LKY is NOT calling the lower class losers, but just stating that
in a capitalist society, there MUST be people made worse off
('losers') if there are people benefiting from the system
('winners').
in a true capitalist society such as the US, where everyone
fights for themselves and takes home their own earnings, leaving
those who did not fare as well as themselves to fend for
themselves, which they cannot. thus in singapore, the government
does step in to take care of this group of people and make sure
they do not feel left out of society, as society will disintegrate
and become unstable if this (large) group of people were to fall
out of pace with the rest of the community.
i do agree that lky is arrogant and he could have brought his
point across in a more pleasant way. his attitude most probably
comes from his thinking that singapore is his, as he led it through
the difficult times and brought much progress.
however, i also do agree that what he said is true and is for
the betterment of society on the whole, although it may sound harsh
to individuals, especially those being referred to as the
'underclass'. it is a fact of life that they are the ones at the
tail end of singapore's great economic growth, not enjoying its
benefits as much as the upper class.
but you must also bear in mind that income equity is a
government aim and there are policies which benefit the
'underclass' more than the upper class. take for example income tax
in singapore. the lower class who earn less than 20k annually dont
have to pay a single cent of income tax at all, while the upper
class may have to pay up to 20% of their take home income.
so dont feel insulted by lky. he is just looking out for
society's welfare by promoting the welfare of the lower class, and
not letting them feel abandoned. remember that the government has
policies in your favour to promote equity. lky may have not said it
in a nice way, but his aims are for the good of society.
if you're not happy with him, just wait for him to die. although
the government will likely remain the same and run the country in
the same way, this sort of comments probably wont be made anymore.
=]
