1) Maybe you are right in a way. Our people want freedom and
democracy and I believe that the government understands too much
supervision and autocracy will not gain the peoples heart, given
that our level technology and maturity needs have increased over
the years. On the other hand, if too much autonomy is released
radically, it might not bring postive outcome but drastic change
that affect the holistic solidarity of our society. Therefore, I
believe such change should be incrementally, and not radically.
Today, we certainty have more say as compared to 10 or 20 years
ago.
2) Maybe another reason which I can think of for high salaries is
because our ministers is supposed to fully committed to their jobs
and not suppose to have any side business, like what in the past,
where some of the ministers can be directors for some private
companies.
In another perspective, can we compare our ministers with the CEO
of an organization?
For Example: comparing Salaries earned for a Health Minister with
the CEO of OCBC bank.
I believe the difference in salaries is not much
significance.
3) In those developed countries, where the government practice
welfares system, where tax rates will substantially higher to
subsidize the jobless or unemployed citizen, which mean you can
still survive without being employed.
Alternatively, the people in those countries may prefer to pursuit
their interest such as painting, photography etc, rather than
pursing academic studies.
However, in Singapore, its quite unlikely that we can behave like
a welfare state, although government may provide some form of cash
incentive periodically. Therefore, education is a must to survive
in the paper driven society.
My stand is actually referring kilua on issue on our education
system. You may refer to his earlier post.
