S'pore's New Poor & the promise of perpetual material growth
Today's Straits Times article entitled "Emergence of 'New Poor' a worry trend: Credit agency" places the blame of credit card debt on borrowers or users who spend more than they can afford. But later find themselves unable to clear their debt. This is indeed correct.
However one has to go beyond just this simple explanation and try to understand what drove them to this situation in the first place. The habit of spending future money through loans and credit card purchases is anchored on the hope that there will be perpetual material growth, as promised by the PAP. Hence, there is a false belief that debts accrued now can be cleared in the future as there will be perpetual material growth and gain.
This however, is not true. The PAP cannot guarantee and generate material growth perpetually. This has what generated the phenomenon of the New Poor, the promise of a material life that can no longer be fulfilled as a result of rising costs and reduced or insecure earnings.
The problem in Singapore is made worse because many in the 40s and 50s have difficulty finding jobs once they are made redundant.
Language skills important for grassroots communication
During my ground work, I inevitably have to speak several languages when communicating with residents. I am fluent in English and I studied Malay as a second Language. I can also manage some Tamil. Hokkien is a language I grew up with as kid so that comes pretty naturally to me.
However, Mandarin is more challenging a language for me. I did study it formally for six months in 2004 including learning how to write it. But since I am always accompanied by at least one Mandarin speaker, it helps when I do not know some words or terms. I must say that house visits to some extent have become opportunities for me to use more Mandarin.
But with younger voters you can get by with English.
Letter from an old classmate
Dear James,
I was your class mate between 1976 and 1980. I always saw the fire in your eyes in everything you did. But in those days you were more notorious then famous. I guess we all have our unique experience of growing up.
Now that I see you in politics and gearing up against the monolith called the PAP, it brings tears to my eyes that I knew you before you became this force to be reckoned with and am extremely proud of the fact that I was once your classmate.
I sincerely hope you will not only make a difference to this climate of fear but also make Singaporeans arrive at a destiny they can be truly proud of.
Your humble classmate,
Kumar.
Response:
Dear Kumar, I do what I can. The privilege and honour is really mine, James
How would you design community announcements?
If you are living or like me, walking the ground in Aljunied GRC, you would have probably seen one of these posters. Located prominently at the junction of Hougang Avenue 3 and Upper Serangoon road, you will see the poster below wishing all Hindu and Muslim residents in Aljunied GRC happy festivities for their upcoming public holidays. This poster carries the logo of the town concil and the CDC as well as the blown up potraits of the 5 PAP MPs.
If it was me, I would use this poster opportunity to showcase pictures of the community preparing for their respective holidays. And use that visual message to extend holiday greetings to the community. I would not place myself in pictures carrying the logo of the town council and CDC. And if I was working in a team, I would certainly persuade my colleagues to do the same.
How would you do it?
Academic Freedom? You tell me.
I recently had an academic article entitled "International NGOs: Filling the Gap in Singapore's Civil Society" published in a
special issue of SOJOURN, a journal brought out by the Instititute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore which I co-edited. In August 2005 before the article went to print, I was asked by its publication unit,
"Please ensure we do not get into trouble with the government over this article". This question was printed in red on the final proofs of my article and emailed to me as a PDF attachment.
The following was my reply by email on 25 August 2005, "This article was written as a scholarly review of the impact on International NGOs on civil society in Singapore. It has been peer reviewed by two refeeres who did not make any reference that it was anti-government in nature or unbalanced. Having said that, given the Singapore context, I can recommend the following lines be added to my bio. "James Gomez, founded the Think Centre in 1999 and was its first executive-director until 2001. He is presently a council member of the Worker's Party in Singapore." You dont have to add this if you think its not necessary. If there is any "trouble", as author, I take full responsibility for the contents. "
The article was published without changes to content and the lines I recommended be included in my bio data was not added.
So what is this? Academic freedom? Or is it something else. You tell me.
The $160 Million Dollar Question!
I was doing my usual walk-about this Saturday at Aljunied GRC and I spoke to this couple about the $160 million upgrading project for Aljunied GRC. I said it was a good thing as it was after all tax-payer's money.
If I had anything to do about it, I would ensure that a mechanism be created where the residents in that estate have a say in how that money is spent towards the things they want to see improved.
Of course, the $160 million dollar question would be asked quite a few more times before the next General Elections.
