The ideas held by many, the government must do more. We elect them do the minimum wage, tax the rich, because that benefits the poor. Legislate more through manipulation of the employment act, employment insurance schemes- are all myths.
Myths, I might add are like an air mattress. They are comfortable for many purposes until they get deflated. Then you get a jolt.
When things go bad there's always a shift from reliance of individual responsibility to collective responsibility. From self-reliance to depending on big brother and ward keeper.
I doubt very much taxing the rich will benefit the poor. What we feel is different from reality. Let me illustrate.
Take for example politics.who dominate the sphere? Hardly the poor. The very rich may have a few reps but the bulk is from the middle income group.
The poor are on the side lines. They are there in the first place because the have lesser talent, lesser entrepreneurial skills are unfortunate to be born handicap or are in groups discriminated against.
From the very rich I could get money, so it's worthwhile to sacrifice a few seats from the middle income group. What can I get from the lower income group?
I may feel empathy for them, but the reality is what it is. The middle income looks after their own.
So if they look after their interests can we rely on big brother? I submit, no.
The very poor may get crumbs but the middle income get the meat.
There is no good relying on big brother. It only gives them an excuse to impose their bureaucracy and cause havoc through their ubiquitous corruption.
I used to think why Malays remain poor despite Malays dominating government instrument from ketua kampungs to kings? Big brother doesn't help. But that's part of the answer.
The other part is to give big brother an excuse to become little Napoleons and impose corruption!
If Everyman were allowed to pursue their own interest the good of society is furthered. Adam Smith said that. A long time ago.
But we cannot trust the free market. The free marketeers are profit driven. They are rapacious people. So trust the government.
I have shown what trusting big brother entails to.
So what to do? First of course existing facilities must be managed better. Health facilities rubbish disposal clean water supply electricity etc.
Development policies must be skewed towards rural areas. Don't focus on workers only. The café latte socialists and Gucci communists talked about them. They are hardly the poor. The poor are in the kampungs.
Bank Negara must tell commercial banks to provide cheap loans to kampung people. Lower interest loans must be provided to kampung people. Commercial banks should establish coffee shop bank branches in kampungs.
Housing loans should be provided at zero interests. Applicants consisting of women should be encouraged.
Facilities at pasar malam should be upgraded. Build permanent premises with rubbish collection facilities and cold room facilities.
Direct income transfers should be made to the very poor. These are the miskin tegar who are worse off than the organised workers who are defended by well-intentioned do-gooders.
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