KNIFE CUT TOFU 2 SIDE VERY SMOOTH … SOUND GAYISH DOESN’T IT?

18 December 2007
Cloudy Tuesday (24 Degree Celsius)
Late Afternoon @ 1830 (Singapore Time)
Listen: 别以为男人就不会哭 by 巫启贤
Mood: *Feed them to the Lions!*

Following my many-logies on “Social Change” and “Knife cutting some tofu” thingy, here is the next installment

In my years as a small fry staffer, I have seen high officials insisting flying only on FIRST class flights in accordance with their terms of employment. Heck, why should they short-changed themselves (as the saying goes) when the rest of their herd are doing it. These are done with such utterly disregards to the cost and if I may add; with the money saved (business class is just as good), these could go a long way to fund social programs WITHOUT the need for GST increment (again, it is my flimsy understanding at best, but the jury is still out there).

For discussion purpose, let’s just say someone higher up in the food chain decides to visit some out of reach countries like US (some 9000 miles away), not once, but say again for discussion purposes, something like 4 times a year. Now, supposedly he is entitled to first class SQ airfare, these would work out to be in this region:

First Class Airfare to US – S$18, 000 x 4 = S$72,000
Business Class Airfare – S$10,500 x 4 = S$42,000

Difference between 1st and Business = S$30,000

Let’s not even get me started on cost saving by Economy class fare, travel perks (read Subsistence Allowance) and his entourage. Yes, Elites need entourage. To make sure that first and foremost, he looks damn solid, being surrounded by cheebyes. Then someone to do the trip report and lastly, call it CHEAP but those underlining are willing to be the chaps to do all these just so he/she can tag along. So you see, it is a vicious cycle and everyone is jumping into the wagon.

Call it a baptism of fire, every staff officer will and have to go through these phase of life. When they come of age, they too, will continue the traditions. Why not? EVERYONE IS DOING IT!

Such is life of course, the top bosses will have everything and the cattle class nothing, save if they are lucky, some leftover scraps. If the government is genuinely concern about the lower end of the working class, they could do something, anything in its power to assist them; at least assured them of the next meal. But alas, whoever will care for the outcast? Firstly, they don’t make a difference to the vote since they are but a small minority, neither are they economically powerful enough (even as a group) to affect the outcome of anything. So why bother about them? Beside, following the argument, they are also not very smart too or so the elites thought (could be proven… but who knows).

Therein lies my many-logies on “Social Change theorem”; Should the underprivileged bound together to affect a positive/negative outcome (A Tamil uprising in Malaysia for instance) or just keep their mouth shut and do whatever the elites tell them to do? Heck, even my mom has a good mind to kick the CPF officer ass

The thing goes like this: nowadays Government say

1. Keep min. S$30K in Retirement account (RA), then they give full incentive
2. Mom don’t have full sum in RA, so the officer ask her to top up
3. Mom pointed out that, NOW she can’t even take out HER CPF money and yet, the Government still wants her to top up with her hard earned cash… What are the odds

Like Kwek said, I don’t think we will ever get our estate upgraded. Besides, if I were in her shoes, most probably I will lan lan pay up. See, that is the difference between gutless Bird and Powerful Mom.

To reiterate, if Ministers are genuinely concerned (lacking of a better word); surely paying them sufficiently would be sufficient, not astronomical figures. Why use the pegging order of top money earners in the industry. I’m sure you have read about it all; the pros versus the cons of such a peg and how we can have a better salary system. But alas, like many Singaporean, we only know how to complain without concrete plans to solve problems. Complain like talk, is cheap. Everyone can do it but not everyone can find a solution. The Oppositions are not helping either (read my previous post).

And surely the Ministers deserved a pat on their back. Hey, they are earning more than the Chief Justice of the United States. While I am at it, heck, even Bush also never get to sniff so much money in his time in office. Of course, elites once argued that they don’t have secret service protection, Air Force One on standby and stuffs. Right of course. Just like my Cheese Pie Colleague back at the US Desk; everything and anything also he say. No point arguing with someone who only thought is not to let him be shortchanged, like the mindset of the elites.

Cheese Pie Colleague Christian somemore… Haha. Not to say I what lah, but he should be wiser.

God gave the elites powerful minds to lead and bring prosperities for their people, while they make it a point to worship him in all his glory, they should also be more humble and not everything also you have a reason (说了就算). In the end, you will be up there being judged. I might be wrong but I don’t think worshipping with all your might will get you through the pearly gates. I’m pretty sure in all God’s glory, other actions will also play an important deciding factor too. If solely based on worshipping, I think there might be a riot brewing somewhere liao…

So I might be overly generalizing but unless you are economically viable for Singapore, you are next to nothing. That encompass most elderly, mentally and physically challenged and of course, the lower spectrum of the population. Seeing how most policies are defined saddened me. Poor/old/useless citizens’ ends are so near that they are literally forgotten in the course policy formulation; Classic Example – CPF’s change announcement first, then set up committee to gather feedback. Oxymoronic I know but that is how we allow ourselves to be ruled and guided. And where are the voices for the less fortunate? Oh, forgive me, They DON’T have a voice. My bad… My Bad

Don’t get me wrong, I am totally for the idea of financial independence and belief that you are ultimately responsible for your survival, however country governance should also entails some compassion. Not everything boils down to dollar and cents, as I mentioned elsewhere, we have to acknowledge the fact that we are not born equal and that not everyone has the ability to survive. Altruism thrives a million years ago and still continuing to be precisely it accords a survival benefits for everyone. Following this evolutionary theory, shouldn’t people of similar predication; A rich general public/private partnership (as compared to tribes) helping lesser off fellow citizens? We have a rich general/private partnership in place. The only problem is benefits for whom? And WHY should anyone do that… Would a Homogenous country be a better test bed? A DEFINITE YES. But we don’t have a choice, given the scenario and external elements. SO it is pretty much redundant to discuss its impact.

The way senior officials splurge at the expense of the government disgust me to the end. Spending taxpayers’ money on seemingly inconsequential stuffs like airfare, hotel, subsistence allowances, official hosted lunches etc. Of course, it is their entitlement and having work their way up the food chain, either by sheer hardwork or pure luck, they will have this inclination to milk the systems (as quoted). Of course also, they have all the ways and means to justify their entitlement, even though as frivolously lame excuses as it can get.

We just have to understand one universal, the only truth; Civil Service is infallible. They can back up everything with facts and evidence and even to the very end, they are still blameless. It is the masses that are the dumb Asses and Idiots. With such understanding, then it will be easier to digest whatever shit being thrown by them to us.

But ain’t us the ones that own the country and they are there to run it? Or was that we are mere guest in their little kingdom… Oh well, stay tuned to my next cowpeh session.

I know this may come as an anti-climax and most probably Nyo will cow peh again but

Nichole!!! I MISS YOU!!