Why do you think the govt need to bring in the FT? Its because
we need these people for the long run in order to keep the economy
going. The 2 years of NS, in terms of manpower hours are not going
to affect our economy in the long run and will certainly not be
enough to cover the ones contributed by the FT. Singapore like most
modern cities are facing an aging population and the only exception
of these modern cities is the US which just keeps bringing in new
FTs and immigrants to replenish their blood.
The problem that the US is now facing however, is that their
society is very segmentated where the rich and the poor doesn't
interact. The US military in specific, is becoming a poor man's
havan because generally, only poor people are willing to endure the
hardships within the military because of the pay. Having a citizen
soldier model such as Singapore's NS will help reduce the problem
of isolating the military from the rest of the society. In
Singapore, it doesn't matter if you live in Holland Ville or some 1
rm flat in Potong Pasir, as long as the person has been tru NS, he
will have some knowledge and attachment for the military. At times,
these people may be complaining about how F up the military is or
whatever, but the thing is that they've been tru it together and a
much better bond is fostered among these pple than most US
citizens.
There are very often no "good" political decisions and we will
always be forced by circumstance to take the lesser evil. Bringing
in the FTs and having NS are such lesser evils.
When you say that you don't feel loyal to the nation because the
govt doesn't do good things for you anymore, does it ever occur to
you that the govt are not that separated from you? The govt is
elected among the pple, there is not you and me but only we. If you
wishes things to be better for Singapore, then you must fight and
work for it, not hoping to have your kinsmen do it for you. The
government's job is to facilitate an environment that allows us all
to have a chance to fight for better lives, and on top of which
would be our education.
If there is one thing that I believe that the government had let
you down, it is that the government and the rest of us as a society
had not develop your ethos in a way to contribute to the society.
If you think that I am selfish in asking you to contribute to the
society, please also consider that you, in asking the government to
take care of you, is asking the entire society of 4 million people
to contribute to your personal desire.
