- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 12,730
- Points
- 113
FEAR OF THE OLD
The Government has tried to justify its policy by framing the ageing population as a huge problem that requires urgent fixing.
We are told that young Singaporeans don’t want to see the island turn into a big retirement home – an ironic statement when more Singaporeans are sending their elderly relatives to Johor Baru in Malaysia. We are told that it is bad for the population to age, because we young ones will have to shoulder the burden for the older generation.
But is it really a burden?
On Facebook, one "Gordon Lee" has put together an excellent note detailing how it is inaccurate to see an ageing population as a problem. Studies have shown that when people live longer and have healthier lives, they also contribute to the economy for longer.
So the Government’s playing up of fears in supporting the old is completely misdirected.
Besides, even when older Singaporeans leave the workforce and become dependents, surely it should not be a “burden” to care for them?
These are citizens who have worked for most of their lives to contribute to the country; to refer to them as if they are a demographic “problem” is both disrespectful and ungrateful.
Our Government often boasts of our economic success and the size of our reserves. What is the point of all this revenue if we cannot use the money to care for those who contributed to economic growth in the first place?
Beyond that, there is the disenfranchisement I feel coming from our Government.
This is a Government that seemingly doesn’t want to give me a proper voice in how things are run.
This is a Government who continues to show that its desire to consult its citizens is mere tokenism; they have long decided that they know what is best.
This is a Government that can apparently use its party whip to get whatever it wants in Parliament – who cares about what Singaporeans think?
- http://news.insing.com/tabloid/dismayed-by-white-paper-uncertain-about-future/id-ae6c3f00
The Government has tried to justify its policy by framing the ageing population as a huge problem that requires urgent fixing.
We are told that young Singaporeans don’t want to see the island turn into a big retirement home – an ironic statement when more Singaporeans are sending their elderly relatives to Johor Baru in Malaysia. We are told that it is bad for the population to age, because we young ones will have to shoulder the burden for the older generation.
But is it really a burden?
On Facebook, one "Gordon Lee" has put together an excellent note detailing how it is inaccurate to see an ageing population as a problem. Studies have shown that when people live longer and have healthier lives, they also contribute to the economy for longer.
So the Government’s playing up of fears in supporting the old is completely misdirected.
Besides, even when older Singaporeans leave the workforce and become dependents, surely it should not be a “burden” to care for them?
These are citizens who have worked for most of their lives to contribute to the country; to refer to them as if they are a demographic “problem” is both disrespectful and ungrateful.
Our Government often boasts of our economic success and the size of our reserves. What is the point of all this revenue if we cannot use the money to care for those who contributed to economic growth in the first place?
Beyond that, there is the disenfranchisement I feel coming from our Government.
This is a Government that seemingly doesn’t want to give me a proper voice in how things are run.
This is a Government who continues to show that its desire to consult its citizens is mere tokenism; they have long decided that they know what is best.
This is a Government that can apparently use its party whip to get whatever it wants in Parliament – who cares about what Singaporeans think?
- http://news.insing.com/tabloid/dismayed-by-white-paper-uncertain-about-future/id-ae6c3f00
