Looking For LaLaLand… said:

First, the minister defended the principal effectively asking the students to lower their goals (go to ITE ) and in the next breath he urges teachers to “set high goals” for their students and “help them achieve these goals”.

So, what exactly was the minister saying?

Sadly, this is another instance of the tiresome “pragmatism” which government leaders are promoting – from the very top right down to the rank and file. “Be realistic! If you can’t make it or know that you can’t make it, don’t try so hard! Take the lesser road. You’re not cut out for the high road, buddy!”

And for goodness’ sake, realize this at the beginning of the new school term! You’re doomed! ITE awaits you!

Recommended by at82: "Is this another case of the Principle not wanting weaker students to pull down their ranking?"

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youngrepublic said:

S$3.1 million = £1.04 million = US$2.048 million.

That's right, he's going to be paid that much. The rest of the government's getting hefty pay rises too.

Invite as many Singaporeans as you can! We can't stop them giving themselves a peanut's raise, but they can't do anything to us just because we're expressing our annoyance at this...

Recommended by at82: "If you are pissed too, join the group!"

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Shawn W Crispin said:

At the same time, Singapore's lower- and middle-class taxpayers, who directly and indirectly shoulder the tax burden, now face a stagnant or declining standard of living - a hard economic fact that even official government statistics have recently acknowledged. The PAP-led government, for its part, maintains it must pay high salaries to attract top-notch talent and curb official corruption. But the final verdict on that correlation will not be known until the PAP is eventually removed from power at the ballot box and the national accounts are independently scrutinized.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Here an insightful article about how the PAP government's policies have resulted in an unhealthy economy riddled with structural weaknesses. The irony is that these shoot-yourself-in-the-foot policies are undertaken at the expense of lowering the standards of living for most Singaporeans --- with hidden taxes that impoverish the middle- and lower-class."

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Insane Polygons said:

I don’t want to hear anymore about your justifications and rationalisations. Obviously you guys have no intention of listening to any of the people, so why should we the people listen to you. As someone once said, this has ceased to be a conversation. You tells us what you want and you go ahead and do it whether we the people like it or not. So what’s there to say. So shut the fuck up and enjoy your riches. Just don’t tell me you are doing this for my own good or for the good of the country.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Sums up perfectly how we all feel about this whole ministers' salary increase saga - the incessant propaganda from the various gahmen controlled media, the total disregard for how the people feels, the complete disconnect from the non-elites, the wayang Parliamentary 'debate' when it should just be an announcement since they are not going to change anything no matter what anyone says."

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elaina olivia chong said:

The life of a Minister is not attractive. How many are willing to sacrifice every evening either at Meet the People Sessions, chairing Review Committees and carrying another baby in a HDB kopitiam even on precious weekends?

A platoon with the acumen of Bill Gates, risk appetite of George Soros and the heart of Mother Theresa, I would think. And the compensation? Priceless. Haven’t we all heard this all too often, “Pay Peanuts Get Monkeys".

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Peg ministers' salaries to top professionals where got enough?! Must peg to Bill Gates and George Soros then enough!"

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