Foreigner: Disgruntled S'poreans taking bliss for granted

[Thaiyotakamli]

all FTs shld serve ns first before toking so much

if opp took over, will the tradition of having NS still continued? or our future gen no need NS??

[Tjkbeluga]

if opp took over, will the tradition of having NS still continued? or our future gen no need NS??

More like opposite... They will make all PRs do NS too.... hehehe....

Edited May 5, 2011 by Tjkbeluga

[Thaiyotakamli]

More like opposite... They will make all PRs do NS too.... hehehe....

wow!

[Metahorn]

We have to know that our neighbouring countries are not paying millions to their ministers to run the country. Expectation is different.

[Darthrevan]

we are voting for transparency and accountability!

[Chpeck]

We have to know that our neighbouring countries are not paying millions to their ministers to run the country. Expectation is different.

 

Those third world countries? They are like Steve Job's style, get paid a token sum (US$1 for Job) while the rest are "dividence". I'm very sure they all are many times richer than our highly paid ministers.

[Chrispie]

you shld become a citizen soon and join the PAP. They dont need anyone with NS experience to run for parliament. So you qualify.

[Evillusion]

Those third world countries? They are like Steve Job's style, get paid a token sum (US$1 for Job) while the rest are "dividence". I'm very sure they all are many times richer than our highly paid ministers.

no nid to put down other country lah! we can look up at other country! respect and be respected

[Rjmsfire]

Wow, I touched a raw nerve here. Chill guys! Don't stress yourself with so much anger and hostility over the views expressed in the online equivalent of wet market chatter, ok? It is far-fetched to consider such chatter to be so influential as to have interfered in Singapore's internal affairs.

 

Anyway, I was expressing my admiration for a ruling party that while having its flaws, as an overall package, has and still is doing a remarkable job in improving the lives of its people. I felt sorry that many Singaporeans do not appear to realise how much of the good life they enjoy are made possible by the hard and soft infrastructure created through good governance from the PAP. People in many parts of the world have their countries governed much more poorly. In the countries that I've lived in, despite having many opposition MPs to check their governments, I still see lots of disaffection from the populace. That's why I was prompted to share my views. I didn't mean to advice anyone who to vote for.

 

I think it's unconvincing for people to set 'rules of speech' where one has to change citizenship before one can even share views about Singapore. I do not think that any group has a monopoly on discussions about topics related to them. We are after all not discussing something very personal, such as somebody's spouse or parents, are we? I'm pretty sure most people have one time or another commented about countries which they are not citizens of and don't consider themselves to have committed any transgression. Of course if I'm holding an official post in another country, then remarks made about other countries carry weight. But I'm not, I'm just an average Joe chatting in a 'marketplace'.

 

It is natural that different people have different views and no amount of debate can change each other's opinions. You may not agree with me, but I think you can be open-minded enough to hear other points of view without getting emotional. The views of people like Loki, Turboflat4, Dojon, and others too, penned without a flaring of emotions, have been enlightening. Thank you for sharing. Hearing such breadth of views in a discussion can lead to a broadening of minds.

 

And those calling for me to go home, it's really uncalled for, especially coming from a population which is mostly well educated, well travelled and are of immigrant stock.

[Kelpie]

Wow, I touched a raw nerve here. Chill guys! Don't stress yourself with so much anger and hostility over the views expressed in the online equivalent of wet market chatter, ok? It is far-fetched to consider such chatter to be so influential as to have interfered in Singapore's internal affairs.

 

Anyway, I was expressing my admiration for a ruling party that while having its flaws, as an overall package, has and still is doing a remarkable job in improving the lives of its people. I felt sorry that many Singaporeans do not appear to realise how much of the good life they enjoy are made possible by the hard and soft infrastructure created through good governance from the PAP. People in many parts of the world have their countries governed much more poorly. In the countries that I've lived in, despite having many opposition MPs to check their governments, I still see lots of disaffection from the populace. That's why I was prompted to share my views. I didn't mean to advice anyone who to vote for.

 

I think it's unconvincing for people to set 'rules of speech' where one has to change citizenship before one can even share views about Singapore. I do not think that any group has a monopoly on discussions about topics related to them. We are after all not discussing something very personal, such as somebody's spouse or parents, are we? I'm pretty sure most people have one time or another commented about countries which they are not citizens of and don't consider themselves to have committed any transgression. Of course if I'm holding an official post in another country, then remarks made about other countries carry weight. But I'm not, I'm just an average Joe chatting in a 'marketplace'.

 

It is natural that different people have different views and no amount of debate can change each other's opinions. You may not agree with me, but I think you can be open-minded enough to hear other points of view without getting emotional. The views of people like Loki, Turboflat4, Dojon, and others too, penned without a flaring of emotions, have been enlightening. Thank you for sharing. Hearing such breadth of views in a discussion can lead to a broadening of minds.

 

And those calling for me to go home, it's really uncalled for, especially coming from a population which is mostly well educated, well travelled and are of immigrant stock.

 

While others may seem more diplomatic here, it doesn't mean you can take things for granted in our homeland.

You are not welcomed to express your one-sided view and yet you repeatedly challenging our patience here. If you are here to clarify your position, which others have questions you earlier, please do so swiftly. Else, may I suggest that you be an observer than to incite the discontent here further.

 

Thank you very much for your understanding and IMO, you should not have even started this thread in the 1st place.

 

Regards,

[WTF]

Thank you for sharing your views as an outsider about our ruling party.

 

It might be good intention of you to do so but I think the timing of your post is too sensitive ie during elections.

 

It's like an insurance agent approaching one of friend recently trying to sell him some policies when my friend's beloved father had just passed away. It seems well intent on the insurance agent's part but looking from the angle of the affected party is entirely different.

 

These few days in mcf has really turned into a "political boxing-ring" and I hope that after 7 May we'll have the same old good mcf returning again.

 

Cheers!!!

[Tanlee]

Since Singapore is deem a better place, have you apply for Singapore critizenship?

 

If so, welcome to Singapore community.

 

If not, you are like one of my FTs colleague who will divert the tropic whenever I asked them about converting to Singapore critizenship.

 

They told me using the cash earn in Singapore, they have invested a fair portion into property in their home land that is appreciating in value...

 

One of them even boosted about having a condo that is almost fully paid based on salary earned in singapore!

Edited May 5, 2011 by Tanlee

[Anderaina]

If you look at history, even someone who started out good might turn corrupted when there's no one to keep him in check and surrounded by ass-kissers. Just take a look at china dynasties. Even Emperor Qianlong is not immuned to corruption.

 

"In later years, Qianlong became so full of himself and so irresponsible that he assigned corrupted official to the highest ranks and while they were leeching the wealth from the China

Edited May 5, 2011 by Anderaina

[Ingenius]

While others may seem more diplomatic here, it doesn't mean you can take things for granted in our homeland.

You are not welcomed to express your one-sided view and yet you repeatedly challenging our patience here. If you are here to clarify your position, which others have questions you earlier, please do so swiftly. Else, may I suggest that you be an observer than to incite the discontent here further.

 

Thank you very much for your understanding and IMO, you should not have even started this thread in the 1st place.

 

Regards,

You are a farking disgraceful arrogant and rude singaporean. the most ugly singaporean there is.

[Kelpie]

You are a farking disgraceful arrogant and rude singaporean. the most ugly singaporean there is.

 

Do you know the house rules here? No personal attack please. I'm handsome anyway .

 

Regards,

[Ahhuat]

I originate from a neighboring country and have many years of first-hand experience living in Singapore and in my country. I observe Singaporeans' sentiments on this general election with interest and put forward my thoughts - food for thought for you perhaps.

 

Singaporeans have lots of genuine issues to be unhappy about.

Housing prices too high for newly-weds, high and rising cost of living, high cost of medical care, pressure-cooker education system and working life, high ministerial salaries, arrogant PAP politicians who don't care about the mid and lower income groups, large influx of immigrants, etc.

 

Let me describe some of the electoral issues people in my country are unhappy about.

Housing prices too high for newly-weds, high and rising cost of living, high cost of private medical care (public medical care cheap but dubious doctors), high income ministers but dubious sources of wealth, arrogant incumbent party politicians who don't care about the mid and lower income groups, large influx of immigrants (mostly unskilled labourers and many are illegals)

And Also

High rate of crime, rampant and systemic corruption and abuse of power, state sponsored racism and intolerance, still many people living in poverty, poor public transport in the major cities and non-existent public transport outside major cities, widespread environmental damage, education system that produces poorly skilled graduates unattractive to employers, economy losing out FDI to countries below and above it in the value chain, cash for votes, etc.

 

You can see that people in my country share many of the grouses that Singaporeans have but we have a lot other major grouses that Singaporeans do not have! The PAP is not perfect but they have produced a society that is by and large a good place to live, work and raise a family. It is not surprising large numbers of educated and skilled foreigners, with plenty of choices, choose to move to Singapore. PAP should be recognised for their good work done over the years with your votes. Like all the good and bad inherent in any spouse, the PAP's strengths and weaknesses come as a package. Compared to incumbent parties in neighboring countries, the PAP has far more strengths than weaknesses.

 

Foreigners can appreciate the good in Singapore because life in their countries are worse off. However Singaporeans have taken for granted their security, prosperity, an efficient, clean government and excellent economic and educational opportunities open to all citizens. Singaporeans assume these are a given, something that will naturally be there in Singapore. I beg to differ.

 

Even though past elections have only produced a handful of opposition seats, if enough unhappy people vote for the opposition this time, you might just kick out the ruling party to your surprise. Then in the years to come, only at a time of loss will Singaporeans find out what bliss they had.

 

i agree with you. life in other countries is much worse. we have the PAP to thank for some policies which made us who we are today, for e.g. the education policies. my cousins up north still suffer in terms of education cos it sucks up there... what we did here is just pure brilliance. which is why my parents could get me educated to this level.

 

but fren, i tell u, we are not pissed at the good policies of the past, we are pissed at the direction things has taken in recent years and how we think it's gonna get in future - even worse. humility from our ruling party only comes a few days before polling day.

 

and reality check also, only 34% of singaporeans who were given the chance in GE 2006 wanted the opposition. I'm doubtful that PAP will fall these elections. It's ok, nobody wants to replace the govt. I wear the WP wrist band with pride cos even the oppo im supporting is saying they just want to be a voice, not take over. so my foreign fren, get your thoughts straight. we singaporeans dont want the pap out, we still want a pap govt. the WP also wants a pap govt. we just want more voices so that we can have some checks and balances.

 

[Parkingidiot]

i agree with you. life in other countries is much worse. we have the PAP to thank for some policies which made us who we are today, for e.g. the education policies. my cousins up north still suffer in terms of education cos it sucks up there... what we did here is just pure brilliance. which is why my parents could get me educated to this level.

 

but fren, i tell u, we are not pissed at the good policies of the past, we are pissed at the direction things has taken in recent years and how we think it's gonna get in future - even worse. humility from our ruling party only comes a few days before polling day.

 

and reality check also, only 34% of singaporeans who were given the chance in GE 2006 wanted the opposition. I'm doubtful that PAP will fall these elections. It's ok, nobody wants to replace the govt. I wear the WP wrist band with pride cos even the oppo im supporting is saying they just want to be a voice, not take over. so my foreign fren, get your thoughts straight. we singaporeans dont want the pap out, we still want a pap govt. the WP also wants a pap govt. we just want more voices so that we can have some checks and balances.

 

 

+1

 

That's putting it across succintly!

 

[Wishcumstrue]

Wow, I touched a raw nerve here. Chill guys! Don't stress yourself with so much anger and hostility over the views expressed in the online equivalent of wet market chatter, ok? It is far-fetched to consider such chatter to be so influential as to have interfered in Singapore's internal affairs.

 

Anyway, I was expressing my admiration for a ruling party

 

 

This is exactly the sort of character that traps their country of origin in a third World status.

 

That "I-say-somthing-oh-its-just-a-comment" attitude reflects the style of dis-engagement that I fear that these people brings to Singapore.

 

No liability, no social responsibly nor back-bone to match their lofty remarks about the system that they have little contribution.

 

I am not sure that I should say this: Your character, more than ever, is akin to parasitic behaviour which typically feeds on the local inhabitants while admiring the host and has little regard for being part of a human civilisation.

 

You admired PAP? Why not walk to talk?...

 

Opps!.I forget... parasites lack this basic cognitive capacity.