We often hear of people joing public office expressing the desire to "serve Singapore". Yes, they want to contribute to Singapore, they want to help build Singapore and so on. This phrase "contribute to Singapore" is often uttered by PAP candidates and I want to warn you about the ambiguity of this and other phrases such as "good for Singapore". .."Good for Singapore" is very often used to justify various govt policies bringing in foreign talents is good for Singapore because we will have top talents. Building big fianancial reserves is "good for Singapore" because makes Singapore more financially stable. It is good for SIngapore if Singaporeans are more resilient and prevented from getting sufficient help from govt.
"Good for Singapore", "serve Singapore" can be used to justify any form of action or policy because the notion of Singapore is very unclear. If I ask you what is Singapore? You can get a number of answers - Singapore the nation, Singapore the corporation (Singapore Inc), Singapore the economy. It is good for Singapore (the economy) if we import cheap labor to compete with rest of the world - sure win. It is "good for Singapore" to expand the population because a bigger head count means a greater larger Singapore Inc.
What is Singapore? Why is it formed? We are the descendants of immigrant coolies, local fishermen and laborers whose the only reason they are here is to seekl out a better life. When they came it did not matter whether Singapore was a colony, part of Malaysia or an Independent country. Why then did they want a nation? Why did Singaporeans fight for independence? The only reason to have a nation is to ensure that the interests of the people of Singapore are protected. If we wanted to be Singapore the economy, Singapore Inc we could have remained a colony, the British could run this economy as well as anyone - just look at Hong Kong. The sole and overriding purpose of nationhood is taking care of and protecting the interest of the people. Serving Singapore and serving Singaporeans while not mutually exclusive are 2 very different concepts.
So you want your representative in parliament to "serve Singaporeans" and you want govt policies that are "good for Singaporeans". The people of Singapore and what happens to them has to be central to decision and policy making. If you get this cleared up, you will be able to see that importing people by the hundreds of thousands ultimately create a net negative impact on native Singaporeans while creating economic and GDP growth for Singapore. Such policies are argued to be good for Singapore (the economy) - but were never good for the people of Singapore. Be beware of people who stand up and say they want to serve Singapore as we have seen so many PAP candidates do so....we want Singaporeans to matter in the parliament formed after the next elections.
"Good for Singapore", "serve Singapore" can be used to justify any form of action or policy because the notion of Singapore is very unclear. If I ask you what is Singapore? You can get a number of answers - Singapore the nation, Singapore the corporation (Singapore Inc), Singapore the economy. It is good for Singapore (the economy) if we import cheap labor to compete with rest of the world - sure win. It is "good for Singapore" to expand the population because a bigger head count means a greater larger Singapore Inc.
What is Singapore? Why is it formed? We are the descendants of immigrant coolies, local fishermen and laborers whose the only reason they are here is to seekl out a better life. When they came it did not matter whether Singapore was a colony, part of Malaysia or an Independent country. Why then did they want a nation? Why did Singaporeans fight for independence? The only reason to have a nation is to ensure that the interests of the people of Singapore are protected. If we wanted to be Singapore the economy, Singapore Inc we could have remained a colony, the British could run this economy as well as anyone - just look at Hong Kong. The sole and overriding purpose of nationhood is taking care of and protecting the interest of the people. Serving Singapore and serving Singaporeans while not mutually exclusive are 2 very different concepts.
So you want your representative in parliament to "serve Singaporeans" and you want govt policies that are "good for Singaporeans". The people of Singapore and what happens to them has to be central to decision and policy making. If you get this cleared up, you will be able to see that importing people by the hundreds of thousands ultimately create a net negative impact on native Singaporeans while creating economic and GDP growth for Singapore. Such policies are argued to be good for Singapore (the economy) - but were never good for the people of Singapore. Be beware of people who stand up and say they want to serve Singapore as we have seen so many PAP candidates do so....we want Singaporeans to matter in the parliament formed after the next elections.
