Daily Lessons from Life 04 April 2012 - Social policies should not come at expense of future generation: DPM Tharman

"Social policies should not come at expense of future generation: DPM Tharman - CNA 04 April 2012

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Singapore's social policies should not come at the expense of future generations.

He said that while social policies such as health and pension provisions are very attractive, the financial crisis in Europe has shown how unsustainable a welfare system is.

Mr Tharman was speaking at a ministerial forum organised by the National University of Singapore's Students' Political Association on Wednesday evening.

Mr Tharman kicked off the session by explaining that Singapore needs to step up social policies to ensure that everyone has a more level-playing field.

He said more must be done to keep social mobility going. This means ensuring that those who start off with disadvantages have a way of moving up, and not be stuck at the same level over generations.

And in a dialogue that covered a wide range of issues, Mr Tharman spoke about the need to bring respect back to blue-collar jobs.

He said Singapore will not be a truly developed society if those who hold such jobs do not carry themselves with pride.

"We need to be a society where customers treat blue-collar workers with respect, and that requires some attitudinal changes," said Mr Tharman.

Mr Tharman also fielded questions on this year's Budget, affirmative action and the property market during the dialogue."

There is NO DOUBT the welfare system as practiced by the European and the American is UNSUSTAINABLE. Abuses are aplenty and some even think that it is an honour to be gaming the system. There was NO SHAME.

Lessons for me are:

1. we need a WELFARE system WHEN the elderly are NO LONGER productive,though one hope they take care of themselves well and are relatively healthy, and had NO INCOME nor own saving to care for themselves. In this case, the government of the day HAS to step in and help. Though in Singapore, the preferred method is to invoke filial piety and get the children to take care of the elderly 1st. Well, the challenge is the children have their own children to take care of. If they are well off, fine and well. If not, the burden should be taken up by the government of the day. Reasonable?;

2. IF we have citizens who are upright, conscientious and reasonable, they will NOT abuse the Welfare System. If they know it is a SHAMEFUL act to simply squander the welfare fund which the government has carefully invested the national reserve and all the cumulative savings over many years that produce good return, the Welfare System will NOT be broken. Of course, it is a BIG IF. It is NOT easy to inculcate GOOD VALUES. It takes long term efforts. Constant in-your-face reminder. Firm decisive handling with a human touch. You won't please EVERYONE;

3. The issue of 'Respect for the blue collar jobs' is an interesting topic. In a country where success is measured by how much money your earned, it is very difficult to show respect to a lowly paid blue collar workers. Remembered the sentiment expressed by one MP that the 'inadequately paid Ministers will NOT get the RESPECT from the business tycoons or people who are earning more than the Ministers'? This is another long term, thankless value building project that the current government does not seems to know or like to do. It is EASIER to show ECONOMIC numbers.

So, it is great that the DMP Tharman has spoken on the need to bring VALUES into focus - my own conclusion drawn from what he has said, perhaps. Let's start with Identifying the values Singapore want, have them in-your-face daily, demonstrate the values through our actions. Say: 'Thank you' to the cleaner. Stop worrying about the welfare system but how to make it work with a highly righteous populace!

It can be done. We do need welfare system for the underprivileged. As for the well-to-do, they DO NOT need the welfare system but they will be happy to provide for the honest less fortunates.