TR EMERITUS

The battlefield is still warm, following Canada’s war on the unvaccinated. The mandates have let up, and both sides stumble back into something that looks like the old normal — except that there is a fresh and present injury done to the people we tried to break. And no one wants to talk about it. Only weeks ago, it was the admitted goal of our own leaders to make life unlivable for the unvaccinated. And as a deputized collective, we force-multiplied that pain, taking the fight into our families, friendships, and workplaces. Today, we face the hard truth that none of it was justified — and, in doing that, uncover a precious lesson. It was a quick slide from righteousness to cruelty, and however much we might blame our leaders for the push, we’re accountable for stepping into the trap despite better judgement. We knew that waning immunity put vast numbers of the fully vaccinated on par with the shrinking minority of unvaccinated, yet we marked them for special persecution. We said they hadn’t “done the right thing” by turning their bodies over to state care — even though we knew that principled opposition to such a thing is priceless in any circumstance. And we truly let ourselves believe that going into another ineffectual lockdown would be their fault, not the fault of toxic policy. And so it was by the wilful ignorance of science, civics, and politics that we squeezed the unvaccinated to the degree that we did. We invented a new rubric for the good citizen and — failing to be one ourselves — took pleasure in scapegoating anyone who didn’t measure up. After months of engineered lockdowns, having someone to blame and to burn simply felt good. So we cannot hold our heads high, as if believing we had logic, love, or truth on our side while we viciously wished death upon the unvaccinated. The best we can do is sit in the awareness of our rabid inhumanity for having cast so many aside. Most of us who pilloried the noncompliant did it because it seemed like certain victory, like the unvaccinated would never make it through unbroken. Indeed, the promised new normal looked unbeatable, so we sided with it and made punching bags out of the holdouts. But betting against them has been a scathing embarrassment for many of us who’ve now learned that the mandates only had the power we gave them. It was not through quiet compliance that we avoided endless domination by pharmaceutical companies and medical checkpoints at every doorway. It was thanks to the people we tried to tear down. So for those of us not among the hopeless few that pray for the return of mandates, we might find some inner gratitude for the unvaccinated. We took the bait by hating them, but their perseverance bought us the time to see we were wrong. It seems right now like the mandates will return, but this time there’s hope that more of us will see them for what they are: a rising authoritarianism that has no concern for our wellbeing. If there’s an enemy, it’s the confidence game of state power and the transparent attempt to tear us apart. Heeding that looks like our best shot at redemption.   Susan Dunham   * The author blogs at https://susandunham.medium.com/.      Read More →

So many decades past, the cry for foreign talent repeated yearly, now more than half the work force are foreign born. Of which, many have converted into PRs or new citizens. Now even foreign born are managing state funds and also many of the GLCs. We had imported all kind of talents, even providing special service is considered a talent (LINK). These special talents were let off with a small tiny fine, we wonder why. So since this foreign talent was launched decades ago, we should look at its merits. Firstly, more and more local PMETS and local grads are becoming PHV and food delivery. They said these foreign talents created new jobs for locals, this is probably true but they did not specify any industry. But we do understand that higher under employment and unemployment had made them change unemployment KPI that any one hour part time job is now considered gainfully employed. So if employment has indeed increased, why they fix the KPI? More and more things are failing, recently so many spate of work site accidents. The trains were also failing that they again fixed the KPIs. I remember SGX was run by a Pinoy CTO, during his tenure, SGX was down a couple of times, never like before. Not to mentioned, the expressways were foreign engineer was jailed. (LINK) Of course, the once in 50 years ponding is now a regular affair. These are some samples of foreign talents they imported and nurtured. And foreign talents are managing our funds and also into many of our GLCs. How about those super rich foreign talents they imported like Eduardo Luiz Saverin? What has he done for Singapore? Anyone knows? We look at the foreign talents running Grab and SEA. Grab launched at $13 and now at $2.96. So my friends, foreign talent has become a dirty word to associate with. We know its a guise and excuse to import and convert foreigners into locals for GDP and new voters. As you can see, the quality of the talent is of suspect, even providing special service can be approved. So now our Supreme Leader decided to use a new word, "Global Talent". Two KEY things to take away from the latest foreign employment scheme: 1. Shorten FCF advertising to 14 days 2. Shorten issue of Employment Pass to 14 days Basically they are accelerating and speeding up the import of foreigners to take PMET jobs in Singapore. Spoken to a number of expats who are making $30,000 and above and have moved out of Singapore. They said they would not consider moving back to Singapore because there is no quality of life in Singapore, its a toxic culture. So who are these super $30k global talents they are recruiting? You can see they are beefing up the population with more BTOs and private, Supreme Leader said there are no babies to live in there but more new towns are developed and launched. The acceleration of employment pass is setting the stage for massive import of foreigners into Singapore. As for the $30k super visa, the locals who are in top jobs need to beware, it could be foreigners coming in to replace them too. Had already seen it happening to a local Telco recently, you can go google and check. :_) Foreign talent is tainted and dirty, so the new word will be global talent but it is the same soup and lame content. Foreign talent = Global talent = Import and Convert into new locals.   Candy Siew      Read More →

I refer to the ST’s Opinion “Is the Nominated MP scheme losing its relevance“ (ST, Oct 14) In September 1990, the NMPs scheme was introduced and effected for the core purpose of bringing in constructive, non-partisan and independent voices into Parliament. Good thing about this scheme is, all Nominated Members of Parliament can think out of the box, voice out their views, opinions, suggestions and vote on all the Government’s motions and proposed bills without any political baggage, except those concerning amendments to the Constitution and public funds as well as motions of no confidence in the government. Whether this NMP scheme losing its relevance and impact or not, I think, different people hold different views. It’s greatly hinged on whether the ruling party is willing to listen and accept their earnest, rational suggestions if (they are) found workable and good for the people. Another aspect which in large extent determining its successfulness is, respective NMP must be bold but cautious to present, address the worries of the people and advance their interests in the parliament. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose and becoming a laughing stock.   Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)      Read More →