Daily Lessons from Life 01 January 2012 - New Start to ...

This is the 1st day of 2012. Many are recovering from hangovers. Some are wondering if they had conceived while intoxicated. Some were totally sober and worrying about the financial fortune of theirs in the much feared slowdown and looming recession talked so much about by eminent people in commerce, politics, and banking arena.

Whatever it may be, each will have to tackle his/her demon in his/her own way! Ultimately each is responsible for the consequence.

For Singapore, the much talked about 'dwindling population' issue is still there. A lot of things have been tried to no avail.

It is obvious that the many fiscal and financial incentives offerred by the government, which normally work quite well in money-focused Singapore, simply are NOT hitting the targets. It is obvious that the ROOT causes have not been identified or been dismissed as they were NOT what the government thought they were!! e.g. the financial burden of raising a child in Singapore till 18 years old, the high cost of housing to house a family of 4 or 5 (2 or 3 kids0, the stress of working to make ends meet to afford a reasonable lifestyle for a family of 4 or 5, etc...

The short term solution of 'importing' foreigners and hope that they will become citizens that embrace Singpaore way of life, culture, custom, etc. The short sightedness of comparing raising local Singaporeans to the ease of getting foreigners without including the social and integration costs DENIED the government from seriously consider how best to use the trillion of national reserve to get a generation of 30-50k Singaporean babies.

There will be takers if you promise to provide free education, medical care, and food and drink to this special batch of Singaporean up to 18 years old. If all the incentives are at cost, it may be something Singapore can afford.

It sounds crazy. At the same time, do we have another solution that may work so far?

May 2012 be a bumper year for Singaporean babies WITHOUT my crazy incentives mentioned since it is going to be a Dragon Year in the Chinese Lunar Calendar!!