Please see my preceding post, where I wrote (again) about new directions for this blog.If there is any particular topic on which you would like to hear Mr Wang's views, please leave a comment. I'll blog about it, if I think I have something useful to say about it. Thanks.
43 comments:
Any comments on the legal industry in general and why you have chosen to leave the legal industry? (albeit not entirely I suppose)
Stop posting mildly vulgar and obscene pictures...
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Oh the pussy is very cute and adorable.
meh. cute cat. heh
How about a series on ways to exit lala land? One write-up for each class of sinkaporeans, from the blue collar workers to the young urban professionals?
I concur with the first commenter regarding posts on the legal industry, the legal career, or the law in general. For an (ex)lawyer you seem to talk very little about your profession.
I am sad that some bloggers have closed or stopped blogging! With the Ministers' Pay Hike creating kind of hooha, I think there was never a better time to discuss matters of state affairs. As a blogger yourself Mr Wang, may I ask for your take on their leaving the blogospere. What are possible disappoints that bloggers face? What would and could encourage bloggers and how to inspire more to participate? Thank you Mr Wang from scb
My apology for an error above< disappoints should read disappointments
hmmm... i like how u do a socio-political blogs...
Could you comment on the situation that singles are facing in Singapore? Do you feel that there is rather blatant discrimination against singles, such as in terms of housing policy, levies, maternity leave, etc? I am not sure why the government chooses to alienate singles like this, when they pay the same taxes, and are much more mobile i.e. they are more likely to contribute to the brain drain that PAP keeps complaining about.
Thanks
Single Singaporean
I'd like to see tips on exiting lala land too.
And how to make sure you don't end up clearing hawker centre plates when you are old if you stay in lala land.
I think u have a mind of yr own and is quite good at strategising in life and seeing in the long term.
Single Singaporean @ April 15, 2007 8:58 PM
I am another single who shares your plight. Bought a 28yr old resale flat with a subsidy which is less than half the amount granted to married couple. Like married citizens, we contribute to this nation too, but why the different treatments?
What are the so-called single female MPs doing for the singles? I remember at least one saying that she will look into issues faced by singles. Empty promises of pappies again!
Mr Wang, it would be good if you could do a blog on singles in Singapore, am sure you have single friends around you too. Thanks in advance!
I'd like to get advice from you on how Singaporeans can prosper under the current situation in our country. Or is emigration the only way for them to prosper?
I mean, the only way for US (Singaporeans) to prosper.
Also, how can we overcome these feelings of unhappiness we get when we see foreigners (talented or not) flood our homeland, taking over our places in the neighbourhood, in companies, in schools... and our children having to face "global competition" at such a young age... Any advice on how we can overcome these unhappy thoughts and feelings?
The reason I'm requesting for this is because not all Singaporeans who want to leave can leave. Some may have to stay because of family commitments, financial constraints or other reasons.
Whatever your direction will be, I appreciate all that you're doing to encourage and educate those of us who come to the blogosphere for inspiration and advice. Please don't stop your blogging, Mr Wang! *:D
I would like to put forward a request to see:
1) Insights from the Legal and IB industry.
2) Exit strategies for the peasant class in lala land.
Thank You.
Hmm, how about an idiot's guide on defamation?
I have no idea why one can get away saying that '(politician A) is an arrogant hypocrite',
but not '(politician B) is a despot'.
Just continue to refresh memories of Singaporeans of what is happening/ has happened in our country... ( Singaporeans just have short memories) thanks!
The used to be a little publication meant to be a layman's guide to the law in Singapore. How about starting a series on our basic rights (what's left of it anyway)? Thanks in advance.
I'd like to see more commentary on architecture in Singapore, both the good and the bad. Take some photos, please. I'm sure you've seen my blog, which is mostly about SE Asia, but I also have a architecture fetish. It's fun. Indulge.
yeah! agree with anonymous april 16 630am
regarding defamation...how far can u go. Also can u pls shed more light on plight of mothers to be being fired ? What are their rights, how can they proved that they are being discrimate?
About single, maybe on single parents, i notice that unwed, divorce & widow gets different treatment.
Mr Wang
It's great to see that altruism is still alive and well - contrary to suggestions that we should expect to pay based only on market prices and not on circumstance.
Thanks for spending your time in this pretty much thankless job/hobby of providing an alternate view of this otherwise polarised island.
I think that the popularity of your blog boils down to relevance. It strikes an uncanny chord with the pulse of the masses minds, which is not seen or heard in any *the* mainstream media. The 'Ooooooo.... so I'm not the only one thinking like that' relief.
Readers can be broken up into the following classes
- No choice - have to stay
- No choice - choose not to stay
- Have choice - choose to stay
- Have choice - choose not to stay
I would think that those who "have choice" would have the least of concerns.
Some broad ideas
- Moving from No choice quadrant to Have choice quadrant
- Surviving on a $290/month
- Seeing the whiter side of things
- Where does one fit into the economy
Blog about our failure to remedy our falling (local) population.
There was a letter in the ST forum recently about how singaporeans can cooperate with main land chinese to help them pay for IVF in return for egg donations.
The frigging obvious solution is to set up a framework for the regulated sale of sperm and eggs. But there is probably too much religious interference in govt (mostly church based) to allow it.
So while a not insingnificant number of couples are denied solutions, they get blamed for not reproducing.
I would like to you to blog on 'If Mr Wang becomes the PM, what he is going to do'
It's your blog, why should anyone else dictate its direction?
That aside, commenting on stuff that are within the typical reader's "circle of influence" is a great idea.
Discussions on how to vote with your feet, since we're generally not allowed to vote at the ballot box, would always be popular. Although this has been widely discussed, abstract ideas are hard to grasp for the conditioned serf. But with some concrete actions and practise (to think), there is still hope!
Highlighting the flaws of the system is entertaining, but is also a great way to encourage discussions of how to circumvent it. Not that you're going to suggest anything subversive though...
It should be the job of the PM who is paid millions to think of what to do for Singapore. Mr Wang need not be providing solutions when he is not receiving the big pay check.
http://lemondroplets.spaces.live.com/
Mr Wang, this on on education and the Sunday Times "expose" about 2 weeks ago "proving" that foreigners are better than Singaporeans. This article essential challenges this view and puts our scholars' silly views in perspective.
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I am bemused at our obssession and wories on seemingly "better" quality of foreigners in our schools. The mediocore highlights of how many foreign borned won high honours against Singaporeans, cannot justify the views and wories if our own offsprings are inferior compared to imported genes.
We should compare the performances of adopted foreign babies nurtured by Singaporean parents against those who were imported wholesale. This will indicate if the "foreigners are better" statement can be qualified. A comparison within Singaporeans and foreign groups' performance in percentages will also indicate if the gap is as wide as protrayed.
Singaporeans should seek to understand the dynamics behind the perceived relative poor performance against foreign borned and improve on what may be our own poor parenting skills and education assumptions, than subscribe to the mass hysteria of shallow observations.
MM mentioned the possibility of dual citizenship for Singaporeans.
I asked my brother who is an australian now whether dual citizenship is an attraction to him. He laughed and said who wants more NS liability and tell me to grow up.
When is dual citizenship an asset?
How to benefit from dual citizenship?
Live in US and park money in Singapore? How about taxes?
Would appreciate if MR Wang can elighten me further?
What about a discussion on whether Singapore will really fall apart without the PAP? I have not read your earlier postings, so excuse me if you have already dealt with this topic.
the hdb susidy for housing...is there any? the rumour is that the REAL cost is just 60k for a 5rm.
Dear Mr Wang,
Can you write about teachers?
Why are so many of them leaving the profession?
What are the reasons for this and is the Ministry taking the right steps to correct this decision?
The Great Singaporean Culture!!! Do we have? If yes, are we improving or degenerating?
How about moderating an online forum, or something that can keep this blog running on its own even when Mr Wang isn't free to write for a while? :-)
anon wrote: "I am sad that some bloggers have closed or stopped blogging!"
People suffer from blogging fatigue, but that doesn't mean they won't engage in online discussions anymore.
Why are you trying to convince persons that a system, of which they are a prime beneficiary, is inherently flawed?
It is difficult to make a person understand something when the person's salary depends on not understanding it.
I would like to see more blogs on how we can be better citizen, love Singapore and its people more,not forgetting, of course, more on how to be grateful to the PAP who has given us so much....
Yes, the ruling party has done much.
Look at the neighbourhood and you'd see what a difference this place is.
At anytime, the ruling party would score an A on most report cards.
However, are Singaporeans becoming like the parent whose child comes home with a 90 mark test, but ask why it is not 91, 92, 99?
I wonder.....
I look around MY neighbourhood ... I see homeless people in the void deck, or scrounging around in the kopi tiam for leftovers. Seriously, you'd never see this kind of thing happening 10 years ago. I can't help but feel that S'pore is sliding backwards. Who knows when the next highway will collapse?
Mr Wang,
Can Means Testing be challenged as a form of Discrimination in Singapore's Courts?
Or how about the fact that HDB has rules against Singles, can they fight for their constitutional Rights in the Courts?
Or for that matter what are our basic constitutional rights as Citizens of SG?
since a.) so much of the world is done run 'financially', b.) S'pore seems to be more and more of a financial hub n attracting wealth to be managed, and c.) you are even more closely related to banking now, can u offer yr views on the trends n needs of this sector versus Singapore's challenges? I hope the discussion is not restricted to just rich-poor divide - it has always been there since 5000 yrs ago.
Mr Wang, I think you should question why SAF needs 20+ Generals to review and come out with the IPT only after you complained about the reservist duties taking up a quarter of Singaporean males' annual work calendar, and not during the opening up to FT a decade ago? Where is that helicopter vision and proactivity for the extremely high CEO pay?
Mr. Wang,
This is a good initiative. It allows auhtors to realy feel the pulse of Singaporeans to find out what worries them the most.
Here's my suggestions :
a) In the past you have argued very convincingly that Singaporeans should not do what the government wants them to do career-wise. ( Engineering and Life sciences. )
Do you have any advice for people who, like myself, are already stuck in a career path prescribed by the status quo and think we deserve better ?
b) I like your advice on introducing fun to the education system but the real-world can be harsh to non-performing school children and let's face it, not everyone can afford Montessori classes for their kids.
How can parents instill confidence in their kids and maintain their self-esteem even if the system were to apply labels like "Normal" or "ITE" on them ?
Well I do have some hints on what the solutions can look like and will gladly participate to add value to your thread once it is up.
Mr. Wang,
Thanks for opening your blog up for recommendations. Scrolling through the comments, I find that most of the suggestions seem to be about finding the means to leave Singapore, or finding the means to survive in Singapore, all within our personal "spheres of influence". I thought it might be meaningful to also start a discussion on another area of personal influence, that is, the relationship between the people and the government.
While that role has traditionally been consigned to that of Servant and Master(PAP being the Master of course), it's undeniable that a paradigm shift is starting to take place where the government IS starting to pay attention to what the people have to say. How can we better define that relationship, and empower individuals to make the government serve the people's interests, and not theirs?
Democracy might have been the right answer, except ours isn't the right kind. Not sure if anyone has the answers, but it would be good to start thinking deeply of ways. Ways in which the individual can leverage on the internet, foreign media and interest groups, opposition parties and financial markets to exact change from the government. It might be a tall order, but 4 years is not a long ways to the next election; by then we should have a clearer idea of what we really want in our country.
This is not meant to answer Soqcrates< however I did write to MCDS many years back about the relationships between the State(government) and the people> I described then and even now that the relationship is akin to that between a citizen and a policeman> The citizen would keep a distance from the policeman when he does not need his help and would not like the latter to be friendly> Not that the citizen dislikes the lawman but for fear of misunderstood by others> Why is this so? It is simply because the lawman will only deal with law enforcements and nothing else> You need him only in time of troubles and his very presence just simply gives that impression that one is in trouble> It is not an impression anyone wants to be in especially when the trouble involves others> Why does the people view the government like the policeman? My personal take is that the Government to date behaves much like the policeman> It has been legislating rules after rules< laws after laws and enforcing them> It hardly socializes with the people< it hardly cares about the wellbeings of the people because the Voluntary Welfare Organisations and the many other charity organizations are doing it> Another reason why the people themselves dislike associating with the Government People is the formal settings that are put in place without fail whenever officials come visiting> Everything gets spruced up< approaching and getting close to them seems a hassle with their accompanying officers very much a barrier if not put offs> They are always so officious< so aloof hence so artificial in their dealings with their people> Whence can they be more like their fellow citizens? Because if they isolate themselves away from their people< they will never get to understand their subjects!
Dear Mr Wang,
I must say that I really like your picture in this post!
On that note, what are your views on the government's very irrational ban of keeping cats in HDB flats?
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