A fundamental human right

Some Americans believe in using violence to deal with violence. “Let armed guards protect children in schools”, “Arm teachers with guns”. Better still, let everyone carry a gun and everyone can shoot at one another at the first sign of trouble. 

The US spends enormous resources trying to prevent terrorist attacks on its soil yet it cannot protect its citizens from its own gun terrorists. 

The right to live in a safe environment is a basic human right. 

And India, another big democracy, cannot protect women from being raped. 

When Japanese troops invaded China, brutal rapes were committed on women by the Japanese soldiers. That was during the war. Isn't it appalling that such an atrocious crime is being committed so frequently in India in present time. 

Violent rapists should be whipped in public. 

Why is it so difficult to curb these? 

I believe the reason is that Americans see owning guns as their right because it has been allowed for so long; and the Indian authorities have been too lax on rape crimes and too lenient to rapists for too long.

Lessons for Singapore 

Singapore should consider very carefully when it wants provide welfare benefits or subsidies. Once given, it is very difficult to stop. Same too if we want to change or relax any law, for example the death penalty or the ISA or the right-to-strike laws. Once changed, it is very difficult to reverse.

The National Conversation

I think many people who support the Government think they don't need to participate in the National Conversation because they agree with most of the Government's policies and views. However, I feel it would be good if they attend to express the views or just to say they want a more gracious Singapore.

For myself, I am happy with what the Government has done and what it is doing. I believe that the Government will continue do the right things that benefit the people and are good for the Country. 

As for foreigners, I have no prejuduce against them. I am quite comfortable with them around.

And for matters like the Internal Security Act, my view is that the ISA should stay. You never know when some security problem would crop up and no other law can deal with it. I also think that freedom of expression is not absolute. There are things that should not be allowed. 

The United States has a warped sense of freedom of expression and human rights. It is an unhealthy obsession. What is wrong with forbidding poeple from stirring up religious or racial hatred? But I suppose the US can't do it because it has allowed it for too long. Something that has been taken for granted for too long (even bad thing) is almost impossible to reverse. Ownership of guns is another example. People think it is their entitlement. 

The PAP Government needs not worry too much about consensus. If people really want to have a new government just for the sake of change and not because there is a better party, there is nothing much the PAP can do. So let it be. If the new government were to be weak and incompetent, then people will learn. Such a government would breed corruption and squander away much of our reserves. People would worry about their jobs and other basic things rather than not having enough money to buy luxurious items. 

The problem is that once things go down, it is very hard to bring them up again.

The Ferrari accident

You have heard about the Ferrari sports-car accident. The insurance company said the driver drove extremely fast and he beat the traffic lights. By his actions, according to the company, a collision was to be expected. It said a collision is not an accident and so not covered by his insurance. 

I think the Court will not accept this argument.

Actually there are other irresponsible actions that could cause collision or accidents, like playing with your smart-phone or watching video while driving. If you do this you can also expect a collision or other mishaps to happen. However, expect something to happen doesn't mean it will certainly happen. 

An accident is something that is totally unexpected? Not true. An accident is something that is not planned or intended. But, no driver can claim that he will not have any accident. As a careful driver you may not expect it, but if an accident does happen, it is not totally unexpected either.

breast-painting and the sticker lady

If the sticker lady were to do painting using her bare breasts in a lounge or on a street in Singapore, would she be charged?

I would say yes if she had broken the law.

Art is no excuse for breaking the law.

The sticker lady should be charged under the vandalism law and her case should be treated as any other vandalism case. Whether her work is art or not is irrelevant.

Singaporeans are naive

Some Singaporeans are very naive. When the Government wants to buy buses for the bus operators and help them in other ways, these people are worried that the operators would make more profits.

First, the operators will only make more profits if they increase the fares or if suddenly a lot of people decide to take buses. These are unlikely. Second, what is wrong if the operators do make more profits because of Government help. It is good for everyone. If profits remain stagnant, it is bad for everyone.

The fact is the operators do not make enough money to buy the extra buses or pay the drivers more. The bus fares are too low. So the Government steps in.

These people should worry about what happens after five years. If the Government stops its subsidies for the operators, where do they get the money for the maintenance of the extra buses and the wages for the extra drivers.

My view is that the Government will continue helping the operators after the five years, whether with drivers' wages or other costs for the operators.

With or without Government subsidies, fares still have to go up.

No room for complacency

Death caused by food poisoning, escape of Mas Selamat, flooding in Orchard Road, breakdown of MRT trains, error in tests by the Science Laboratory …

One positive outcome of these happenings is that they make people wake up from their complacency. Not just the authorities, but Singaporeans at large. Singaporeans have been so used to our efficiency and security that some of us are taking them for granted. There is no 100% guarantee.

These unpleasant happenings are actually quite minor compared to the inefficiencies and corruptions in other countries.

Singaporeans should mentally be prepared for these problems and inconveniences or even disasters. We should tell ourselves that these things could happen. Probably there isn’t much you can do when one does happen but at least you accept it and you won’t be too panicky.

It would actually be good for Singaporeans to go through a period of economic hardship. Then they will treasure what our Country has achieved and not take them as if all these were their rights.

I also think it is good to let Singaporeans experience a dose of poor governance. The day will come when we cut the pay of our political leaders by 50%. Then Singapore will be run by people of lesser stuff and not much smarter than you and I. Another possibility is when we have a coalition government formed by opposition parties with each party insisting that the Country be run its way.