Comments on: Uniquely Singapore, F1 or F9 - helping the poor? http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/ a community of singaporeans Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:36:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Please stop lying to us! « Looking For LaLaLand….. http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23623 Please stop lying to us! « Looking For LaLaLand….. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:09:19 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23623 [...] “The government is reviewing the S$290 monthly public assistance (PA) allowance for needy Singaporeans to see if it should be increased. It is also conducting a separate review on the qualifying income limit for assistance, which currently stands at S$1,500 a month. The review is expected to be completed later this year.” (CNA) (TOC) [...] [...] “The government is reviewing the S$290 monthly public assistance (PA) allowance for needy Singaporeans to see if it should be increased. It is also conducting a separate review on the qualifying income limit for assistance, which currently stands at S$1,500 a month. The review is expected to be completed later this year.” (CNA) (TOC) [...]

]]> By: Robert HO http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23525 Robert HO Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:55:05 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23525 RH: 1. Wow! Mr LEONG is a superhero better than Superman because he can really see through lead! 2. Apparently, we can conclude from Mr LEONG's analysis that LKY LHL PAP HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY REDUCING SPENDING ON THE DESTITUTE DESPITE RAPIDLY RISING NUMBERS OF THEM. Despite huge GST and other revenue leaps skywards. Thus, this can only be the work of the Devil and his disciples. 3. LKY LHL PAP MEDIA LIE AND SPIN LIKE CRAZY. Like any public relations sheet/shit, they write nice-sounding soundbites and headlines that give the false impression that the govt cares and is doing something for the destitute when the opposite is true. Mr LEONG proves that the numbers don't tally, that the numbers given out in these pr sheets are inconsistent with other, more objective calculations. 4. EVEN GIVING OUT NOMINAL HELP TO THE DESTITUTE IS POLITICISED FOR MAXIMUM POLITICAL GAIN FOR LKY LHL PAP because PAP orgs are given the money to dispense out, not the govt itself, in most instances. Devilishly diabolical. We may have to come to the frightening conclusion that giving help is only for political and image-enhancing reasons and not because the govt is committed to let no Singaporean go hungry or roofless. And we are helpless to change the govt's evil ways. 5. It takes >1 year to conduct "ongoing reviews" to decide whether to add S$23 more to those lucky few who [very hard to] qualify for public assistance. IT TAKES MUCH SHORTER TO INCREASE MINISTERS', JUDGES', TOP CIVIL SERVANTS' PAYS AND BONUSES IN THE MILLIONS EACH. 6. Do I hear PAP apologists that LKY LHL PAP deserve millions for 'progressing Singapore'? Then read ICONOCLASSING SINGAPORE GDP MYTHS here http://i-came-i-saw-i-wrote-it.blogspot.com/2008/01/iconoclassing-singapore-gdp-myths.html 7. God help us. We are living in SATANpore and the Devil is completely in charge. RH:
1. Wow! Mr LEONG is a superhero better than Superman because he can really see through lead!

2. Apparently, we can conclude from Mr LEONG’s analysis that LKY LHL PAP HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY REDUCING SPENDING ON THE DESTITUTE DESPITE RAPIDLY RISING NUMBERS OF THEM. Despite huge GST and other revenue leaps skywards. Thus, this can only be the work of the Devil and his disciples.

3. LKY LHL PAP MEDIA LIE AND SPIN LIKE CRAZY. Like any public relations sheet/shit, they write nice-sounding soundbites and headlines that give the false impression that the govt cares and is doing something for the destitute when the opposite is true. Mr LEONG proves that the numbers don’t tally, that the numbers given out in these pr sheets are inconsistent with other, more objective calculations.

4. EVEN GIVING OUT NOMINAL HELP TO THE DESTITUTE IS POLITICISED FOR MAXIMUM POLITICAL GAIN FOR LKY LHL PAP because PAP orgs are given the money to dispense out, not the govt itself, in most instances. Devilishly diabolical. We may have to come to the frightening conclusion that giving help is only for political and image-enhancing reasons and not because the govt is committed to let no Singaporean go hungry or roofless. And we are helpless to change the govt’s evil ways.

5. It takes >1 year to conduct “ongoing reviews” to decide whether to add S$23 more to those lucky few who [very hard to] qualify for public assistance. IT TAKES MUCH SHORTER TO INCREASE MINISTERS’, JUDGES’, TOP CIVIL SERVANTS’ PAYS AND BONUSES IN THE MILLIONS EACH.

6. Do I hear PAP apologists that LKY LHL PAP deserve millions for ‘progressing Singapore’? Then read ICONOCLASSING SINGAPORE GDP MYTHS here

http://i-came-i-saw-i-wrote-it.blogspot.com/2008/01/iconoclassing-singapore-gdp-myths.html

7. God help us. We are living in SATANpore and the Devil is completely in charge.

]]> By: Ah seng http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23522 Ah seng Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:30:54 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23522 minister did a very good job running singapore. i have $2.76 in my piggy bank at home. you want ? take lah, if not you will leave the public service and i will suffer. i can also donate blood to you if you want. minister did a very good job running singapore. i have $2.76 in my piggy bank at home. you want ? take lah, if not you will leave the public service and i will suffer. i can also donate blood to you if you want.

]]> By: sad http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23519 sad Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:11:27 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23519 Mr Leong, Thank you for continually speaking up for the poor. While billions are thrown at citibank, merrill lynch, UBS, our finance minister, prime minister and MM (directors of GIC) continues to turn a blind eye to our poor. $245 for the poor vs $7 bil for the foreign banks. Uniquely Singapore. Mr Leong, Thank you for continually speaking up for the poor. While billions are thrown at citibank, merrill lynch, UBS, our finance minister, prime minister and MM (directors of GIC) continues to turn a blind eye to our poor. $245 for the poor vs $7 bil for the foreign banks. Uniquely Singapore.

]]> By: agree http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23518 agree Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:01:10 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23518 What is badly needed is an independent media in Singapore. Otherwise, these issues raised are just convenient ignored by those in authority. There is no voice for the needy. No voice ...... What is badly needed is an independent media in Singapore.

Otherwise, these issues raised are just convenient ignored by those in authority. There is no voice for the needy. No voice ……

]]> By: LifesLikeThat http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23516 LifesLikeThat Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:52:15 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23516 Mr Leong, <b>"why it takes more than a year to conduct an “ongoing review” to pay them just $23 more a month</b> I wonder how long the govt took to "review" their own pay before giving themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars pay rise. Makes me sick. Mr Leong,

“why it takes more than a year to conduct an “ongoing review” to pay them just $23 more a month

I wonder how long the govt took to “review” their own pay before giving themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars pay rise.

Makes me sick.

]]> By: Alex Har http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/uniquely-singapore-f1-or-f9-helping-the-poor/#comment-23515 Alex Har Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:31:39 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-23515 How can we get correct statistics when there are so many agencies involved in providing benefits. The argument that grass root agencies can do a better job of handing out the dole as they know the ground(hopefully ground means people) best is theoretically sound, but I wonder how the implmentation is? As we all know as one goes further down the line, there will inevitably be less objectivity in assessments and relationships, cronyisms will have a stronger influence. Some people may perceive that the transfer of power to grassroot leaders is psoitve as it will allow them to solidify their position and hence assist them to beter influence and educate the grassroot. Given that grass-root leaders are all highly politicised in Singapore, this is of course may be perceived as a a political rather than a social strategem. With the large variety adn types of benefits.. subsidies, some may also be suspicious that the authorities are using variety to create the perception of quantity...when in fact the total amount of assistance given to the needy is really reduced. This can of course be solved by transparency in reporting which obvoulsy in absent based on Leong's discussion. With so many Ministries viing to "give" to be popular.... I guess we need some kind of central agency to keep track and monitor the numbers, the process and the impact. What's being discussed most at coffee shops is that the "givernment" is handling out sweets and candies to everyone to win popularity and not really focusing on determining which individuals need assistance most. The Health Minister has already declared that its too difficult to assess on an individual level...his solution is to assess by housing types. I wonder if we are all in agreement to this? How can we get correct statistics when there are so many agencies involved in providing benefits. The argument that grass root agencies can do a better job of handing out the dole as they know the ground(hopefully ground means people) best is theoretically sound, but I wonder how the implmentation is? As we all know as one goes further down the line, there will inevitably be less objectivity in assessments and relationships, cronyisms will have a stronger influence.

Some people may perceive that the transfer of power to grassroot leaders is psoitve as it will allow them to solidify their position and hence assist them to beter influence and educate the grassroot. Given that grass-root leaders are all highly politicised in Singapore, this is of course may be perceived as a a political rather than a social strategem.

With the large variety adn types of benefits.. subsidies, some may also be suspicious that the authorities are using variety to create the perception of quantity…when in fact the total amount of assistance given to the needy is really reduced. This can of course be solved by transparency in reporting which obvoulsy in absent based on Leong’s discussion. With so many Ministries viing to “give” to be popular…. I guess we need some kind of central agency to keep track and monitor the numbers, the process and the impact.

What’s being discussed most at coffee shops is that the “givernment” is handling out sweets and candies to everyone to win popularity and not really focusing on determining which individuals need assistance most. The Health Minister has already declared that its too difficult to assess on an individual level…his solution is to assess by housing types. I wonder if we are all in agreement to this?

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