one of them?

 

[Ramseth]

It's okay to be living in a 1-room flat as long as you're thriving for a 3-room. And to be living in a 3-room as long as you're thriving for a 5-room. And to be living in a 5-room as long as you are thriving for a condo/private. Singapore can feed poor hungry people. To live in a condo/terrance if you're thriving for the Orchard Road condo or CGB. It is the people who want to stand still whom we cannot have, else we fail. Even if you're living in a semi-D, if you want to stand still and stretch your hand for a handout coz you're old, you're a loser!

Free English lesson for you. You mean striving, not thriving.

 

[saratogas]

Everyone can owe a piece of this country as long as you are rich... Today's news stated that as long as one have $10 million they will be given the PR...

 

[giggity_shit]

Everyone can owe a piece of this country as long as you are rich... Today's news stated that as long as one have $10 million they will be given the PR...

And that is the economics of citizenship. A typical Singaporean family of 4 will not in their lifetime generate expenditure of savings equal to that.

"Native" Singaporeans are a nice thing to have, not a must have. Get used to this idea that we are all dispensable and maybe the grumbling will stop.