Hope and wisdom for Singaporeans without jobs

There is a recent report from Bloomberg showing that only 30% of new jobs created go to Singaporean citizens and permanent citizens. The rest are foreign residents.

I guess if there are few new jobs for Singaporeans in proportion to the total jobs created, then I presume it is not enough for new graduates from Singapore's institutes of higher learning.

Or put it this way, the whole education and social system failed to put Singaporeans to adapt to the new knowledge-based learning, as society is too over-competitive to allow self-improvement to better oneself for the ever-changing world, and educational attainment kept deliberate low, way below the number of locals capable of completing a degree locally in Singapore, judging from recent Wikileaks revelations.

Also, critical thinking in Singaporeans in general seem to be less apparent than in other regional countries, especially Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

A combination of these factors makes up a despondent situation in Singapore for Singaporeans. Now I feel the rage in Singapore - if not, even much-reported troubles within the opposition Workers' Party, they even roughly managed to retain almost around 90% of their party's votes, from the 2011 General Elections.

We need both hope and wisdom to overcome this situation. Now all we need is a few writers to inspire, heal and rejuvenate Singaporean broken souls in the face of globalisation.

Thoughts on Eduardo Saverin quitting the States

So a Facebook Co-founder gave up his citizenship just to avoid taxes, and he already got his Singapore Permanent Residency.

I was wondering why many Singaporeans want to move to the States permanently. It's a great country to live for a few years, but possibly not a good country to settle permanently. The United States of America is possibly the only country that taxes its citizen no matter where they reside.

If you seek a pleasant country to live with a more flexible tax system, where you can get a citizenship of a country and earn money from another with the least tax burden, look around you - perhaps Australia, Britain or Canada would be better than the United States for that purpose. They do not charge tax from their citizens if they earn their keeps outside their countries, and they provide services for the disadvantaged citizens equal to, or better than, America's current level of provision of such services.

What can Singapore learn from America

I think Singapore should further I capitalise on her current opportunities. 

She should learn from the successes of other countries, and apply them to Singapore.

One notable example would be the United States, despite she being a much larger and more populous country than Singapore. But it's still quite useful to have some strengths similar to the United States, which is indeed the dream country for millions of people worldwide - a large, stable and wealthy empire that has a healthy democratic system with strong individual liberty. This is done, through the continual provision of opportunity to all deserving people who are in America's borders.

What makes America successful then is that it is able to allow masses of Americans have the opportunities to move up the social ladder, through either college that are reasonably affordable and of good quality, or good local support for businesses that are formed by ambitious people that come from all corners of the earth. 

What I dislike about America now, despite its part strengths, is that the less fortunate Americans get left behind and are trapped in perpetual poverty across generations. And that the ablest of the Americans do actually flee America. America has lost the ability to innovate and improve its own standings. This is bad for the world, given that we need a strong positive force for a more prosperous, peaceful world. 

So given the chance, I hope Singapore can re-examine its governance, to learn from the best and the worst of the United States - and other advanced country. They shouldn't debate whether they should turn liberal, conservative or libertarian. They should focus to move their country, and the world, forward. Together.

US military in Asia

For many Asians, the prospect of US finally withdrawing troops from Japan, Korea , Singapore and the Philippines will finally bring peace to Asia, particularly East Asia.

So long as the military get to the true purpose of defending America's borders, the world will be at peace.

Has it wondered anybody why America doesn't approve Chen Guangcheng and Wang Lijun to seek asylum? Why America is losing the credibility to be the force of democracy and freedom throughout the world? They now simply do not afford to maintain a worldwide superpower with their debts - financially and militarily - now China is the only large power that might 'bail out' America, and this isn't real sovereignty. 

I doubt, given current global situation, that this will happen any time soon. US will still stay in Korea - at a huge cost.

This only spells bad news for some people who really want to move to the US and work more, for the freedom and justice of the world, such as working for the betterment of people on the autism spectrum.

Xenophobia and Asperger's in Singapore

I think every Aspie is screwed up equally.

Also, news is rife that someone in my estate disturbed others with his drum sounds. He is a Filipino/Pinoy with special needs.

I have mixed feelings.

Singaporeans are mostly screwed enough because over the past 30 years, people (including my mother and your parents) moved from other lands, and massively over-crowding Singapore, our land. We only have xenophobia now because while our economy did well, this only caused our low-paid brothers and sisters to be structurally unemployed, or grossly underpaid. With no welfare totally to keep them content, it can only be natural that xenophobia comes from these poor, helpless Singaporean citizens (i.e., for now, us).

So now, while we appear to discriminate against people from other countries, we know we Singaporeans cannot claim citizenship benefits from other countries - because a Singapore citizenship means we cannot have double citizenship. My lack of money, added with my less-than-desired proficiency in non-English languages, I really see myself being 'trapped' here.

All what we Singaporean citizens want is just a guaranteed job or welfare benefits, if we really can't have a job due to a permanent disability not fit enough for the Government (or GLC)'s needs. It is so simple. Yet ministers only want to enrich themselves rather than acting for our benefit. So the ministers, to save their faces, now just wants to set the bar higher for immigrants to come in, assuming we'll get their jobs. No use. They won't do what we really want.

Special needs just added one new complex dimension to our (Singaporean) issue with foreigners.

 I believe I have told you the dilemma we have: I always have this concern that there could be adult autistic PRC, Indian or Philippines citizens in Singapore who need a listening here with other adult autistic, and even assuming they are willing to contribute to our community, we won't accept them.  This is because we have 'troubles' having them due to the GLC first employing foreigners, which is what we see, then overworking locals - just not employing Special Needs people (both local and foreign) no matter what -

But shouldn't we really work together to defeat discrimination against diagnosis together? I thought special needs people in Singapore have this problem together, be they having special needs or not.

Reflections of Lanfang Republic and Asperger's

Some things in my mind:

1. A prominent person in Singapore was a descendant of a founder of a failed country in Southeast Asia, Lanfang Republic, which failed in 100 years after founding. It died due to conquest by the Dutch empire.

How do we expect Singapore to not follow the footsteps of the Lanfang Republic? Why the Chinese people just cannot thrive together as, well, Chinese?

And why United States, another immigrant nation, can last for 230+ years as an independent republic? (Even proud United Kingdom is nearing 'conquest' by an United Europe, and France was twice almost wholly conquered by Germany).

2. Do you think it is more important to be a natural Aspie who can't survive in our world, or to be a surviving Aspie who is near-NT but lost his Aspie links with the 'subconscious'/unexplainable uniqueness?

Aspies have our own problems. We are too often prosecuted and deprived of opportunities. But would an NT fare worse if they have the Aspies' 'makeup/constitution'?

NTs are so bland, they're easily replaced by others when they leave our world. And Aspies who are too like NTs will be vulnerable to replacement by other NTs, with nothing to offer to the world. Innate focus, talents that are different from the rest of the world, and value-adds... these are some things Aspies have within their minds. Yes, Aspies can survive if they're 99% NTs, but are you sure, with the survival of fittest and, being a 1% Aspie is enough? If we don't retain enough Aspieness that helps us perform better in whatever we do, will it restrict the Aspies' ability to value-add our world?

We can't replicate another Aspie - and his possible contributions to our world.

What can we learn from the fall of Bo Xilai

I feel that there had been internal conflicts, between Shanghai-and-Beijing-based conservatives (often sons of pioneer generals such as Xi Jinping and Bo Xilai, or people close to 'big bankers', known as the Shanghai Clique) and comparatively liberal grassroots leaders in China (e.g. Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Li Keqiang and Wang Yang).

Xi Jinping is to be the leader in China, later this year. Li Keqiang is about to be made Xi's assistant. However, there is tussle to be the Number 3 most powerful person in China - the 'head of Internal Security'. Bo, the former head of Chongqing, is tussling with his predecessor, Wang -

First, one of Bo's assistant gets prosecuted by Bo, and he's now in remand by the Beijing authorities for trying to seek asylum in the States. Then, Wang tries to launch an 'anti-corruption campaign' to show Bo, noted for his previous anti-corruption campaigns in the past, who's better. Next, Bo is suspended from his posts. Now Wang is expected to be in line for the coverted leadership position...

I mention all these, because I realise that -

Many people just want a powerful post to achieve some aim. To... be the powerful spokesperson for my 'people' - the autism community in Singapore? For what? Self-enrichment? Self-improvement? Or for the good of the group?

They stand between 2 powerful factions in Singapore, regardless of special needs:

1. Those who are into big money (aka Big Bankers)
2. Those who share the Ground's sentiments

I think this is a very dangerous divide.

Most Aspies are in Group 2, but it is clear that there could be only one leader in Group 2.

But I also understand that Group 1 is more likely to earn the trust of Big Bankers and hence, the current Government.