Hong Kong has good geographical location and China for
hinterland so Hong Kong has a lot of advantages Singapore does not
have.
If we want to compare Singapore with anything, we should have the
clearer vision to want to compare with more progressive housing
with lesser prices than we are paying and where the citizesn still
have sufficient monies for retirements.
But our leaders would like to compare with less well off model like
the most expensive cities. I am sure many know that just anywhere
up north, in neighbouring Malaysia, for $50,000.00 citizens can
easily be housed in comfortable 3-room flat with modern facilities
without bankrupting his retirement nestegg.
If we want to compare, let us always compare objectively or
reasonably based on same set of facts and circumstances.
This selective comparison by benchmarking of minister's salaries
against the highest pay in the private sector is a case in point of
comparing in a fallacious manner to suit one's foregone
conclusion.
In making such comparison, it was conveniently not mentioned that
civil servants and ministers are not any special entrepreneurs as
they do not have problem with fund or monies. They only spend the
monies collected from tax payers. They in fact should be compared
with club workers or management corporation's staff who collect
monies and spend them to provide certain services which are no big
deals.
Civil service or government are not required to manage with any
special skills needed in running a private company which has to
fight for survival and bottom line.
We often heard of horror stories given in many selective comparison
about dangers with democracy's freedom of election and expressions
as happened in countries like Philippines, Indonesia or
Thailand.
But the ministers will not make comparison with best democracy
models elsewhere where people granted the freedoms are doing well
like in Western Europe or Scanidavian. Many many domocracies have
achieved great progress but we for many years were told stories as
if individual rights and freedoms will lead to chaos. This
selective comparison is therefore only a tactic of expediency to
get out of problems.
So let us learn from more advanced countries where people learn to
progress from truths and accountable good corporate
governance.
Do not be short-changed on truths and do not listen to tactics like
selective comparison, good presentation and justification to
explain away our problems. Read original post at http://www.youngpap.org.sg/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10318
