About time I did this, but since I only just finished watching the video online, you can't blame me for being a day slow. (Slept too early yesterday >.<)

Firstly, the videos of the rally may be watched online, here. I'll be good that you've taken a view of the whole thing before reading this. Otherwise you may not get most stuffs I would write down here.

So, let's go by Parts from the start to the finish. I won't be dissecting the speech and shoving in my ideas and opinions or anything, since the content is almost perfect. Its a National Day Rally speech, don't expect there to be really much to pick on at all.

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First, the economy. Nothing much, Speech spanned from global problems, to inflation, to Middle Income Singaporeans, specifically on car related issues and finally HDB Rental flats. 1 serious issue I do have was the claim that the average driver has benefited from the net decrease in road tax and increase in ERP. What the government has failed to realize that the number of times that one passes the ERP Gantry is not an average. Most Singaporeans who are not passing, for the sake of saving money, would be stubborn enough not to pass even a single one. The average value would thus gather a large deviation amongst the drivers and actually meaning that there would be MORE, Singaporeans needing help, while a handful really benefiting a lot more from the decrease in road tax.

The issue of increasing COE has also been avoided to include into the price of the car. Only focusing on the maintainance fees of the car and taxes maintaining the car rather than the price of overall ownership and use of the car. Don't get me wrong, it was touched on. Just not enough.

Realized something too. Everyone clapped when they're getting more money. Lol.

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Next issue up on the line was Our Society, focusing more of our morals in our society and how we would like to appeal to others outside the country.

Interesting to see him pick out examples, even to the nitty gritty ones, that would appeal to perhaps the less enthusiastic audience.
Eg. Some things we are good at doing
i. Sit properly in the cinema (i.e. don’t put your feet on the seat in front of you)
ii.Say “thank you” after being served
But also many things we need to improve
i.Say “please” – not so common
ii.Clear tables and return food trays)

Only proves how much effort he has put into the speech to drag in the interest of the audience, and really give the impression that perhaps the NDP Speech can actually be interesting.

Of course, the part on the Youth Olympic Games was also perhaps laden with a tinge too much of Propagandic Patriotism. Whether you agree is up to you to decide.

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Third issue of Our People. Birth Rates, marriage, and what it takes to bring up a child. Hilarious to see him talking about love and our people. Lols. Nothing much perhaps just a point in that really got my eyebrows up.

There was an idea that we should be enhancing our childcare centers as they become more prominent and utilized in the years ahead. Agreed, however there was one suggested way that got me snickering.

"Train and provide scholarships for childcare teachers."

Scholarship in Childcare Teaching in Harvard anyone?

Also, for... 'Hardworking' women, "We will extend incentives like tax reliefs, childcare subsidies etc. to the 5th and subsequent child." You suddenly realized that such an action should have been undertaken since the start of the campaign. Seems that the government was afraid that the project might end up like the Stop at 2 campaign and end up overpopulation instead? Quite unlikely isn't it?

The Prime Minster has also brought morals into the issue. Low birthrate and everything is more of a moral issue than a economic or time one. Its just basically the people's mindset not to give birth. Resources and help are definitely present. Question is, are they just pushing the blame?

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Last topic in for the night was on the Future. Emphasis was placed on the development of the Internet as the Fifth Estate as well as the increased amount of political freedom that would soon be evident in Singapore. Really don't want to be saying anything much since it doesn't matter.

So we see that perhaps its not the lack of political freedom anymore, but just the pure apathy of Singapore's People. Not just Youths, but People towards politics and government. Its not about having more avenues to care. Its getting MORE people to care.

Either Apathy, or just plain ignorance.

The tribute to the Table Tennis Team was rather awkward. Lols.

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Conclusion was just a wrap-up, and the introduction of a few "Singapore Success Stories." Which had propaganda laced all around it. But that's another thing.

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So here ya go. All there. But don't take my words for it! Go watch it for yourself. =)

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*Edit* I just realized something ironic. On the issue of the future, the PM has stated that we must learn to be Savvy on the net, and not just accept its information. We have to be discerning about what you see on the net as well as distinguish between what is true and false.

And there I was listening to his speech online.

Oh the Irony. Lols.