The government’s pro-foreigner policy has come under siege again this time at a polytechnic forum where Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports is the guest of honor.
A male student asked Dr Vivian point-blank in the face why the government is allowing foreigners to compete with Singaporeans for job.
The feisty Dr Vivian shot back immediately:
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
At least I have a job to pay the taxes.
Quote:
Dr Vivian then proceed to placate the audience with the standard (official) reassurance that the government will continue to safeguard the interests of citizens:
“You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it’s all about Singaporeans.”
Dr Vivian did not elaborate more about the “long-term” benefits that Singaporeans have acquired from the government other than the mandatory 2 year National Service for Singapore males.
During the dialogue which lasted for more than one hour, Dr Vivian also answered questions on political apathy put by a group of students who proposed that a political education program, along with the continued cultivation of a media landscape would help address the problem.
Dr Vivian dismissed the students’ proposal altogether by claiming that there was no political apathy among the youths without substantiating them. He also warned against labeling youths as apathetic, saying it was “trendy” to do so.
and IF the economy goes downhill again in 20 years time and you go out of job, dont say the government didnt tell you you'd be heavily taxed because you all wanted the FTs out of here.
and IF the economy goes downhill again in 20 years time and you go out of job, dont say the government didnt tell you you'd be heavily taxed because you all wanted the FTs out of here.
Do you have any rigorous research findings to substantiate this hypothesis?
By the way, I thought that the onus of supporting the aging population falls on the elderly and their children. We do not have any welfare system that support the elderly; they are told to work even beyond retirement age. So, what is the thing about taxes? Could someone please enlighten me?
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
Huh? I am lost on this one. I thought Singaporean suppose to use CPF, saved from working in their younger days, to fund for retirement. If we have so many foreign talent that Singaporean have no job, then in 20 year's time the government will have to tax heavily to support the country's ageing population.
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
1. Why do the government need so much money for to the extent of heavy taxes since they can got so much surplus to lose from Town Council failed investments to Temasek Holdings and GIC failed investments.
It is obvious the government got more than enough revenue to spend each year.It is just the issue of diverting government money collected to the right channels.
Unless the government's salaries and expensive taste resulted in coffers drying up.
In the end it is about money again and people are just figures/integers to the government.
Why did not he mention 20 years ago when he was a student and there was little foreigners , taxes was also not heavy but Singapore was still able to survive.
2. Even if the taxes are light, how about the issue of not having a job to pay taxes or low paying job force by cheap labour to pay taxes due to foreign talent.
Job is after all only one and it cannot cater to 2 mouths.Somebody has to be sacrificed.
Guess the government does not care where revenue comes from as long as there is revenue. Singaporeans then can forget about being special to the government.
“You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it’s all about Singaporeans.”
I do not even understand this statement as it is packed with oxymorons or opposite meanings.
1.Hows does foreigners help to create and take away your job at same time ?
He obviously do not understand the student's question and his own answer.
2.If foreigner take away your job, how to have opportunity and how to be "its all about Singaporeans? "
Who the hell voted such nonsensical minister into Parliament ???
Last edited by The_Republic : 19-09-2009 at 06:48 PM.
Do you have any rigorous research findings to substantiate this hypothesis?
By the way, I thought that the onus of supporting the aging population falls on the elderly and their children. We do not have any welfare system that support the elderly; they are told to work even beyond retirement age. So, what is the thing about taxes? Could someone please enlighten me?
hi there
yes, the onus of supporting the aging population falls on the elderly and their children...which means...just about everyone in singapore. indeed we do not have any welfare system that supports the elderly currently. but whos to say it wont happen in a decade or two? if THAT happens, it brings about natural costs for the government...which would probably bring about the taxes.
And so, if the new immigrants do not procreate and birth rate remains low, then how? The new immigrants are gonna aged too, then how? Are the govt not merely pushing the problem to our much later generations? With a much larger ageing population than ever with declining birth rates, wouldn't our future generations sufferred more than ever?
Or are they going to keep importing immigrants forever to "solve" the problem? At the current population level, SIngapore is already the most crowded country in the world (after Monaco) liao, how many more immigrants can our tiny island absorb?
and IF the economy goes downhill again in 20 years time and you go out of job, dont say the government didnt tell you you'd be heavily taxed because you all wanted the FTs out of here.
What are the ministers paying themselves millions for? Aren't they being paid to forsee the risk, and to ensure that our economy would remain viable and our people would continue to keep their jobs?
Or are they being paid millions merely for being in power, and not paid to serve, and look after the interest of the country and its people?
What are the ministers paying themselves millions for? Aren't they being paid to forsee the risk, and to ensure that our economy would remain viable and our people would continue to keep their jobs?
Or are they being paid millions merely for being in power, and not paid to serve, and look after the interest of the country and its people?
Again, all talk abut no action. There's not even a plan or manifesto of the "long term benefits" for Singaporeans. I might as well go take over some division 3 team in the English league and promise them that I will take the club to the Premier League and win the Champions League as well.
well, singaporeans gave them a 'mandate' the last time around. its a 5 year contract to rule. lets wait till it expires on 2011.
Hehe to be more precise, only slightly more than half of Singaporeans gave them the "mandate" nia. (The rest did not even get the chance to vote as a result of walkovers..)
Come to think of it, probably it's because these ministers have already been so used to having nobody to challenge them in election, thereby allowing them to keep staying in power--as long as their party boss favours them--that they are becoming more and more arrogant and self-serving liao..
Hehe to be more precise, only slightly more than half of Singaporeans gave them the "mandate" nia. (The rest did not even get the chance to vote as a result of walkovers..)
Come to think of it, probably it's because these ministers have already been so used to having nobody to challenge them in election, thereby allowing them to keep staying in power--as long as their party boss favours them--that they are becoming more and more arrogant and self-serving liao..
The so-called father of Singapore has been arrogant and self-serving right from the very moment he shed his crocodile tears. Our ministers now are just learning from their mentor.
The political environment now is a direct reflection of his mentality; he is still very much in charge. The scholars and bureaucrats are only too happy to go along with the flow, but they didn't create this mess.
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This is Singapore, where the government is crappy, and the people crappier!
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
1. Who SAID "STOP AT 2" in the 70s?? Hindsight of government?
2. Has the government been taxing the FTs heavily?? NO!!
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
1. Who SAID "STOP AT 2" in the 70s?? Hindsight of government?
2. Has the government been taxing the FTs heavily?? NO!!
Why look at 20 years time? look at present. Ageing population is already present. What will happen in 5 years time?
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