Friday, April 16, 2010
Reasons Why Singapore Is A Terrible Country, Especially For Young Male Adults
Look at those garang soldiers
I lead a miserable existence as a conscript of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as do most my compatriots of eligible age and health. This state of despair was brought about by a combination of all that is Singapore. Indeed, I hate Singapore. I am filled with utter disdain and contempt for the politics, laws and people of this island nation. I believe that I am not alone in having such a stand, and I feel that it can be safely assumed that for most young Singaporean males with such a thinking the chief cause would be conscription.
In part, the hate for conscription stems from the government's arguments and brainwashing for it. The government claims that "National Service" is a duty to be fulfilled by all Singaporean males. Among the myriad of reasons given by the government, a small population size is oft-cited as a major reason for conscription. "A small army will be unable to defend the nation from invaders," is one such claim. I call hogwash on this, as we have another developed country within the same region with a much smaller army and no conscription. Australia has approximately 55000 active personnel for a population of 20 million. Singapore has 72000 active personnel, including 40000 conscripts for a population of 5 million (and that's including a quarter of the population: foreign talent). Furthermore, we have 300000 reservists ready to die for the country at any time, all fit and ready to do their part for Total Defence. This is certainly overkill for such a small country.
Looking at another country with a military position more precarious than ours, Taiwan is moving from a conscript army to an all-volunteer military force. Although China would surely crush Taiwan if they had too small an army should the two go to war, Taiwan still is reducing the role conscription plays in the defence of its nation. It currently has 290000 active personnel compared to the People's Liberation Army of 3 million. If the logic that a smaller army is equivalent to an undefended nation, why would Taiwan relegate conscription to a secondary role in its armed forces? Certainly different countries have different defence requirements, and Singapore cannot solely copy Taiwan, but surely this argument Singapore presents is flawed and has to be examined again.
At least we're better than some of our neighbours
Another major point for discontent is the limitations on freedom the life of a soldier entails. Most people in the army get posted to stay-in units, where they book out only for weekends, along with the occasional night out. It might not be in my position to say this, but that alone is a brutal blow to morale and motivation for most people. Your life is heavily curtailed - no quitting for fear of prison time, no moonlighting (not that you really could, being tired and tied down all the time) to substantiate the low basic rank pay of 400SGD, or "allowance" as the SAF calls it, and your working conditions are out of your control. Should you have terrible management by regulars in the SAF, you have little choice but to Lan Lan Suck Thumb, which basically means to "suck it up". Yet another blow for Singaporean males is the fact that once we enlist we will be two years behind females, who are able to obtain jobs earlier. Two years is a long time, and males will have lost out in the workplace simply because they are defending the nation against unforeseen threats.
I am baffled as to why the Government of Singapore continues to reinforce its stand on conscription. The recent RECORD V, or recommendations for National Service, did little to address the core questions regarding NS.
A smaller, full-regular army would be better trained, motivated, and effective than a conscript army for numerous reasons. The money saved from equipping and feeding conscripts could be channelled into fewer, but better trained regulars. Our army prides itself on using techology to reduce manpower needs, so this would play well into our strengths. A smaller army can also be more efficiently run, as there will be less overhead and logistical needs. The freed conscripts will be able to work on another pillar of Total Defence, such as Economic Defence through working.
Look at that impeccable wayang skill - he doesn't even have dummy rounds in his magazine
Of course, given the current political climate in Singapore this would be impossible to implement. The leaders are far too entrenched in their views and and budges could potentially be seen as signs of weakness. This calls for a compromise, and compromises can certainly be reached. I propose the following:
1. Reduce conscription period from the current 2 years to 1 year.
3 months of Basic Military Training, 3-6 months of further specialisation and 6-3 months of active service. This will preserve some of the... benefits the government sees in conscription, and makes conscription a better experience for Singaporeans. Less misery from active service, and more fun from training.
2. Remove mandatory Remedial Training for reservists.
To offset the potential drop in fitness level this might bring about, increase the monetary rewards for attaining a pass in IPPT, the fitness test for Singaporeans. Having the State control your time after you serve your years is simply cruel, and not required.
3. Reduce the number reservist cycles by half, from 10 cycles to 5 for all personnel.
I highly doubt 40-year old men can fight in the jungles of our neighbouring countries effectively. Additionally, their jobs will be as secure as comparable female citizens who do not have to undergo call-ups.
4. Tax cuts for all Singaporean males who have completed their conscription.
Reduces brain drain and is a form of compensation for the terrible, terrible "allowance" of conscripts.
5. Increase the pay for regulars.
Entices more people to sign on - and stay on, and this better motivates them. Money saved from cutting conscription can be channelled to regulars.
6. Downsize the Armed Forces.
As a natural consequence of reducing the importance of conscription.
7. Have females undergo short training sessions which last shorter than a week.
Have them trained in basic emergency responses. This furthers the dogma of Total Defence.
8. Be more flexible with deferment and disruptions for study.
A man's future should not be taken away from him by the state through conscription. "Does the mind of a man belong to himself? 'No,' says the man in white, 'it belongs to the Government.'"
9. Prepare a roadmap for the eventual elimination of conscription.
This is the ultimate goal, and like most things, will take time to achieve.
I am horrified at what I have seen in the SAF thus far, and I might even dare to say that I am grateful to it of putting up the magnificent display of what Singapore truly is. Malingering, law-breaking, backstabbing, menial work and work-pushing are rife in this particular organisation. Perhaps you must wayang, chao keng, backstab, ninja and arrow in today's sai-kang-filled society, and perhaps NS has given me an edge over other people in educating me on how miserable a place Singapore is. Hell, Bangladeshi foreign talent in the construction sector earn more than five times what I earn a month, and we even have to do their work for them. Singapore, you have created a wound by drafting me, and decided to let it fester through the following two years. My feelings for you have been hurt, irreversibly.
Dearest Censors: I'm just kidding, I surrendered my soul to the nation years ago.
FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Look at those garang soldiersI lead a miserable existence as a conscript of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as do most my compatriots of eligible age and health. This state of despair was brought about by a combination of all that is Singapore. Indeed, I hate Singapore. I am filled with utter disdain and contempt for the politics, laws and people of this island nation. I believe that I am not alone in having such a stand, and I feel that it can be safely assumed that for most young Singaporean males with such a thinking the chief cause would be conscription.
In part, the hate for conscription stems from the government's arguments and brainwashing for it. The government claims that "National Service" is a duty to be fulfilled by all Singaporean males. Among the myriad of reasons given by the government, a small population size is oft-cited as a major reason for conscription. "A small army will be unable to defend the nation from invaders," is one such claim. I call hogwash on this, as we have another developed country within the same region with a much smaller army and no conscription. Australia has approximately 55000 active personnel for a population of 20 million. Singapore has 72000 active personnel, including 40000 conscripts for a population of 5 million (and that's including a quarter of the population: foreign talent). Furthermore, we have 300000 reservists ready to die for the country at any time, all fit and ready to do their part for Total Defence. This is certainly overkill for such a small country.
Looking at another country with a military position more precarious than ours, Taiwan is moving from a conscript army to an all-volunteer military force. Although China would surely crush Taiwan if they had too small an army should the two go to war, Taiwan still is reducing the role conscription plays in the defence of its nation. It currently has 290000 active personnel compared to the People's Liberation Army of 3 million. If the logic that a smaller army is equivalent to an undefended nation, why would Taiwan relegate conscription to a secondary role in its armed forces? Certainly different countries have different defence requirements, and Singapore cannot solely copy Taiwan, but surely this argument Singapore presents is flawed and has to be examined again.
At least we're better than some of our neighbours Another major point for discontent is the limitations on freedom the life of a soldier entails. Most people in the army get posted to stay-in units, where they book out only for weekends, along with the occasional night out. It might not be in my position to say this, but that alone is a brutal blow to morale and motivation for most people. Your life is heavily curtailed - no quitting for fear of prison time, no moonlighting (not that you really could, being tired and tied down all the time) to substantiate the low basic rank pay of 400SGD, or "allowance" as the SAF calls it, and your working conditions are out of your control. Should you have terrible management by regulars in the SAF, you have little choice but to Lan Lan Suck Thumb, which basically means to "suck it up". Yet another blow for Singaporean males is the fact that once we enlist we will be two years behind females, who are able to obtain jobs earlier. Two years is a long time, and males will have lost out in the workplace simply because they are defending the nation against unforeseen threats.
I am baffled as to why the Government of Singapore continues to reinforce its stand on conscription. The recent RECORD V, or recommendations for National Service, did little to address the core questions regarding NS.
A smaller, full-regular army would be better trained, motivated, and effective than a conscript army for numerous reasons. The money saved from equipping and feeding conscripts could be channelled into fewer, but better trained regulars. Our army prides itself on using techology to reduce manpower needs, so this would play well into our strengths. A smaller army can also be more efficiently run, as there will be less overhead and logistical needs. The freed conscripts will be able to work on another pillar of Total Defence, such as Economic Defence through working.
Look at that impeccable wayang skill - he doesn't even have dummy rounds in his magazineOf course, given the current political climate in Singapore this would be impossible to implement. The leaders are far too entrenched in their views and and budges could potentially be seen as signs of weakness. This calls for a compromise, and compromises can certainly be reached. I propose the following:
1. Reduce conscription period from the current 2 years to 1 year.
3 months of Basic Military Training, 3-6 months of further specialisation and 6-3 months of active service. This will preserve some of the... benefits the government sees in conscription, and makes conscription a better experience for Singaporeans. Less misery from active service, and more fun from training.
2. Remove mandatory Remedial Training for reservists.
To offset the potential drop in fitness level this might bring about, increase the monetary rewards for attaining a pass in IPPT, the fitness test for Singaporeans. Having the State control your time after you serve your years is simply cruel, and not required.
3. Reduce the number reservist cycles by half, from 10 cycles to 5 for all personnel.
I highly doubt 40-year old men can fight in the jungles of our neighbouring countries effectively. Additionally, their jobs will be as secure as comparable female citizens who do not have to undergo call-ups.
4. Tax cuts for all Singaporean males who have completed their conscription.
Reduces brain drain and is a form of compensation for the terrible, terrible "allowance" of conscripts.
5. Increase the pay for regulars.
Entices more people to sign on - and stay on, and this better motivates them. Money saved from cutting conscription can be channelled to regulars.
6. Downsize the Armed Forces.
As a natural consequence of reducing the importance of conscription.
7. Have females undergo short training sessions which last shorter than a week.
Have them trained in basic emergency responses. This furthers the dogma of Total Defence.
8. Be more flexible with deferment and disruptions for study.
A man's future should not be taken away from him by the state through conscription. "Does the mind of a man belong to himself? 'No,' says the man in white, 'it belongs to the Government.'"
9. Prepare a roadmap for the eventual elimination of conscription.
This is the ultimate goal, and like most things, will take time to achieve.
I am horrified at what I have seen in the SAF thus far, and I might even dare to say that I am grateful to it of putting up the magnificent display of what Singapore truly is. Malingering, law-breaking, backstabbing, menial work and work-pushing are rife in this particular organisation. Perhaps you must wayang, chao keng, backstab, ninja and arrow in today's sai-kang-filled society, and perhaps NS has given me an edge over other people in educating me on how miserable a place Singapore is. Hell, Bangladeshi foreign talent in the construction sector earn more than five times what I earn a month, and we even have to do their work for them. Singapore, you have created a wound by drafting me, and decided to let it fester through the following two years. My feelings for you have been hurt, irreversibly.
Dearest Censors: I'm just kidding, I surrendered my soul to the nation years ago.
FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Labels: GO SINGAPORE, obviously nobody visits this site so I should be safe, Singapore Acting Foundation