Do we care for elderly? Obviously we do all the time.

Once again, I am borrowing this well written writeup in relation to the usualy question by the opposition “do we care about the elderly?”.

Immediately, the basic question for the opposition is that, since they are also Singaporeans, they probably have been living in Singapore for 10 or more years, depending on their age, and we can safely say that many of them must be 20 or more years old. They should know by now that Singapore has been so recognized and respected because we have a good government,  which ensures we receive education from young. Our government ensures adequate coverage for all citizens. Example, we don’t just build houses or HDB flats, we build homes. We don’t just create shelter for the majority Singaporeans, we build HDB flats that are in great living environment.

Opposition should do at least 1 thing, is that they should not politicize things or systems that are already generally working very well in Singapore. The more they dispute the good work that the government has done only reflects their shallow knowledge or shallow mind. Oppose for the sake of oppose. 

At the end of the day, what do we least expect from a good government? “Responsiveness” is important. Unless the opposition can share with Singaporeans what other governments are doing even a better job that what our current government has done to Singapore in 47 years,  Singaporeans know that all the talking and noises from the opposition are purely nothing more than just a political game they are playing all the time.

May 23, 2012. Wednesday.

What about the elderly?

Written by : Benjamin Chiang

The opposition says that many old people are “pressured” to continue working. The picture they paint is a bleak one: troops of our elderly are out in full force, working beyond their retirement years because they cannot afford to retire. Old ladies picking up cardboard boxes to sell.

Well, my friend told me that his grandma continues to work at McDonalds and if you dare ask her to stop working, you’ll get a tongue lashing. Same for some members in my family: they can work, they’re proud of it and they will verbally abuse you if you dare imply they should “retire”.

But here are other reasons why the elderly continue to work:

1.) They work because they want to work 

2.) Some use it to fill time

3.) Some have genuine need as they didn’t save enough and/or their children don’t look after them

What we’re most concerned about is the 3rd group. What sort of programs are in place to help them. And why doesn’t the state do more for all the elderly in general, so we can retire and play chess everyday in our gardens.

Here are the community programs already in place that our elderly needy could tap on:

– ComCare (Financial assistance)
– Public Assistance Scheme (Cash grants, medical, education and financial assistance)
– Short-Term Financial Assistance Scheme (via NTUC Fairprice Food Vouchers)
– HOPE (Homeownership Plus, incentives to low-income families)
– Hardship Assistance Fund
– Work Support Program
– Lease Buyback Scheme (for low income elderly in 3-room or smaller flast to cash out part of money locked up in HDB for their old age)
– MCYS Transport Subsidy for Users of Day Care Centres for Seniors
– Caregivers Training Grant
– Eldercare Trust
– Interim Disability Program for the Elderly
– Home Care Assist Program
– Handicap Cab Scheme (for taxis)

Actually, there are 81 pages worth of welfare programs that cater to every level of society, see this document from the National Council of Social Services. 

Here’s a question that must be asked: If Temasek Holdings and the Government Investment Company is making so much money, why doesn’t the state pay for more welfare?

Here’s the scoop:

a.) We have about $700b in our reserves, which is no small amount 

b.) About 1/3 of Singaporeans actually pay income taxes. To supplement national expenditure, the country dedicates an (estimated) $7b from profit acquired by their investments. The rest of it is used to back our currency and insurance. Now, you buy insurance to hedge against a major illness. What is the country’s version of a major illness? Our money is also used to insure ourselves against a whole host of illnesse. 

What are we so worried about? What are we insuring for? Here are some examples: 

• Capital and labour is highly mobile today – can we guarantee we’ll always continue attracting the best and brightest to continue to attract companies to invest/setup here?

• In 2061, our water agreement ends – how much will the price of water be then? Can we guarantee that it will always be this low? No doubt we have New Water today, but what is the cost of energy against the cost of refining New Water?

• Food security – this country doesn’t produce enough food; how can we guarantee that worldwide inflation does not affect our food supply badly?

This are just a few of the reasons why our sizable reserve stays largely untouched.

Now the Opposition keeps saying “Government got money, why don’t give out more? Subsidize more!” In a political point of view, it would be so easy to win an election just by giving out lots of subsidies, lots of freebies – the Singapore government indeed has the ability to do this for many elections to come. But is this a responsible thing to do?

We have been so successful as a nation because our politics is not normal. We’ve had the luxury of planning very, very far into the future. Most countries just plan for the next few years until their next election because they know they have a limited career and there is no guarantee they’ll be voted back in. They do not dare to make an electorate angry with unpopular policies.

I hope this sheds more light as to why we see the elderly working beyond their retirement years.

 

Credit goes to the righteous blog:  http://www.fivestarsandamoon.blogspot.sg/2012/05/what-about-elderly.html

What do we know about our national flag – 5 stars and a moon ?

How many Singaporeans really understand the meaning of the 5 stars and a moon which we see on our national flag?

How much do we know why we created the 5 stars and a moon?

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2012

What does 5 stars and a moon mean to you
Was at a National Day Observance Ceremony, and heard this speech made by Mr Ong Ye Kung, guest-of-honour of the event. He needs no introduction to most people who knows GE2011.

In his speech he outlined his own thoughts about what our national flag represents. We all know that the crimson red stands for universal brotherhood, white for purity and virtue, crescent moon signifies a young nation, and the five stars stand for our five values of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

Quoting from his speech: “What red and white stands for continue to be the everlasting fundamental ethos of our society.  But the crescent moon and five stars may take on contemporary meanings and new aspirations.”

While we may no longer be the youngest nation around at 47 years old, he said he hopes that Singapore will “always stay young at heart, and fill our nation with a youthful energy and dynamism that cuts across all ages”. 

Our nation is indeed growing old, with low birth-rates and increasing median ages, but our spirit should not therefore grow old and cynical. I met a 70yr old farmer yesterday, still full of zest and energy. He said, there are many old people around, retired, children all grown up, lots of money lying around, can travel the world, but basically dunno what to do with their lives. Some start to waste away, and soon drop dead in no time. 

This farmer said he therefore hopes to rent out small plots of land in his farm at low cost, for old people to grow vegetables. He said when one is old, to nurture living things and watch them grow organically brings a certain joy and happiness to them.

Contrasting that to the online culture today where bitterness and cynicism prevails, and everyone seems eager to drag down and destroy everything positive about life. There is so much about life we can celebrate, and social media, internet are great tools for us to build on mankind’s successes and create greater things. Yet, look at what we’ve used them for. The generation pounding away at the keyboards may be young in skin. But their souls are shriveling up.

Back to the Mr Ong’s speeach. He said this about the 5 stars –

1) Democracy – no longer just means we can choose our Government through the ballot box, but now also represent the desire of our people for a more vibrant and healthy democracy, that will embrace more diverse views, and have more debate on how we shape the nation.

2) Peace – not just signifies harmony between our various communities, but peace between people with different views as well. Also peace with our heritage and environment.

3) Progress – not just means economic and material progress, but also progress in social consciousness, public spirit and cohesion.  

4) Justice – still a country governed by the rule of law.  But at the same time, we want to see social justice, where the more well off will help out with the disadvantaged.  

5) Equality – not just applicable to Singaporeans of different communities, between men and women, between old and new citizens.
While some faction of society tries to over-sell the notion of democracy to justify their irresponsible comments online, masquerading as alternative views, they ignored all the other values dear to us. 

We forgot to uphold peaceful conversation and dialogue. We forgot to progress in terms of social sophistication to treat others with respect and consideration. We condone injustice in the way people bully one another using rude language and insults. We start to discriminate people and propagate hatred towards selected groups of people.

Mr Ong reminded me to reflect what the Singapore flag means to me. Hope online readers can also take a moment to think about what these things mean to you. The online community is no longer just a faceless community, separate from our daily lives. It is an integral part of us, an integral part of the nation. We cannot create a happy Singapore with so much negativity. It speaks of a nation’s character and identity. 

Perhaps we can start a movement for this. Help to spread the values of our national flag into the online space. We can do our part to nurture a Singapore online community we can be proud of. One that is vibrant with youthful spirit, based on the 5 values of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. Share this along if you agree.

Borrowing this meaningful article from :  http://fivestarsandamoon.blogspot.sg/2012/08/what-does-5-stars-and-moon-mean-to-you.html?m=1