Singapore's Meritocracy


UncleFai

Senior Member
Mar 10, 2010
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Singapore
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26349689

This is our national ideology but... What do you think of this:

"This society has been founded on the basis of meritocracy… if you have been successful, it's because of your own efforts, if you're not, it's your fault,"
 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26349689

This is our national ideology but... What do you think of this:

"This society has been founded on the basis of meritocracy… if you have been successful, it's because of your own efforts, if you're not, it's your fault,"

It is "your fault" if you didn't marry into the rich "elite" families :bsmilie:
They only hire and promote their own family members :bsmilie:

It is also "your fault" if you are not from the same country as the FT :bsmilie:
They also hire and promote their own country men :bsmilie:

If you want to be successful, marry to the rich families
Or you change your nationality to become a FT
 

Smoke more of these and you will have more "Merit" and thus prosper in a meritocracy.

normal_1985-Merit-Cigarette.jpg



merit-lights-cigarettes-profile.jpg
 

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I still don't understand why someone like her can afford 6 children while well to do families don't want to have any at all. :confused:
 

I still don't understand why someone like her can afford 6 children while well to do families don't want to have any at all. :confused:


Does she die die has to own a Car/Condo/Landed Property... must have latest Gadgets/F.F Camera... Buy the newest season Chanel/Coach/LV bags... or Holiday at Europe/USA/Maldive... etc.

If no need all these... possible to have more than 2 child...
 

Does she die die has to own a Car/Condo/Landed Property... must have latest Gadgets/F.F Camera... Buy the newest season Chanel/Coach/LV bags... or Holiday at Europe/USA/Maldive... etc.

If no need all these... possible to have more than 2 child...

not if you are a single mother and not working....

Frankly, when I read the story I don't really understand what is the message of the story. It doesn't really reflect a lot on Singapore but more on the individual.

To me, no matter what country you are in, if you are a single mother with six kids and not working, unless you have a lot of money in the bank (inheritance?) life is going to be hard.

who is the father of the kids? doesn't the law require the father to support the kids?
 

She has a nicer TV than I have.

For her as a mother of 6 it is very difficult for her to find time to work while caring for her children. Catch 22 - hire a maid then must pay $, no $, how to hire, no maid how to find job? Not sure her relatives can chip in also with their time.

There is always work available - only whether it pays more than a subsidence/ hand-to-mouth (eg McD's job) , whether it is dignified (moral work as opposed to working in vice sectors).

Anyway, a lot of Married-to-Crazy exists in Singapore. The Group CEO of a certain unpopular telco seems to have some background also (her dad is so-and-so), the Chief Execs of several GLCs also have their share.

THe most glaringly obvious would be the head of Tumor Sick Holdings, Whole Jinx who is a very very very very very very very very very capable woman (having being so very very very very very very very very unlucky to lose a fortune going long on US Banks at the cusp of crisis ). She is coincidentally married to the Prem Binister.
 

Every society will have people living under the poverty line. Have to look into case by case. In this case, probably due to poor family planning. If one is incapable of taking care or providing for their children, then it may be a better option to have lesser of them. Even if there are jobs for this lady, it will be difficult for her to juggle between her six kids and work. Then what about her kids. Will they be equally provided for up till tertiary education? Else it is likely to be a vicious cycle. It may take 2-3 generations for this family to get out of poverty.

I dont see the link between this family to what the reporter tries to highlight about Singapore. Any single mother with 6 kids will face the same difficulties anywhere. Money dont drop from the sky.
 

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It is always much more challenging for those trapped in the lower end to get out. What most of these people needs are not just financial assistance but more how to prevent sinking deeper.

Once they have up and let others take over by relying purely on aids, they and their next generation will continue to suffer. I hope there are more government agencies that will come forward. Like in this case, when she makes her first wrong turn with the first child, she knows how not to end up with 6 kids!