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:
Population
control in Singapore [Wikipedia] spans two distinct
phases: first to slow and reverse the boom in births that started
after World War II; and
then, from the 1980s onwards, to encourage parents to have more
children because birth numbers had fallen below replacement
levels. Government eugenics policies
flavoured both phases. In 1960s and 1970s, the anti-natalist
policies flourished. The Family Planning and Population
Board (FPPB) was established, initially advocating small
families but eventually running the Stop at Two
programme, which pushed for small two-children families and
promoted sterilisation.
From 1969 it was also used by government leaders to target
lowly-educated and low-income women in an experiment with
eugenics
policies to solve social concerns.
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.
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Govt to continue
studying options on population issues: DPM
Teo
06 March 2013 1640 hrs (SST)
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.
He said it is necessary to make preparations for the future to
ensure Singapore's seniors are able to look after themselves and
are well looked after by their children and by the nation in the
coming two decades.
Nominated MP Assistant Professor Eugene Tan asked Mr Teo in
Parliament how the government is planning to get Singaporeans'
buy-in for the Population White Paper and land use plan.
Prof Tan also asked whether the government will provide regular
updates on its progress in addressing Singapore's demographic
challenge.
Mr Teo responded: "We will continue to study options and engage
Singaporeans on population and its related issues on multiple
fronts, including through Our Singapore Conversation and other
forums.
"As we continue to engage Singaporeans and work together on
policies, address and overcome the specific and practical problems
we face and deliver programmes to benefit Singaporeans, we hope to
strengthen trust and consensus among Singaporeans on the future
that we must build together. The government will continue to
provide regular updates on the progress of proposals in the
Population White Paper and land use plan through the release of
studies, reports and announcements. We're also working towards a
medium term review before 2020."
- CNA/xq
Govt to continue studying options on population issues: DPM Teo -
Channel NewsAsia
Tags: Singapore, population control, eugenics, aging,
demographics, savings, provident fund, senior, retirement
