A simple majority is enough, continued

Ng Kok Lim is not happy about NMP Calvin Cheng's assertion about the NCMP scheme putting "losers in Parliament", and I understand his ire towards Cheng; NMPs are not elected MPs by definition, and are appointed.

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EOD Links - 20100419

I really do hate Mondays.

• Temasek Review is fast losing its credibility.
• Blanche Lincoln's Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Senate Committee unveils The Wall Street Transparency & Accountability Act of 2010 in full text, summary, and section-by-section summary. Why financial derivatives are under that committee I will never understand, but this bill deserves a closer look.
• Mike Konczal explains the differences between the proposed financial market reforms.
• Economics of Contempt makes the distinction between exchanges and clearinghouses, and why the latter is a more progressive solution.
• Paul Krugman pulls no punches and calls Goldman Sachs "looters".
• Howard Lee tells the authorities to "get over" astroturfing.

A new embittered generation

What was, at first glance, a not-so-eloquent letter filled with anger and frustration written by a disenfranchised teen caught my attention with these tidbits:

In school, sometimes we have CME or PG lessons and the teacher gives the class a worksheet which sings praises about what PAP has done for the people. One I recall from memory, was roughly,

“Every time I see old folks gathering recyclables from a garbage can on the street, my heart laments for them. The people these days are lacking filial piety…” …. “…I am glad that the government is helping the needy with assistance schemes. The government is doing a good job.”

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Tales from the typical Singaporean

Temasek Review has published a series of letters from disaffected Singaporeans trying to find their way in their country, and I think most locals can identify with what they are going through. Ms Judy Eng started recounting how she lost a job position to a foreigner, how the mainstream press gave slanted coverage of a story regarding foreigners, and how she landed a job after a two-month search but is still struggling with her housing loan.

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We are the only ones who can change this country

I'm not sure what motivated this article on Temasek Review, especially the bolded bit:

The incoming United States Ambassador to Singapore Mr David Adelman appeared to have distanced himself away from his earlier remarks made at a Senate nomination hearing two months ago that he “would use public diplomaccy [sic] to promote political freedom in Singapore.”

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It might be real news now

I wrote previously that Jack Neo's affairs would be news if there were sexual harassment involved; on that count, the affair with Wendy Chong still isn't news, but the non-affair with one of the starlets who refused Neo's advances might be. From Temasek Review:

A visibly traumatized Foyce Le Xuan wrote on her Facebook that she will be making a police report against disgraced movie director Jack Neo for sexual harrassment today

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Our children pays for our political myopia

Allowing ourselves to be distracted from the real issues by being thankful of our current situation has never and will never make sense to me.

This is the Singapore story: Study hard, work hard, and you can pull yourself out of poverty.

I wish to remind the younger generation of where we have come from, and not to take what Singapore is now for granted. Today, I live in an HDB maisonette. Thank you, Singapore.

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Who Jack Neo jumps is none of our business

So Jack Neo had a 2-year affair with a freelance model. Yes, he's famous, he is a grassroots leader for the PAP, and he was awarded the PBM and the Cultural Medal before. But does that merit a public defense from a Minister? Or the full glare of the media, both traditional and new? Why and how is this news of national import?

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Who elected these clowns?

Only in Singapore do we elect Members of Parliament who seem more occupied with addressing the needs of foreigners rather than our own.

Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng said more needs to be done to help new immigrants 'work with the old team and feel a part of us'.

'First, we need to make sure that they are called new Singaporeans rather than new migrants. They are not even new migrants - they are an old hand at migrating, and want a new life. They want to settle down and to make Singapore a new home,' said Mr Seah in his speech during the debate on the 2010 Budget Statement on Wednesday.

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