Old Dud: Doncht underpay our ministers. Then Why OK to underpay SG workers?!

[makapaaa]

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[TD="class: msgtxt"]'Don't underpay our ministers': Lee Kuan Yew
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who is currently in Paris to attend Total's advisory council meeting, sent a letter to the media last night giving his views on the recommendations of the ministerial pay review committee:
'I listened to several of the speeches in Parliament on ministerial salaries and read the rest in the newspapers. With a different generation, political attitudes change. But for Singapore, the basic challenge remains unchanged: That unless we have a steady stream of high-quality men and women to serve as PM and ministers, Singapore as a little red dot will become a little black spot.
'I was Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990 and Senior Minister in PM Goh Chok Tong's Cabinet from 1990 to 2004.
'To find able and committed men and women of integrity, willing to spend the prime of their lives, and going through the risky process of elections, we cannot underpay our ministers and argue that their sole reward should be their contribution to the public good.
'Every family wants to provide the best for their children, send them to a good university. We were pragmatic and paid competitive salaries in order to have a continuous stream of high-calibre people become MPs, and then ministers. They put their careers at risk and underwent an uncertain and unpredictable election process.
'A PM and his ministers carry heavy responsibilities for the nation. If they make a serious mistake, the damage to Singapore will be incalculable and permanent. Their macroeconomic policies will decide the GDP of the country, which was more than S$300 billion in 2010, with per capita GDP of S$59,000.
'We did not take Singapore from the Third to the First World by head-hunting ministers willing to sacrifice their children's future when undertaking a public service duty. We took a pragmatic course that did not require people of calibre to give up too much for the public good. We must not reduce Singapore to another ordinary country in the Third World by dodging the issue of competitive ministerial remuneration.'
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[makapaaa]

From: BALANCEMIND2 Jan-18 7:05 pm
To: fixncc (2 of 16)

62353.2 in reply to 62353.1

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>>That unless we have a steady stream of high-quality men and women to serve as PM and ministers, Singapore as a little red dot will become a little black spot.<<S < font>
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[makapaaa]

With respect Sir let me pen my rejoinder. High quality men and women with the passion to serve the Nation do not bite the bait of that thinking of yours. Evidence is clear in the founding fathers of ours that served the Nation with you in the early years of our time. Except for you none of our dedicated founding fathers has ever been remunerated in that remarkable manner that the present leadership is hanking after and yet they all served the Nation with distinction that we the younger generation of this Nation will never forget them. We cannot say the same for the present leadership.
As of late the alternative to your party seems to be able to recruit able men and women of high quality that do not fit that logic of yours. MP Chen Show Mao is a good example and he has given up his international law practice for the sake of this Nation venturing into politic not on your ticket but rather be on the opposite bench in Parliament. His showing to date cannot be doubted and we the citizens are proud to have him as that glimmer of hope for this Nation in time to come. MP Chen do not serve the people for the $$$ but rather for the love of the people that grew up with him and served his national service obligation like all good imported citizens should. Are you not aware that in the GE 2011 your party has fielded an imported citizen that has given the meaning of NS a new twist and that is looking after the medical health of children in his career is equal to serving NS. Is this the type of so called high quality candidate that sailed into our Parliament vie the coat-tail of a Minister you expect us to accept as our MP? Let me, a humble citizen be honest with you. If not for that concept of GRC I doubt that imported citizen who have given NS a new meaning would have any chance of becoming our MP. We the citizens were caught in the sad situation of either the devil or the deep blue sea arising out of that GRC concept that we have to live with. I hope you see the point of view from a common citizen of this Nation. Thank you.

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Edited 1/18/2012 10:16 pm by BALANCEMIND2

 

[GoldenDragon]

As of late the alternative to your party seems to be able to recruit able men and women of high quality that do not fit that logic of yours. MP Chen Show Mao is a good example and he has given up his international law practice for the sake of this Nation venturing into politic not on your ticket but rather be on the opposite bench in Parliament. His showing to date cannot be doubted and we the citizens are proud to have him as that glimmer of hope for this Nation in time to come. MP Chen do not serve the people for the $$$ but rather for the love of the people that grew up with him and served his national service obligation like all good imported citizens should.

Surely this qualifies for one of the best quote from SBF bros. Paiseh uncle no idea how to do the needful. To ask you to do so may attract 'attack' from others. Can someone assist me? Thank you.

 

[johnny333]

When the PAP loses it's majority. I bet he'll start singing a different tune

When that happens some elites may have to run road because many old Sporeans will be pissed off that their CPF is gone

 

[chonburifc]

When that happens some elites may have to run road because many old Sporeans will be pissed off that their CPF is gone

What is the similarities between Ponzi scheme and CPF? Both promise higher returns.

Have been doubtful of CPF and the ever increasing minimum sum. The funds in my account will never meet the minimum sum. Even if meet minimum sum, amount to be withdraw will be too little to do anything. Have long given up CPF and treat it as some kind of tax or protection money. My advice, do not over rely on CPF for retirement purpose. Cash in your pocket is money, CPF is not.

 

[johnny333]

Have been doubtful of CPF and the ever increasing minimum sum. The funds in my account will never meet the minimum sum. Even if meet minimum sum, amount to be withdraw will be too little to do anything. Have long given up CPF and treat it as some kind of tax or protection money. My advice, do not over rely on CPF for retirement purpose. Cash in your pocket is money, CPF is not.

It's the 60% who will be screaming the loudest because they will feel betrayed.

I doubt many in the 40% will be surprised. They will be the ones telling the 60%, "I told you so":o

 

[mojito]

To be fair, the average PAP MP candidate is of higher quality than the average opposition party candidate. This is a fact which is difficult to wave away while naming one or two exceptions to the rule. I suspect the reason why high quality minister calibre candidates are not joining the PAP not because the pay is not high enough. Rather, it is perhaps a divergence of political ideology or the unwillingness to be seen as bowing to certain economic interests within the party ranks. If anyone who is a somebody, reached the apex of the career, has been there done that and now wants to join politics, I doubt they will join the incumbent and be remembered as a minion.

High ministerial salaries are for the career politicians. Is that what we want, entrenched political pawns for unseen economic interests despite being familiar with the workings of the bureaucracy?

I reserve my opinion for the proposed level of remuneration for ministers. I simply do not believe entrenched politicians, like modern management, can be effective at managing growth of an economy subject to the whims of globalization. We need fresh ideas and good people. We should not underpay them, and it just so happens PAP is running the show today. In other words, I think SG can afford to pay 10 Tharmans or 10 CSMs what they want if they have a good chance of delivering the good life and swiss standard of living for all. Otherwise a consistency in words and deeds to the notion of national fraternity and brotherhood is more than sufficient. No need to be elite, but it certainly helps navigate the complexity of running a country well.

 

[laksaboy]

The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. The early apples were now ripening, and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day, however, the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs. At this some of the other animals murmured, but it was no use. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point, even Snowball and Napoleon. Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others.

Comrades!" [Squealer the pig] cried. "You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a privilege of selfishness and privilege. Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers. The whole managment and organisation of the farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.

Animal Farm - George Orwell
http://www.george-orwell.org/Animal_Farm/0.html

 

[mako65]

old fart can save all the hogwash as all of us know-"power corrupts, corrupts power"!