It is really unfair to criticize our politicians of "sucking"
money from their people and leave them to poverty which is
certainly untrue. Compare yourself to countries like Iraq where the
late Saddam Hussein decorated his quarters with gold toilet seats
while his people struggled to make ends meet. That is despeicable.
However in Singapore, the story is different. Yes the lay person
may not be very well-off, but we are not several from adverse
poverty just like China experiences in some part of their country.
Zimbabwe under Mugabe was a sorry sight too. We play our
politicians well to encourage them to do a good job and be less
prone to corruption.
Ask yourselves, if the job does not pay well would you be
motivating yourself to work hard to be a politician? Just because
the source of revenue for the government comes out of your pockets,
you are feeling sore about their hefty pay-packets. Why not
complain that private corporations are raking in bonuses by the
millions? Yes by comparison our country's politicians do earn
several times compared to other countries but every country's
political system differs. How much do you hear of corruption in
Singapore as compared to overseas? Look at Chen Shui Bian or even
those nominated to take posts in the Obama administration's
treasury. Several of them fail to make the mark due to questionable
tax histories and such.
Our labour pool is rather small and attracting talents to join
the government is no easy task. Ask yourself, if the pay of a
politician is $400k (the equivalent of Obama's) whilst as a doctor
you can rake in $600k. What would your choice be? Our pay has to be
competitive compared to what other alternatives these people who
choose to be politicians have. Dont be hypocritical when you say
the politicians are greedy. Dont you wish you could have a bigger
house, drive a bigger car or earn a larger wage? Arent these traits
of greed? Greed and selfishness is everywhere a human phenomena, an
innate nature in fact. Father of economics Adam Smith recognized
this as a fundamental driving force behind the market system. By
the pursuit of self-interest people promote an end (benefit to
society)which was never part of their intention that makes today's
market economies possible. To scorn justified pay packets is to
condemn the market system and meritocracy. Ask yourself would you
rather a system whereby your hard work does not merit an equivalent
portion of monetary reward.
Here comes 1 of the 66.6% population who voted for PAP in the
last election, and demonstrating to the entire world how stupid
Singapore citizens are, by supporting the unbelievable pay that our
ministers pay themselves.
Ask yourself. The gap between position 1, and position 2 in the
top 10 highest paid politicians, is so huge. You really believe
this is acceptable, when the No. 1 well-paid politician is actually
running a small tiny city-state?
Do you also know that the gini-coefficient (used to measure the
divide btw the poorest income group versus the highest income
group) for Singapore is as bad as 3rd world countries? So I hope
you moderate yourself when comparing us with 3rd world
countries
In addition, Politics should NEVER have been considered to be a
career in the 1st place. (Just as AWS, our 13-month wage supplement
was NEVER a bonus, and should have been a compulsory payment to us,
but our expensive govt is now advocating that our AWS is also a
bonus). Anyone who treats politics as a career should not be in
politics at all.
Yes, you may start shouting, who's going to join the govt if the
pay is lower? I will tell you, ME. I will join the govt if the
salary is at least halved. The point is, there are TRUE people who
want to serve the people, but do not want to enter politics now
because PAP has made it so rewarding that it has tainted the ideals
of being in the govt.
In short, you are talking nonsense. By equating everything to
only pay, our govt is showing the next generation of Singaporeans
that all other things such as compassion, graciousness,
non-monetary stuff, are NOT IMPORTANT. Our Govt is telling us that
they don't give any concern about anything else other than $$$.
That's how our society has evolved to this state of being
uncaring, and only being pragmatic.
As I said again, I can't believe that there are actually jokers
who believe that our PM's pay is justified when his pay is 3 to 4x
more than ALL OTHER leaders in the world.
