Interesting development on the 'depoliticising of Town Council (TC)' issue as the National Solidarity Party (NSP) formally calls for it in the Press Meeting! One of the key points goes something like: 'the MP's primary role as MP is overshadowed by that of a Town Councillor!' Also, 'it seems to suggest that town planner and estate managers are better people to run the country!' GREAT POINTS!!
"Strong families the bedrock of society, says PM Lee - CNA 17 February 2015
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Singaporeans not to allow family ties to weaken even as the Government strengthens social safety nets, as "strong families are the bedrock of society".
Highlighting some of the moves to help the less fortunate - such as MediShield Life, a reviewed CPF Life and expanded Workfare - Mr Lee said in his Chinese New Year message on Tuesday (Feb 17) that the Government is doing this to help families stay together, but not replace the role that families play.
"Our family ties must not weaken, unlike what we have seen in other societies where the state has taken on more responsibility," he said. "We must not let this happen in Singapore – either to our individual families, or to our larger national family."
The state and the community are bearing more risk on behalf of individuals "to give those who need help more peace of mind", Mr Lee said. "We are all in this together."
Mr Lee added that the Government is doing “all it can” to help people build strong families. The introduction of the Marriage and Parenthood package as well as more affordable childcare and pre-schools will support couples who have more children, while targeted housing grants are in place to make it easier for young couples to live close to their parents, encouraging three-generation families to stay close-knit, he said.
“The Pioneer Generation Package, Silver Support and MediShield Life will lighten the burden on families taking care of elderly parents,” he added.
The Prime Minister also reminded Singaporeans that social policies and grants by themselves do not grow strong or happy families."
There is SOMETHING not quite right with the messages PM Lee is trying to convey for me.
Lessons for me are:
1. has social policies or grants EVER affect how families come together? Thought it would more through consistent contacts with each other, learning to live with each other as each grow and sometimes grow apart too as each has taken a very different path of life and life values!
If anything, the social policies and grants REMOVE the potential stress and the resultant tensions and frictions that TEAR families apart from the 'family members having to care for the elderly parents and/or parents-in-law' when their OWN individual finances are stretched or in shambles!;
2. as for the pro-families measures mentioned, they are merely answering the challenges, obstacles and difficulties the young couples faced when trying to start a state exhorted 3-kid family while maintaining balances with financing the HDB flat/Maid?/Childcare/Schooling/taking care of the elderly family members/etc. And I hope they are INDEED the REASONS why Singaporeans are NOT getting married or not wanting to have children or not too many children when they DO get married!
So, these SHOULD had been done earlier BUT NOT. Had these been done earlier, would we still be facing the 'conflicts or somewhat uneasy relationship between some local and foreigners'?;
3. It is VERY STRANGE to try to link potential weakening of families' ties with increasing social safety nets. When people have 'peace of mind' about retirement (which is something unreachable for quite a few people who have NOT enough CPF or saving), medical insurance care, and 'how to live healthily to a ripe old age and to die a stress-free death peacefully', etc they should HAVE MORE time to enjoy family ties! No?
It is SAD to see that 'family ties are seen in $ and Cents' by this speech. Or maybe I was too THICK to understand the REAL meaning????
"Strong families the bedrock of society, says PM Lee - CNA 17 February 2015
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Singaporeans not to allow family ties to weaken even as the Government strengthens social safety nets, as "strong families are the bedrock of society".
Highlighting some of the moves to help the less fortunate - such as MediShield Life, a reviewed CPF Life and expanded Workfare - Mr Lee said in his Chinese New Year message on Tuesday (Feb 17) that the Government is doing this to help families stay together, but not replace the role that families play.
"Our family ties must not weaken, unlike what we have seen in other societies where the state has taken on more responsibility," he said. "We must not let this happen in Singapore – either to our individual families, or to our larger national family."
The state and the community are bearing more risk on behalf of individuals "to give those who need help more peace of mind", Mr Lee said. "We are all in this together."
Mr Lee added that the Government is doing “all it can” to help people build strong families. The introduction of the Marriage and Parenthood package as well as more affordable childcare and pre-schools will support couples who have more children, while targeted housing grants are in place to make it easier for young couples to live close to their parents, encouraging three-generation families to stay close-knit, he said.
“The Pioneer Generation Package, Silver Support and MediShield Life will lighten the burden on families taking care of elderly parents,” he added.
The Prime Minister also reminded Singaporeans that social policies and grants by themselves do not grow strong or happy families."
There is SOMETHING not quite right with the messages PM Lee is trying to convey for me.
Lessons for me are:
1. has social policies or grants EVER affect how families come together? Thought it would more through consistent contacts with each other, learning to live with each other as each grow and sometimes grow apart too as each has taken a very different path of life and life values!
If anything, the social policies and grants REMOVE the potential stress and the resultant tensions and frictions that TEAR families apart from the 'family members having to care for the elderly parents and/or parents-in-law' when their OWN individual finances are stretched or in shambles!;
2. as for the pro-families measures mentioned, they are merely answering the challenges, obstacles and difficulties the young couples faced when trying to start a state exhorted 3-kid family while maintaining balances with financing the HDB flat/Maid?/Childcare/Schooling/taking care of the elderly family members/etc. And I hope they are INDEED the REASONS why Singaporeans are NOT getting married or not wanting to have children or not too many children when they DO get married!
So, these SHOULD had been done earlier BUT NOT. Had these been done earlier, would we still be facing the 'conflicts or somewhat uneasy relationship between some local and foreigners'?;
3. It is VERY STRANGE to try to link potential weakening of families' ties with increasing social safety nets. When people have 'peace of mind' about retirement (which is something unreachable for quite a few people who have NOT enough CPF or saving), medical insurance care, and 'how to live healthily to a ripe old age and to die a stress-free death peacefully', etc they should HAVE MORE time to enjoy family ties! No?
It is SAD to see that 'family ties are seen in $ and Cents' by this speech. Or maybe I was too THICK to understand the REAL meaning????
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