PAP & WP Population Papers - are we where we want to be.

[jixiaolan]

No need to explain. PAP's role is to propose and WP will either oppose or offer a discount.

June 2012 official pop - 5.31m
PAP projected range - 6.5 to 6.9m ( 1.19m to 1.59m increase in 17 years)
WP projected range - 5.6 to 5.8m ( 0.29m to 0.49m increase in 17 years)

PAP Approach - GDP must keep pace and grow, fertility programmes have failed despite numerous attempts since 1987, immigration is the answer, manage it by integration programmes and ramped up infrastructure building

WP Approach ( wwabbit pl check for accuracy) - agree on GDP, increase TFR by fertility programmes, improved quality of life will increase fertility, increase local force pariticipation by the elderly and locals, labour laws to change, intergration policy not be managed by politcised PA but non-partisan approach.

Couple of observations ;
- is 5.31m acceptable in the first place
- should both parties go back to the drawing boards
- should full or near full employment be the first criteria rather than GDP ( which does not reflect equitable distribution of the economic pie
- should PAP explain why they are unable to increase local labour force participation
- should WP be clear on their proposed fertility programme and elderly participation programmes as their proposal hinges mainly on these 2.
- should WP explain what their approach to integration should be.
- should PAP explain why 82% of population are on 7% of land (public housing) while private housing with 18% of the people taking up another 7%. So who is sitting on a massive private holdings after clustered private housing such a condo are excluded.

 

[aurvandil]

To draw on your analogy, we started out having a dream of making Singapore a top end retailer like Takashimaia. Instead the PAP pursued policies which ended up with us being like Mustafa. They have put up a White Paper which proposes how we can further grow by expanding us to a $2 discount shop strategy.

As often mentioned in older circles - the first 25 yrs was brilliant, promising, hopefuk and it was a time when Singaporeans began to head Departments, major companies and world began to watch with interest. Malaysian Chinese were prepared to wait for 10 years for the citizenship after getting PR. Not anymore.

 

[enterprise2]

To draw on your analogy, we started out having a dream of making Singapore a top end retailer like Takashimaia. Instead the PAP pursued policies which ended up with us being like Mustafa. They have put up a White Paper which proposes how we can further grow by expanding us to a $2 discount shop strategy.

Yeah...surely there is economic mismanagement in there?? How can that not be?? Its like Liverpool top of the league but now they are not even in the Top 4 and the fans are supposed to accept that!!

 

[lockeliberal]

Scroobal

The reason why the WP numbers start at the current rate is for to long the PAP has allowed SMEs and MNCs to drink at the chalice of cheap foreign labor. The costs of adjustment go up as the numbers go up. Its no longer a question of the ideal solution or an ideal number, its making the best of a terrible situation. If a freeze sounds bad as it is to ASME , think how much worse a sudden decrease will be ?

I am convinced that the new 18 billion dollar high speed rail to KL is not for Najib's 1.8 billion cut , Singapore wants it by 2020 because by 2020 living in JB and commuting to SG to work will be the new norm. We are exporting our problems to JB and the new costs of a London centre and a subarban sprawl is 18 billion.




Locke

June 2012 official pop - 5.31m
PAP projected range - 6.5 to 6.9m ( 1.19m to 1.59m increase in 17 years)
WP projected range - 5.6 to 5.8m ( 0.29m to 0.49m increase in 17 years)

PAP Approach - GDP must keep pace and grow, fertility programmes have failed despite numerous attempts since 1987, immigration is the answer, manage it by integration programmes and ramped up infrastructure building

WP Approach ( wwabbit pl check for accuracy) - agree on GDP, increase TFR by fertility programmes, improved quality of life will increase fertility, increase local force pariticipation by the elderly and locals, labour laws to change, intergration policy not be managed by politcised PA but non-partisan approach.

Couple of observations ;
- is 5.31m acceptable in the first place
- should both parties go back to the drawing boards
- should full or near full employment be the first criteria rather than GDP ( which does not reflect equitable distribution of the economic pie
- should PAP explain why they are unable to increase local labour force participation
- should WP be clear on their proposed fertility programme and elderly participation programmes as their proposal hinges mainly on these 2.
- should WP explain what their approach to integration should be.
- should PAP explain why 82% of population are on 7% of land (public housing) while private housing with 18% of the people taking up another 7%. So who is sitting on a massive private holdings after clustered private housing such a condo are excluded.

 

[enterprise2]

How did we get to this?? Simple. The PAP made terrible mistakes over the past 20 years and covered them up. We can see and feel the symptoms even now.
(a) Education Mismanagement. They made everyone go thro the route learning, cap the no of degrees holders but let hordes of FTs with questionable degrees in. The locals with the diplomas were made 2nd class, the NUS/NTUs honours were put into civil service and made to look like Gods...No wonder we did not come up with the Yahoos and Googles. All we are good at is to produce drones for the MNCs...jobs that easily be duplicated in other countries.
Oh and another thing, they made life very stressful for the students and parents and all involved. I really don't know of any other exercise that expended so much resources and energy and yet produce so little!!
(b) FTR - enough said. We were at 4.7 in the 1970s and we are at 1.2 now. Along the way, the gahment tried to put some incentives but it was a case of too little and too late. By the time the problem became acute, it really is too late. Now they try to mask the problem by importing FTs. This will be another colossal mistake!!
(c) Productivity. I thought we had Productivity Movements, campaigns and what have you???? Remember the irritating bumble bee (cant remember the name?). How come today we still have petrol pump attendents and food court cleaners?? Other countries have got everyone pumping their own gas and clearing their trays. We are also light years behind in recycling.
(d ) Waste of Public Money. Whenever I see roadside being dug up, covered back, dug up, covered again...all within months...I see part of my money going down the drain. How about all the en-bloc activities over the last decade or so...perfectly good and almost new buildings being torn down and rebuilt...surely that is a waste of resources and energy!! I don't know about Temasek's investments because I dont really enough to critisize but I do hope they are making money like they say.
(e) The wrong economic model used. I cant understand why the gahment persists in using monopoly or monopolistic or oligopolistic models which has shown to be less efficient and effective than free competition. The bus services, the MRTs, other public services..etc. On top of being inefficient, they collude to keep prices high for consumers. No wonder the cost of living is sky high. Remember prices always go up but are sticky coming down for petrol pump prices??

Ok, enough ranting. But my point is that the million dollar ministars are Mismanaging our economy...and country.

 

[winnipegjets]

The quick and dirty solution is to halt all entries of foreigners and repatriate 2 million of the foreigners now. The remaining 300k can stay and contribute. The 2 millions are just dead weights used by the PAP and SME to keep wages low or pump up the property market. Two simple measures that will solve many problems with a year.

The PAP doesn't have the guts to do it or don't want to do it. That is all the reason to kick the PAP out of power in 2016.