MY FAMILY PORTRAIT

AN INTERACTIVE APPROACH TO POPULATION PLANNING

It is inevitable that the Population White Paper concluded with a projected total population of up to 6.9 million in 2030 and the resultant need to spend at least between S$350 billion and S$400 billion to build 700,000 new HDB flats, three new towns, new MRT lines and reclaim land over the next 17 years to cope with it.

As a piece of classic prospective planning trying to optimize policies using current trends and assumptions, the white paper's conclusions are as logical as they are predictable.

But, the point is, such scenario-predicting is highly unreliable and unlikely to lead to game-changing solutions.

Demographic challenges are complex with individual problems interacting with each other and dealing with one problem by conventional methods creates new ones that may worsen the overall situation.

Retroactive planning used by some opposing voices is no better as it is only preoccupied with identifying and fixing existing bad situations. 

Therefore, we must find a third way in interactive planning.  The idea here is to design a desirable future and invent ways to bring that future about by working backwards towards the present.  

If our desired future in 2030 is to maintain our present ratio of economically active: inactive people with less immigration, we may have to think differently.

First, replace the narrow  incentivizing  of childbirth with the wide incentivizing of parenthood. An SPPC (Singapore Parents Privilege Card) can be issued to all parents which will confer wide advantages when using public services. That way, non- parents will be nudged to join the ranks of parents. 

Second, redefine productive population. If our life expectancy increases, our economically-productive lifespan and scope should also increase in tandem.  We should abolish the retirement-age and gender-based employment policies altogether.

Third, redefine the concept of the Singapore Core to include all who in any way contribute to the well-being of Singapore, even for a temporary period of time. Concrete privileges of being in the Singapore Core will be conferred only on the Singapore Parent.

(An edited version of this article was published in the Forum column of the Straits Times today)

INVICTUS, a poem to keep our chins up.  I dedicate it to all those who are bravely facing up to life's difficult challenges.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
 
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
 
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
 
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


This poem was written in 1875 by Englishman William Ernest Henley who endured a lifetime of suffering from debilitating illness but never allowed it to dampen his spirit nor prevent him from living his life to the fullest.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ESTABLISHING A 

NEW CULTURE OF POLITICAL 

COLLABORATION

I think the recent by-election result at Punggol East is a true reflection of declining political support for the PAP and there are 3 reasons for it.

First, the loss of Aljunied GRC in 2011, made the PAP lose its psychological cloak of invincibility. The recent admission of shortcomings in tackling population, transport, housing and cost of living issues further embolden its critics to vote against them.

Second, the WP's self-confidence has risen in line with the increase in WP representation in Parliament. The rather professional and efficient conduct of their recent by-election campaign, their post-by-election restraint and surprising conciliatory stance towards the ruling party has elicited much respect and admiration. WP has now become the default choice for non-PAP voters.

Third, the electorate has suddenly become aware of  the power of their votes when they can see how the Government has become much more responsive to their complaints when election time is near.

What's important is that the decline in PAP's popularity has made it more conducive for having a broad-based political collaboration as follows:

First, we should try to spend less time and energy on electioneering and unproductive partisan rivalry. The aim of all Government policies should solely be for the  improvement of our society, not the garnering of votes for future elections. Netizens should stop attacking politicians, but get involved in building our society.

Second, we should all help to perfect the governance of our country in minimizing corruption, improving transparency and accountability, maintaining the effectiveness  and efficiency of our public and essential services and paying the utmost respect to the rule of law. That way, we can respond better to present and future needs of our society.

Third, we should strive to build a more participatory and inclusive political system whereby citizens, politicians of all stripes and Government office holders  can collaborate to build consensus in a more equitable society. All voices, big or small, vulnerable or privileged, rich or not-so-rich, mainstream or independent, can provide a wide perspective to the discourse about the long-term prosperity and well-being of our nation and bring us closer to their realization.

In short, it is not important whether we have multi-party politics or true democracy or not. What's crucial is our ability to put aside our differences and work together to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world.  

So, let the real 'conversation' begin!

(An edited version of this article was published in the Voices Section of the Today newspaper today under the heading "After Punggol East, An Opportunity To Work Together")