Just finished up with my Mathematical Methods paper of May 2008. Have about 3 more papers to finish in the next 2 days, well within my time for myself. I guess I should take the time to look at the New Year's message by PM Lee, just type out my thoughts.
To make the post more engaging random pictures would be added in.
..
Pulling Through a Difficult Year & Preparing for the Post-Crisis World
The whole of the first portion of the speech was devoted to the economical issues of the past year, and quite a "happening" one. But at the end of the day, -2.1%, a fantastic job considering the growth of the fourth quarter at 3.5%. This despite encouraging inefficiency within the workforce, but so as to keep unemployment low within the country. But that's an argument that has been made in previous posts before, so there isn't much point in coming back to it again.
But what that is important, would be the days ahead. While it seems that the problems seems to be already over, the work has actually only began. If you really think about it, the past year has only been pumping money pumping money, and asking getting citizens to upgrade their skills. Now comes the challenge of reducing the money being pumped into the system, and allowing the pickup of global demand to start supporting a decent employment level for the country again. Putting in money is easy, just decide an amount and put it in. Worst case scenario it doesn't help the economy as much as it can, that we're not maximizing the potential of the money.
Now, removing the support, now, that's much more problematic.
Your Move.
Consider the volatile export markets, consider handling also the influx of people coming back from having upgraded themselves. The only reason that we see the times of recession as something more daunting as we had the impression that, one wrong move might land us straight into the abyss. Rather than that we seem to just earn less because everybody is starting to earn money again at the end of the recession.
..
Transforming the Singapore Economy
Of course the standard, companies please buck up, workers please upgrade yourselves, increase your mobility within the labour markets and lets all expand to external markets. Grandpas and Grandmas should work for longer periods of time.
But of course, lets remember that for that to happen, companies must first be willing to hire them first.
And now, probably the problem that everyone saw coming. The foreigners. Specifically, expats and foreign workers, not tourists. Yes, they are required to increase the nation's population, especially with a replacement rate of 1.29 now. But it has finally reached the limit, where tensions are not just heightening between the 2 groups, but reaching the point of snapping anytime soon.
This is not a problem that nobody saw coming. In fact, everyone in Singapore saw this coming from the very first day. And not surprising, as humans we are born to instinctive doubt anything new, including new people. But the problem was simply that:
1. There wasn't enough done for the integration of the expats into the nation's fabric. Not that there isn't any. There's just not enough. What more can be done?
Rather than working on the side of the expats, what we have neglected is to work on the side of locals. Locals are still unwilling to see these foreign expats as their equal. They do not respect the expats for coming over to steal what was originally meant for Singaporeans, and that issue has not been resolved despite many publicity about the reasons for having such a large intake of foreign workers. This is also jointly because of the reason these foreign workers are here for to work as in the first place.
Cleaners, Construction Workers, Road Sweepers. Remember, these are jobs that Singaporeans are unwilling to do themselves in the first place. It would be hard for them to be able to accept and respect the rights of these foreign workers who come and enjoy their privileges, and that made even more difficult by the fact that they are doing such "lowly" jobs while they have to slog their guts off to get more prestigious jobs for more privileges.
They're not doing enough! But I won't do it!
2. There has not been enough done for the foreign workers to make sure they understand the culture of the nation. Its conservative nature and especially its laws. Its incredible how many issues has happened that involves a foreign national. Take the recent molestation tape during the Siloso New Year's Countdown for example. That was highly inappropriate behavior by the people in question. I'm not just taking about the guys, but also the skimpily dressed victim, who was really asking for it, as well as the cameraman. Who could take the video but not do anything about it. Shame on everyone that was involved. But I hope the victim wasn't too scarred by the incident.
..
Responding to Climate Change
Now this, I am extremely amused. I quote. "We have committed to cut Singapore’s carbon emissions by 16% below business as usual (BAU) levels by 2020, provided there is a global agreement."
This is the first ever time I have heard Singapore go. "You First." No longer, "Ban Chewing Gums!", "Increase GST!", "GST Rebates!", but "You First."
Hahas, this amuses me to no end. Well, we shall see then if there is any global agreement in the near future, but it'll probably be a while before anything like Copenhagen happens again. It was a failure, but its the closest.
Alright. Have a good night, I should stop, its almost 2am here already.
To make the post more engaging random pictures would be added in.
..Pulling Through a Difficult Year & Preparing for the Post-Crisis World
The whole of the first portion of the speech was devoted to the economical issues of the past year, and quite a "happening" one. But at the end of the day, -2.1%, a fantastic job considering the growth of the fourth quarter at 3.5%. This despite encouraging inefficiency within the workforce, but so as to keep unemployment low within the country. But that's an argument that has been made in previous posts before, so there isn't much point in coming back to it again.
But what that is important, would be the days ahead. While it seems that the problems seems to be already over, the work has actually only began. If you really think about it, the past year has only been pumping money pumping money, and asking getting citizens to upgrade their skills. Now comes the challenge of reducing the money being pumped into the system, and allowing the pickup of global demand to start supporting a decent employment level for the country again. Putting in money is easy, just decide an amount and put it in. Worst case scenario it doesn't help the economy as much as it can, that we're not maximizing the potential of the money.
Now, removing the support, now, that's much more problematic.
Your Move.Consider the volatile export markets, consider handling also the influx of people coming back from having upgraded themselves. The only reason that we see the times of recession as something more daunting as we had the impression that, one wrong move might land us straight into the abyss. Rather than that we seem to just earn less because everybody is starting to earn money again at the end of the recession.
..
Transforming the Singapore Economy
Of course the standard, companies please buck up, workers please upgrade yourselves, increase your mobility within the labour markets and lets all expand to external markets. Grandpas and Grandmas should work for longer periods of time.
But of course, lets remember that for that to happen, companies must first be willing to hire them first.And now, probably the problem that everyone saw coming. The foreigners. Specifically, expats and foreign workers, not tourists. Yes, they are required to increase the nation's population, especially with a replacement rate of 1.29 now. But it has finally reached the limit, where tensions are not just heightening between the 2 groups, but reaching the point of snapping anytime soon.This is not a problem that nobody saw coming. In fact, everyone in Singapore saw this coming from the very first day. And not surprising, as humans we are born to instinctive doubt anything new, including new people. But the problem was simply that:
1. There wasn't enough done for the integration of the expats into the nation's fabric. Not that there isn't any. There's just not enough. What more can be done?
Rather than working on the side of the expats, what we have neglected is to work on the side of locals. Locals are still unwilling to see these foreign expats as their equal. They do not respect the expats for coming over to steal what was originally meant for Singaporeans, and that issue has not been resolved despite many publicity about the reasons for having such a large intake of foreign workers. This is also jointly because of the reason these foreign workers are here for to work as in the first place.
Cleaners, Construction Workers, Road Sweepers. Remember, these are jobs that Singaporeans are unwilling to do themselves in the first place. It would be hard for them to be able to accept and respect the rights of these foreign workers who come and enjoy their privileges, and that made even more difficult by the fact that they are doing such "lowly" jobs while they have to slog their guts off to get more prestigious jobs for more privileges.
They're not doing enough! But I won't do it!2. There has not been enough done for the foreign workers to make sure they understand the culture of the nation. Its conservative nature and especially its laws. Its incredible how many issues has happened that involves a foreign national. Take the recent molestation tape during the Siloso New Year's Countdown for example. That was highly inappropriate behavior by the people in question. I'm not just taking about the guys, but also the skimpily dressed victim, who was really asking for it, as well as the cameraman. Who could take the video but not do anything about it. Shame on everyone that was involved. But I hope the victim wasn't too scarred by the incident.
..
Responding to Climate Change
Now this, I am extremely amused. I quote. "We have committed to cut Singapore’s carbon emissions by 16% below business as usual (BAU) levels by 2020, provided there is a global agreement."
This is the first ever time I have heard Singapore go. "You First." No longer, "Ban Chewing Gums!", "Increase GST!", "GST Rebates!", but "You First."
Hahas, this amuses me to no end. Well, we shall see then if there is any global agreement in the near future, but it'll probably be a while before anything like Copenhagen happens again. It was a failure, but its the closest.
Alright. Have a good night, I should stop, its almost 2am here already.
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