Originally posted by eagle:
1) 2) The problem is not with the profile. I'm sure that some
opposition candidates have even better profiles... Yet why are they
not recruited in by the PAP? Because their ideology is different,
their goals are different. They are there to serve Singapore, such
that even if there's a decrease in minister salaries, they will
still follow on their goals.
Are we short of people who wants to serve Singapore through
politics? Definitely not. Just look at the number of new opposition
candidates. They know their chances are still limited when facing
the incumbent now, yet they do go out to compete. Pay rise? Attract
talent? It's total BS to say it's to attract top talent to the
government; it's more of attracting talent to the PAP, with
taxpayers' money!
2) Why do I want to compare with scholars? Because we want to
compare educational portfolio. Look at the number of current
ministers with scholarships. Suppose you have a good educational
portfolio without any scholarship, you will be able to rise just as
fast in the police force.
[b]being a ministers of Singapore is not all about comparing salary
to the private sector, it is about the sacrifice you have to make
as a MIW, the attention you are from media, your family, your
lifestlye, the protocol you have to follow etc
So if being a minister is about sacrifice, why do we need to raise
their pay? They can "sacrifice" by holding on to their current
pay!
If you have doubt that any our our ministers is incapable
for resigning today and make equal amount of money in the private
sector and enjoying freedom from politics, you will just be kidding
yourself.
They may be capable of making the same amount (I'm pretty sure of
that), but that does not necessary guarantee them the pay hike in
the public sector! It's all about sacrifice as you have said.
LHL once said "who gives the media the right to criticize the
government when it is not voted in". In this sense, I can also
claim the following statement: "Who gives the government the right
to raise minister pay? We voted them in to govern Singapore; we
didn't vote for a minister pay rise!"
If there was a vote to whether minister pay rise should be raised,
and the majority says yes, I would have no qualms about it.
And why must the ministers salaries be pegged to the top earners?
Supposed the minister salary was pegged to the bottom earners
multiplied by a certain multiplier such that their pay is still
"high enough for them". A minister pay rise because of an increase
in the salaries of the bottom earners will definitely be more
welcomed than the current situation.
Perhaps the pay rise is necessary... But the reasons given are not
convincing enough. Singapore's governance is too heavily dependent
on attracting people with money, and not by patriotism. It is also
governed too much like a whole corporation.
3) I meant this as a side effect. The negativity should have been
expected, but the severity was unexpected.
Why is it expected? Look at the timing of the hike's
announcement... soon after election.
Why is it unexpected? LHL's offer to freeze his salary. Btw,
although some may claim that LHL was 'scared' of the public outcry
of on the hike and thus his offer to freeze his salary, I think
that by offering, he is showing his willingness to really
sacrifice, maybe not for singapore, but for PAP. His family may be
rich, but it's still a large sacrifice on his part. It's a
difference of near a million sgd a year if he forgoes it... Well
done on his part I guess... One of the very few popular moves he
made after he became PM.[/b]
1) It will be more constructive that we discuss something
specific rather than just quote them as "oppsition" or
"backbencher" Profile are important as they are the future leaders
and we definitely need to know if they capable enough to do the job
and what we are paying for.
2) Sorry, I think you miss the point. the reason why I am asking if
YOU will want to be police officer instead of some high flyer civil
servant, is because it is a civil servant job which lay man can
relate to.
As you have already commented that you wont sign on as an officer,
sighting reasons such as personal goal etc. But my guess is that
the main reason is because you believe you will have a bigger
chance for earning more money in private sector and not bound to
the protocol of a civil servant (unless you are a scholar)
However if suppose he government want to attract talent like you
and they offer you a 5 figure starting pay, would you reconsider
your position?
3) No further comments.
