"Pioneer Generation Package 2? Depends on next generation: Chan Chun Sing - The Straits Times 27 January 2015
SINGAPORE - To the many Singaporeans who have asked if the $8 billion Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) will be expanded in future to benefit more seniors, Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing's reply is: "Frankly, we hope that we can."
But the introduction of a "PGP 2" will depend on how the next generation answers two questions, he said on Monday at a dialogue during the annual Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Singapore Perspectives conference.
Mr Chan described these as: "Will we have the means? Will society have the same values (as now) to want to honour those who contributed?"
More importantly, the package - which eases the medical costs of the first generation of Singaporeans - cannot be a political promise, added Mr Chan."
My takes on the above dialogue is:
Not to be frivolous, the ANSWER to the WRONG question about 'Will there be a PGP2?' is: NO. There SHOULD NOT be a PGP2!
WRONG question - why?
I SURELY hope that the new generation of 65-year old Singaporeans DO NOT NEED government's help unlike the earlier PGs who REALLY have toiled like hell, sacrificed a great deal working with the 1st generation national leaders to build up Singapore with NOT MUCH to show!
I SURELY hope that the 'next PGs' will HAVE ENJOYED the fruits of the world economic miracle of the Little Red Dot to be: educated and wise (not just educated), healthy and smart, and independent and 'live less to give more'!
IF NOT, maybe the economic miracle is an ILLUSION? The 'progression' a misnomer?
Based on the premise I outlined above, the QUESTION for the future is:
"HOW can Singaporeans LIVE a 'reasonable lifestyle' ('reasonableness' to be defined by the national collective since for EACH individual, it can mean very vastly different lifestyles) that 'live less and give more' till at least 85 years old?"
Why 85-year old? After 65-year old, IF we live healthily physically and mentally (for some, also spiritually), we can live WELL and continue to be active and productive for another 20 years!
The OTHER QUESTION is: 'how much income is GOOD enough to live healthily and well reasonably'? Do we need a million dollar or more income to live as I have just described?
If the TOP echelon of the people, say 5%, holds 95% of the nation wealth, SOMETHING is terribly wrong. Yes?
I HOPE the QUESTIONS I just raised will GRAB some eye-balls of national leaders. Should these QUESTIONS NOT be SOME of those that need to be addressed for the next 50 years?
Seriously, when housing and healthcare costs are properly covered, which I hoped for the new generation of above 65-year old, living healthily and living less to give more is realistic!
Let's work on this vision instead of worrying about if the state has the doles to pay for the 'above 65'!!
SINGAPORE - To the many Singaporeans who have asked if the $8 billion Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) will be expanded in future to benefit more seniors, Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing's reply is: "Frankly, we hope that we can."
But the introduction of a "PGP 2" will depend on how the next generation answers two questions, he said on Monday at a dialogue during the annual Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Singapore Perspectives conference.
Mr Chan described these as: "Will we have the means? Will society have the same values (as now) to want to honour those who contributed?"
More importantly, the package - which eases the medical costs of the first generation of Singaporeans - cannot be a political promise, added Mr Chan."
My takes on the above dialogue is:
Not to be frivolous, the ANSWER to the WRONG question about 'Will there be a PGP2?' is: NO. There SHOULD NOT be a PGP2!
WRONG question - why?
I SURELY hope that the new generation of 65-year old Singaporeans DO NOT NEED government's help unlike the earlier PGs who REALLY have toiled like hell, sacrificed a great deal working with the 1st generation national leaders to build up Singapore with NOT MUCH to show!
I SURELY hope that the 'next PGs' will HAVE ENJOYED the fruits of the world economic miracle of the Little Red Dot to be: educated and wise (not just educated), healthy and smart, and independent and 'live less to give more'!
IF NOT, maybe the economic miracle is an ILLUSION? The 'progression' a misnomer?
Based on the premise I outlined above, the QUESTION for the future is:
"HOW can Singaporeans LIVE a 'reasonable lifestyle' ('reasonableness' to be defined by the national collective since for EACH individual, it can mean very vastly different lifestyles) that 'live less and give more' till at least 85 years old?"
Why 85-year old? After 65-year old, IF we live healthily physically and mentally (for some, also spiritually), we can live WELL and continue to be active and productive for another 20 years!
The OTHER QUESTION is: 'how much income is GOOD enough to live healthily and well reasonably'? Do we need a million dollar or more income to live as I have just described?
If the TOP echelon of the people, say 5%, holds 95% of the nation wealth, SOMETHING is terribly wrong. Yes?
I HOPE the QUESTIONS I just raised will GRAB some eye-balls of national leaders. Should these QUESTIONS NOT be SOME of those that need to be addressed for the next 50 years?
Seriously, when housing and healthcare costs are properly covered, which I hoped for the new generation of above 65-year old, living healthily and living less to give more is realistic!
Let's work on this vision instead of worrying about if the state has the doles to pay for the 'above 65'!!
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