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Originally posted by ollncasino
Originally posted by Maslo
I think the problem of low birthrates is way overblown anyway. In a country like Singapore they have more than enough resources to take care of an excess of old people. In fact, a growing population puts a lot more more strain on economy than a shrinking one. What difference does it make if Singapore will have 3 or 6 million people? None, what is important is that they have good living standards per capita.
As long as a society is rich, then capital can replace people.
That is as long as the capital has been invested for the future rather than spent today by the government in a giant ponzi scheme. Sadly, most governments don't invests pension contributions for the future but rather squander them today. I'm not sure what the Singapore government has done.
Another issue is that the current banking system is set up in such a way that it collapses if growth is not perpetual. Essentially, an amount of new borrowing equal to the interest payments on existing borrowing must occur each year or the system collapses.
Thank the bankers and quite possibly the Singapore government for the need for population and economic growth to be perpetual.
Of course, ultimately it can't be...
edit on 17-2-2013 by ollncasino because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Noobastronomer
Originally posted by ollncasino
Originally posted by muse7
Seems pretty childish to me. No one should have the right to tell another human being where they can and cannot go in this world.
In that case, I'll be right round to live in your house. I hope your wife doesn't mind me sharing your bed with the two of you.
Occupying a certain area of land on Earth is entirely different from Choosing who you live with in that private space of yours ....Not a fair argument really
Originally posted by Noobastronomer
Occupying a certain area of land on Earth is entirely different from Choosing who you live with in that private space of yours ....Not a fair argument really
Originally posted by Noobastronomer
Originally posted by ollncasino
Originally posted by muse7
Seems pretty childish to me. No one should have the right to tell another human being where they can and cannot go in this world.
In that case, I'll be right round to live in your house. I hope your wife doesn't mind me sharing your bed with the two of you.
Occupying a certain area of land on Earth is entirely different from Choosing who you live with in that private space of yours ....Not a fair argument really
Originally posted by ollncasino
The problem is that Singapore has one of the lowest birthrates in the world.
On average, a women needs to have about 2.1 to 2.2 children each to maintain the population.
Singapore currently has a birthrate of 1.15 children per women. It's population will half in one generation.
Singaporean women can either start having at least 3 children each (instead of 1) or allow massive immigration.
Otherwise Singapore will economically collapse.
Originally posted by ollncasino
Originally posted by Noobastronomer
Occupying a certain area of land on Earth is entirely different from Choosing who you live with in that private space of yours ....Not a fair argument really
So people have the right to go anywhere in the world they choose?
Just not where you are living?
edit on 17-2-2013 by ollncasino because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by SeekerofTruth101
Singapore is a tiny island state, about half the size of hongkong which has a densely packed population of 7 million today. Singapore plans to have 7 million within that small island? Insane.
Singapore is not USA, China, Africa or Australia with a HUGE landmass that easily accomodate billions of immigrants and everyone well fed if resources are used and managed wisely. Singapore has no mineral resource, only a well placed geological position in the world, the centre for trade, finance and tourism with its intelligent and secular workforce.
Immigration and cheap foreign labour is never an answer to economics. Economics do not stand alone by itself and is only a contributing factor to the building of a nation.
Slavery was outlawed for both economic and social reasons, as the costs were high. Immigration and cheap foreign labour is nothing more than legalized slavery and much worse off, as at least slaves have their lodging and food taken care of. Immigration and cheap foreign labour only impoverise eveyone, including the citizens whom will be out of job or have low wages to compete against rising inflation and property prices. Only the rich will get richer from slavery while everyone else suffers.
Better the economic policies rely heavily on well trained local labour with better productivity through intelligent use of technology in value add services and manufacturing output, which will give better wages to build up a strong, reliable and loyal supporting middle class.
GDP growth figures are great. But if the citizens are discontented, the GDP figures can easily go south in a flash, as Libya, Tunisia and Egypt found out. And packing 7 million into that dense small space with strangers competting and reacting with one another is gonna cause a heck lotta social discontent, with blame falling squarely on the state administrators.
Originally posted by NeoVain
Why is it not a good thing if they actually get a smaller population naturally by having 1.15 children for each woman? Why is constant neverending growth always better?
Is it not true that automation and computers today make less people needed as workers?
In any country with underemployment, a lesser population would balance things out not only by getting a higher employment rate but also having a lesser drain on the taxes from the wellfare systems, freeing up more funds to be used in a more efficient manner. So why is this a bad thing again?
Surely even you must see that there is a point where any further population increase is undesirable. Where would you draw this line?
Originally posted by wisdomnotemotion
Originally posted by SeekerofTruth101
Singapore is a tiny island state, about half the size of hongkong which has a densely packed population of 7 million today. Singapore plans to have 7 million within that small island? Insane.
Singapore is not USA, China, Africa or Australia with a HUGE landmass that easily accomodate billions of immigrants and everyone well fed if resources are used and managed wisely. Singapore has no mineral resource, only a well placed geological position in the world, the centre for trade, finance and tourism with its intelligent and secular workforce.
Immigration and cheap foreign labour is never an answer to economics. Economics do not stand alone by itself and is only a contributing factor to the building of a nation.
Slavery was outlawed for both economic and social reasons, as the costs were high. Immigration and cheap foreign labour is nothing more than legalized slavery and much worse off, as at least slaves have their lodging and food taken care of. Immigration and cheap foreign labour only impoverise eveyone, including the citizens whom will be out of job or have low wages to compete against rising inflation and property prices. Only the rich will get richer from slavery while everyone else suffers.
Better the economic policies rely heavily on well trained local labour with better productivity through intelligent use of technology in value add services and manufacturing output, which will give better wages to build up a strong, reliable and loyal supporting middle class.
GDP growth figures are great. But if the citizens are discontented, the GDP figures can easily go south in a flash, as Libya, Tunisia and Egypt found out. And packing 7 million into that dense small space with strangers competting and reacting with one another is gonna cause a heck lotta social discontent, with blame falling squarely on the state administrators.
I thank you so much for understanding the pain and cries of local Singaporeans. As I speak, my close buddy (in his 30s) has been jobless for many years.
Our leaders remain super rich (the richest in the world), while the locals in Singapore trying to survive so hard. How long will this go on?
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand too have low birth rates.
But their government didn't dump in 50% foreigners and immigrants.
That just shows how xenophobia is downright stupid and misguided.