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作者: 冀居·谢 最近读了一本书，书名叫做《没有标准答案的哲学问题》，是美国纽约 大学讲师PhilWashburn著作的中译本，原来的书名叫做《Philosophical dilemmas》。我觉得很有启发性。 【淹水车的汽车保险】 对于一个社会的组成，共有两类看法，一种是契约论，一种是有机论。契约论者认为社会上下层是因为契约的缘故而能够走在一起，人们放弃一定的自由来换取当政 者所提供的安全。要是当政者不能够提供允诺的东西，这个契约就会出现裂痕，甚至可以推翻。但是有机论者认为社会的组成比较像生物有机体，会互相影响和牵 制。就好比这个武吉智马和乌节淹水所带来汽车保险费上涨的问题，就比较符合有机论。 怎么讲呢？因为政府把大雨淹水的责任推得一干二净、怨天尤人，我们的“契约”好像也不会出现裂痕。但是由于没有人负责，变成保险公司和车主吃死猫（别忘了还有商店保险），最后“痛”一定要发生，就好像生物一样。 这使我想起美国对BP钻油台的海湾漏油事件所施与的压力，使到BP不得不筹足500亿来长期救援受灾户，因为如果奥巴马不这么做，最后的“痛”还是会算在他的头上。 行动党政府是完全麻木了，还是慌得手忙脚乱？ 【精英主义】 你知道精英主义的对立面是谁吗？答曰：平等主义者。精英主义者有四项坚持： 1. 有的人在特定的领域里面有过人的才能，有的人没有。 2. 当人们没有才能的时候，我们应该实事求是告诉他们。 3.如果政府把精英安置到他们擅长的领域里面，那么人人都会受益。 4. 天生有才华和智慧过人者总是少数。 但是看看咱们的总理内阁，就知道这些人外表是精英主义，里子其实是平等主义，只要是党内同志，大家同捞同煲，生养死葬服务周到。 1.有的人在特定的领域里面有过人的才能，有的人没有：除了少数几个，如许文远（医药）、尚达曼（经济）、张志贤（国防）之外，其他都是各部门轮流做，很多做 半任就来个大风吹。有个兽医做到文化部长、有个外科医生做教育部长，还有个HP的人事部经理做到副总理，才能吗？笑话倒有一大摞。 2.当人们没有才能的时候，我们应该实事求是告诉他们：以前是悄悄叫他们去死，或者潜逃，现在是公然袒护他们。有者闯下大祸，还可以留到大选才下台，退休金得以保障。 3.如果政府把精英安置到他们擅长的领域里面，那么人人都会受益：参考第一和第二项，因为我从没看过他们有任何“退场机制”。 4.天生有才华和智慧过人者总是少数：这少数的才华过人者还有个怪现象，只要脱离执政党的卵翼，他们马上就贬为平庸辈。很多虽然是很不光彩从高位跌下来，百万年薪变成二十万年薪，只要记者的麦克风递到他的面前，他还是会说：“只要党还有需要，我一定会鞠躬尽瘁死而后已的效劳。” 来源: http://www.malaysia-chinese.com  Read More →

Beleaguered PAP Minister of Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who is currently in Auckland, New Zealand to welcome the YOG flame, praised the Youth Olympic Games for "bringing the values of excellence, friendship and respect to young people." Dr Vivian has come under increasing fire from netizens at the colossal expenses incurred in hosting the YOG, which has exceeded its initial budget by more than two times to a shocking $389 million dollars. Many Singaporeans criticize the PAP for splurging so much public monies the YOG when only a mere $92 million dollars has been spent by MCYS on social welfare projects for Singaporeans last year. Obviously oblivious to public criticisms, Dr Vivian waxed lyrical on the YOG's "values": "I think we live in an age which is sometimes too cynical. Sometimes when we talk about sports, you think about big money, big egos and petty politics. But I think it's worth coming back to the fundamentals, and to understand that sport only makes sense when we understand our common humanity," he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. Despite the extensive publicity given to the YOG, the response from Singaporeans has been lukewarm so far. In a CNA poll done recently, more than 5,500 Singaporeans said that they are "not interested" in it. Nearly 500 Singaporeans have joined a "I hate YOG Facebook" set up to express their disdain for the YOG. Of the 100,000 YOG tickets put up for sale, 80,000 has been bought by the Ministry of Education using taxpayers' monies of course. With no opposition in Parliament to demand answers from Dr Vivian, he can sleep in peace knowing full well that he need not account for his actions or mistakes to the public in the event YOG becomes a big FLOP.   Related articles: >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined "I hate YOG" Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans "not interested" in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

I am not against the YOG per se, so long as the games are well-managed, i.e. the tax-payers can at least break even in terms of expenditure and income. But I suppose that hope is more or less lost, for a variety of reasons. The problem at the bottom is really the current Singaporean political system. Changing that will require considerably more effort. But I want to talk about how locals are viewed as inconveniences during the YOG. Some of us who work at NTU, where the Olympic Village will be, are "encouraged" to be away during those days of the games. And there are these "give way" signs on PIE and some of the buses transporting the athletes have "Give Way" printed backwards on their windshields, as if they were ambulances. I'm sorry to see that the people who live and work on this island have become such inconveniences to this whole thing. But I utterly fail to see why buses full of teenagers who will run in a circle in some stadium should be treated the same way and given the same priority in road usage as an ambulance or a firetruck answering a life threatening call. Again, I'm not against the idea of the Olympics Games for themselves. But why should these athletes receive better treatments than the locals? If people believe that the YOG will earn respect and prestige for Singapore (a position that I do not think is without merit), then how does one earn the respect of visitors? By being obsequious to them? But I suppose even this is something that is deeply rooted in the psyche of this country and changing that will take a lot of effort too.   ZHAO LIANGYI Source: http://www.facebook.com/sgcurrentaffairs#!/topic.php?uid=106184679437182&topic=7   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →