Are we facing tough times ? Yes.

                                       Alley in Chinatown, Ang Ah Tee

For all intents and purposes, Singapore looks and feels like it is 1st World. Shiny new buildings, superb airport, infrastructure, gleaming new cars, multi-cultural and a food paradise. We only have 2 seasons, hot and warm and wet (year end). 

However, the fact of the matter is, it is tougher and tougher times for many of us here, as we who are born as Singaporeans will tell you. Every few years when the elections rounds the corner, we take stock and query. Is life better now than it was 5 years ago ?

I know many people who criticise the Government in private conversations, from the highest salaried ministers in the world, to the ever rising costs of living, from the difficulty of getting our sons and daughters into University places locally against the rising tide of foreign students. From the loss of manufacturing jobs to much cheaper sources now in China and Africa to mid life balancing of having enough savings, being retired or losing one's job in the late 40s to the '50s. I have personally never seen so many balding and greying citizens working as cleaners, security guards, Uber drivers or airport screening and baggage handlers. It is not a pretty sight when our elderly have to do backbreaking work, if it is by choice, well so be it, if not, it is a tragic result of poor life choices made by the individual and his or her lot is seldom supported with handouts, due to an entrenched system based on  self sufficiency. 

The bottom line is this, if we vote for you, then we hope you will take care of our interests and livelihood during good times and bad times.That is a fair social contract isn't it ? 

The issues come fast and furious. Not least will be the health issues which will inevitably come and whether the Government has got us covered when we face these tremendous costs of aging and aging well. Yes, we have Medisave, Medishield and Medishield Plus for seniors but the element of co-payment is now a must, meaning, if you get a debilitating disease, you still need to cough up 10% of the total cost of medical treatment and hospitalization. 

To be honest, I have seen first hand the medical support infrastructure in Singapore, it is good, but the number of doctors to patients in Government clinics is very high, and the wait times runs into the numerous hours or even one full day. That is well and good if you are retired and am not working, but those having full time jobs have to set aside those days mainly to wait for appointments to see a Government specialist. 

The cost structure for the Government hospitals is also very affordable, my mother in law only paid a few dollars each visit for surgery, medication and outpatient treatment for her cataracts as well as other conditions. The main bulk is subsidised by the Government. I am grateful and appreciative of this understated fact.  

We have a decent government, but an exceptional one ? I am doubtful. Men and women of character, yes they are. However, do they really really sweat and toil for the people or at the end of the day, its really pays good money and its all about Key Performance Indices (KPIs) ??

                                           Singapore River, Lim Cheng Hoe


I believe we should have more checks and balances, frankly. Too much from 1 side will only lead to group think and views from the approved feedback groups. Leading from the bully pulpit is not the way to go. Altough there are many dictatorships in the region and further afield who have far far worse human rights records than ours - so in a nutshell, we are still a pretty well managed socio-democracy with most strata groups taken care by social services.Out MPs are there to attend to most citizen's issues.

The only debatable issue is dissent and negative views are always frowned upon even though it is written or spoken with the country's citizens first and foremost in the person's mind and heart.  

It might be messy, and the worst is when you have rampant bipartisanship from what is seen in the US ; the polarisation of the country and the taking down of many institutions which were once held in high regard is truly something many Americans must be appalled and shocked to see how low they have sunk in terms of human to human interaction.

I for one cherish our multiracialism and the fact that many day to day issues between neighbours have been painstakingly negotiated and discussed to find a common resolution.
That remarkable cohesiveness amonsgt the races has been the ruling party's greatest success over these last 50 plus years. 

Lets strive to move forward and have a collective and fair system for Singaporeans first. For too long, we have looked enviously at those who come in and leapfrog and find the good life here before us. That should never be the case. 

Picking up the fishes, Artist : Tay Kok Wee