DPM Teo Chee Hean's half truth explanation of aging problem- case of a selective memory ailment? "SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said Singapore's ageing population issue is a one-off problem that resulted from having a very large baby boomer generation from the early 1950s to mid-60s." [Govt to continue studying options on population issues: DPM Teo; CNA, 06Mar2013] (article appended at bottom) Even Wikipedia has a fairer report about the history of SG's population measures (including the 1969 part where eugenics was attempted), excerpted from [population control in Singapore ] as follows: My views about the issue are as follows: - If SG govt had indeed expected the baby boomers to be a burden upon society during their aged years as opposed to a shrinking schooling generation as their progeny numbers shrunk, then the SG govt should then have saved up enough from taxes upon the baby boomer generation and saved this value in gold (/other equity value) so as to be a ready source of capital to finance in some way the retirement years of these seniors since the baby boomer workforce would have been a strong supply of labour and thus tax collections (and healthcare and education for the young a relatively less expensive concern then)- so where has the profitable taxes collected from the baby boomer generation gone?. - If SG govt had anticipated baby boomers to have fewer offspring to care for them in their older years, then govt should have encouraged these baby boomers to save on their part, and on the govt's part, promise to control the rate of inflation so that the savings in cash of these baby boomers would not be eroded and thus affect the morale and determination of baby boomers to save and care for themselves in their retirement years. - If the SG govt had earlier come clean about the problematic consequences of its population control measures and eugenics programmes, perhaps Singaporeans would have become either more understanding of 'foreign talent', or at least more competent (physically and financially etc) to cope independently during old age (inflation is an unnecessary burden to the aged). This are just 3 of my 2c worth suggestions for now, however, the selective memory loss by DPM Teo doesn't seem to augur well for the progress of the current Singapore conversation. If honesty and sincerity cannot be ensured at least by the leading party, then I fear that the current conversation can only remain tainted by distrust and suspicion and rightly so. For a start, lets give the DPM the benefit of the doubt that being a DPM in Singapore is a stressful affair since apparently, Singaporeans are champion grumblers. "Mr Lee: 'There must be. Singaporeans are champion grumblers.'" [TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW’S INTERVIEW WITH MARK JACOBSON FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ON 6 JULY 2009] Nevertheless, let us all be correctly reminded about Singapore's past population policies under the PAP government. May half truths never be told. Unless Singapore politicians can come clean and not sprout half truths at the drop of the hat, I really cannot see how Singapore can progress as one united (and loving nation), rather than a corrupted and probably, yet another failed one. Rgds all, B.C. [img source] [img source] [img source] [img source (above 3 photos)] Tags: Singapore, population control, eugenics, aging, demographics, savings, provident fund, senior, retirement
