If you have time and dont mind

Some thoughts on the GE2011 (thus far)



Pritam Singh
By far
One of the BEST speakers I have seen so far
Scripted or not
I believe, speaking in coherent AND proper English
That ALL the people would understand
Is the most basic step that every candidate in this GE should do

No disrespect to Mr Low Thia Kiang
Sometimes his Engrish a bit hard to understand
I haven attend a "LIVE" rally yet
But yup, I think listening to him online
I do need to switch to the exact window and see his facial expressions
Together and being paired with his speeches
Then I can fully comprehend what he is trying to bring through

Same for Mr Chiam See Tong
The effects of the stroke is real
His ability to bring out the best of his charismatic side
is being severely handicapped due to his physical disability
Throw in life-long fans and of course, over-enthusiastic Singaporeans who
(quote me if I'm wrong)
"most of the times" dont even know when to NOT interrupt somebody
Be it clapping at the wrong times during a concert, applause at the wrong
junction during a parade march-in, or shouting "I LOVE YOU!" at rallies
Mr Chiam actually has to wait for the overly-hyped up crowd to calm down
Before he can continue with his speeches

And I think
Just by looking at him
And looking at the state of his Meet-The-People Sessions area

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/that-makeshift-cubicle-at-the-void-deck/?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dbc1eede45b000e%2C0
(this is the place where he conduct his MPS every Thursday)

*Block 108 is just 2 blocks away from where I tutor my tutee btw

He is one elected MP who has fought the all-time Singapore record high
of 6 elections and came up on top of it all
He does his walkabouts even before the elections are here
I got a friend who mention it to me before
And I am quite certain that it wasnt any where near the elections then
Guys, this guy has served SINGAPOREANS for his life
With 5 GCE O Level, counting hard
To make it to become a lawyer

From a common Hougang resident who has been redrawn by
the boundaries quite a few times to even my neighbours still thought
we were in Pasir Punggol for this election
I think these times whereby I travel to Potong Pasir
It has the same feeling as a somewhat, sadly but truly, downgraded feel
But hey, give Mr Chiam credits, he still serves the people over there
And bottom-line is, the people acknowledges that



Check out his rally speech at Potong Pasir recently
Seeing him being so weak and frail just breaks any normal voters' heart

And I found out something that is damn cute today



Workers Party youngest member
Unknowingly
But still, way too cute
:)

For this GE2011
I think the Grow and Share package came in handy
Because it is still tough times now
For a guy who is going to ORD
That means losing all his income immediately
Without free lodging, free clothing, and minimum transportation cost
All of which are HOT topics for this GE

Surprisingly
For us to bounce back so fast after the recent recession
It is hardly felt by people on the ground

If you say we have recovered
Rising costs, petrol fees, living costs, transport costs and etc
All are on the incline
Yes the wages have increased
But does your parents earn $15k a month or more?
I used to thought that $3k a month was enough
But hey I was silly and policemen still wear shorts then

$15k sounds logical to me
Enough to send my kids to England or the States to further their education
Yes 1.16 of my kids

Not condemning local universities
But it seems that "middle-income" families
More notably those who are a bit more well-known then some
Tend to have kids are school-ed overseas
Despite the fact that 国大 and 南大 are locally acclaimed institutes
Yours truly the Singapore Lion is symbolized in both universities logo
Go check it out
They are the same Lion btw

And "middle-income" from what I know, I was actually categorized into it
However now, what the word is spreading that coming from a family of educators
Or a family of lawyers, coupled with living in a landed 3-storey property
Is considered "middle-income" now
Now they dont qualify for "lower-income" subsidies I understand
But hey, what about the rest of the 3-4 million of us?

Besides the higher cost of living
I think the other topic which 4G supposedly ''apathetic'' voters like us
1 in 4 for this GE are being condemned as "apathetic" even
before the GE was confirmed
Condemned like slumdogs we are
We will be more concerned about the HDB flats prices

How would the HDB flats be affordable?
I mean, taking 30 years to pay them off?
I'm like 55 then
Oh shit, I haven get married yet
And I cant ballot for a flat or get a BDO now
So that means I might get my all-new flats that will come in sizes
that actually fit my "ideal" family of 4 just nicely

I cant actually squeeze through the kitchen door in the new TPY flats
with my cousin, or even my Mom
Damn, either I am a IPPT gold warrior who is too fat
Or doomed by the inevitably Ramly burgers in the pasar malam when I ORD
And yes, I will be 60 by then
Then I can take out my CPF savings to pamper myself
And finally break the poverty circle
Not letting my kids to suffer for my deeds
By actually paying off loans for the flats
Which I know a lot of people my age are staring at
Invisible to them, but yup, the calm before the storm guys AND girls
Girls who have sisters only, yup, ladies, not spared too

How the F can one HDB flat cost a freaking $1m in Bishan now?
$1m you know? Even $800k is crazy
How many of us can earn that much during our lifetime?
And you gonna drop the bomb to buy a HDB flat?
Which was initially launched because it is a vital part of Singaporeans
Something we hold dear to
Something we treasure and relate to
And something some of the guys might use to propose to a girl
(which is practical I think, hey, you can support the woman you love ok?
Who say "LAME" in the background stand up now!?)

I think seriously
Some of these issues need to be address
For me
The issue of foreign workers
Even though I have to admit it
I dont really like this huge crazy influx of them
At NEL stations whereby they kill us off at Farrer Park, Little India and Chinatown
I think we really should take a step back
And see who are gonna take those jobs if they dont?

I always feel those gangsters back then in schools
They someday might be building our HDB flats and MBS and RWS next time
But yup, even though this is cynical of me
But, even they wont take up the jobs
Then who are the noisy people who should be complaining?


http://www.facebook.com/notes/honghao-phua/the-issue-of-foreign-workers/210959535595146

Check out this article by Hong Hao
Answers to this so-called hot topic
Not so hot after reading it

Lastly
I think check out these 2 articles

http://onesingaporean.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/tin-pei-ling-vs-chen-show-mao-and-a-very-scary-thought/

Very insightful
Food for thought people

And this

http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/04/30/lee-kuan-yew-aljunied-voters-have-5-years-to-repent-if-they-vote-for-wp/

Something which I dont really like about this GE
Is all the political lowblows and smearing campaign

Isnt this GE, or any other forms of GE
Supposed to be prioritizing the Singaporeans first?
As in Singaporeans, Thomson Medical Centre, KK-Hospital
Tan Tock Seng, and even HDB dumpsters plus staircases-born
Singaporeans who have endured the hardest and harshest of all
ever known education system in the big 'ol Mama Planet Earth
Yup, these kinds of Singaporeans who think "Mari Kita" is the National Anthem
or those who speak with the distinct "Leh, Lo, Sia" and "Ah Hui, Ah Lian,
Ah Beng, Ah Seng" to famous artists and prominent figures who
have represented Singapore
Because
We are Singaporeans
We hold the Pink IC, the Red passport
And we relate to the "hands-crossed-over-chest" standing posture of Sir Raffles
and knowing that the Merlion is a freaking natural animal and all
Yup, the GE is for us
So, I really hope we can have a better life
And I myself, is doing my part in making my life better too
All the time

No offence to any party or what sort
I dont stand for any election sides
Even if I have a party
It would be called PRA aka "Party Rock Anthem"
And my candidates would be of backgrounds that forcefully
recognized them as "everyday they're shuffling" dudes and babes
I dont meant offence or ill intentions
Just a humble opinion of this GE

And yes, charismatic to me
Is increasing a virgin rally by 15k for the consecutive one
Not even Facebook can do that
Because 20k of them probably dont know how to use the Facebook app
;)