Social recession

Money alone cannot fix 'social deficits'

Editorial, The Straits Times, 8 Mar 2012

JUST as an economic recession destroys capital, jobs and livelihoods, a social recession undermines empathy, solidarity and humanity - qualities necessary to sustain inclusive and cohesive societies. A reference to recession in relation to community engagement, a concept associated with social psychologist David Myers, might not be in tune with the fiscal matters discussed during Budget debates in Parliament. But it is pertinent to a broader concern relating to the perception of the current buzzword - inclusiveness.

To be sure, new NMP Laurence Lien raised this issue dramatically when he suggested that Singapore was indeed in a social recession. He and other MPs in Parliament last week took up recurring social themes - fading resilience, loosening family bonds, the loss of a shared identity, community cohesiveness, and the emergence of a what's-in-it- for-me? mentality. To hear of an epidemic of narcissism and self-entitlement here, one can be forgiven for thinking that Singapore is indeed in the throes of a social recession.

However, that would be inflating things. When British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of Britain's 'social recession' two years ago, it was in relation to rising violent crime that drew widespread attention. The issues voiced by MPs in Singapore are weaknesses that many urban societies are afflicted with in varying degrees. So while MPs pointed out the weeds, it is worth noting too that there are also green shoots, with agencies and grassroots groups pushing forward with programmes to address social ills.

A sense of perspective is vital, not least since social deficits are not amenable to any quick fix, and require sustained effort by all, not just the authorities. One drawback of associating inclusiveness with the Budget is the danger that many might conclude that achieving such a society is mostly about allocating sufficient funds to take care of the less well-off, the aged and the disabled. Material benefits for them are important, of course. But money alone will never be enough to bridge the gulf between the haves and have-nots. Unlike budget deficits, social deficits cannot be erased by rebalancing accounts. And poor social attitudes cannot be legislated out of existence.

Ultimately, the answer lies in Singaporeans themselves. Attitudes towards older workers, the aged, the disabled, underperforming children, and foreign workers living in our midst must mature, so more will view Singapore society as a single eco-system. In this system, people who are somehow 'different' are not shunned, but included in every sense, in neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces. Strength lies in such inclusiveness.

Nominated MP Laurence Lien believes Singapore is in a social recession

xin.msn, 29 Feb 2012

Nominated MP Laurence Lien says he believes Singapore is in a social recession. 

In his debut parliament speech, Mr Lien says being an inclusive society is something Singaporeans must want first.

Otherwise the social policies and programmes implemented by the government would be futile.

"You can give the Silver Housing Bonus to seniors, but other residents may reject the building of studio apartments and services for seniors in their midst. You can give the Special Employment Credit, but employers may refuse to hire and fit jobs to suit the disabled and senior workers.

We should establish a basket of social indicators that we track each year to measure the social health of the country. This social health index would be the social sector's equivalent of the GDP indicator for the economy. We should convene a Social Review Committee to create a new shared vision and new social compact, which were missing from Budget 2012."

This effort must be both government and community driven.

And he added that the exercise needs to be co-led by the government and civil society - at all levels, including at the Steering Committee.

He said that there should also be social dialogue groups with public, private and public sector representatives with equal status having deep discussions on a variety of social issues and reviewing fundamental current assumptions.

Secondly, the dialogue environment must be safe. He stressed that the government must be prepared to be transparent and participants must be able to share freely and have equal access to data and information.

Thirdly, the committee should evolve into a permanent platform, or even a movement. This gives social partners a continued platform to co-create with the State, and the Government a way to harness the energies of the community.

He also feels that the government needs to put more power back into the people both into designing their future and taking charge of what affects their everyday lives.

These include how to design their neighbourhoods, use common spaces, site facilities, and restrict noise levels and other negative externalities. We should devolve power to the communities and grassroots, away from the more centralised methods of today.

And with the rising inflation, he called for new strategies to keep costs down so that people can get by and young couples find it less challenging to get married and start a family.

A step in right direction but still in 'social recession'
To build an inclusive society, Govt and S'poreans need to do more: MPs
by Teo Xuanwei, TODAY, 1 Mar 2012

Even as Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang praised the "pro-people" Budget which reflected a "major shift" in the Government's mindset - a change he attributed to the results of last May's General Election - others in the House felt more can be done to build an inclusive society, with new Nominated Member of Parliament Laurence Lien describing Singapore as being in a "social recession".

Speaking in Mandarin, Mr Low, who is MP for Aljunied GRC, felt that the Government has identified the problems in the areas of basic social welfare and healthcare and had also taken a big step - through its Budget measures - towards having a "social safety net of a First World country".

Still, Mr Lien, who is chief executive of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, noted that recent signs show that "we are still not an inclusive society".

"In fact, I believe we are in a social recession," said Mr Lien, citing the "weakening of individual resilience, the loosening of family bonds and a decline in community cohesiveness".

To build an inclusive society, there needs to be a "new social compact", where the community has the capability and power to do more for "mutual problem-solving and mutual self-help", Mr Lien said.

Calling for the setting up of a "social review committee" - as well as a basket of social indicators to assess the "social health" of the country - Mr Lien called for a "fundamental rethink" of social policies.

He said: "The Government's reflex reaction is that strong safety nets erode economic incentives, undermine competitiveness, are unsustainable and increase moral hazard."

Reiterating that it is a "matter of balance", Mr Lien said: "We need a more radical review, and not merely build on current policies and programme."

Echoing Mr Lien's call for citizens to be engaged in tackling the challenges and opportunities, Minister of State (Health) Amy Khor pointed out: "Building and being an inclusive society does not just mean the Government singularly putting in place policies to redistribute resources to help the vulnerable."

Dr Khor, who also chairs the Government feedback portal REACH, added: "It is also as much about individuals wanting to be helped and to help themselves, families bearing responsibility and the community coming forward to lend a helping hand. Everyone must chip in and do their part."

In other words, a "social partnership that leverages off the strengths of each party - the Government's resources, the community's local networks, the neighbour's alertness to specific people in need", Dr Khor said.

WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY DO WE WANT? MP ASKS

While the Budget has been lauded for its initiatives to help the elderly, the disabled and the low income, the needs of some segments of the population were not addressed, some MPs noted.

For instance, Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Intan Mokhtar cited how low-income earners who married foreigners have found it difficult to obtain Permanent Resident status for them, hence posing a challenge in "keeping the family together, both physically and financially".

Marine Parade GRC MP Fatimah Lateef noted that some "tweaking" could be necessary, in seeing to the needs of single parent families, divorced and widowed women, and women who bore children out of wedlock.

The widening income gap and its impact also came under the spotlight: Dr Khor pointed out that despite more public funds being pumped toward social development, the "gaps have not closed". This points to "deepening and chronic income divisions that need urgent attention", she said.

Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng, however, noted that it comes to a point where Singapore has to ask itself how much income inequality it is prepared to accept.

"How much more government transfers each year are we prepared to make to close the gap? Where will the money come from?" she wondered.

The country also has to forge a consensus on what kind of society Singaporeans want because this will underpin the social compact between the Government and its people, said Ms Ng. The robust opposition to the building of eldercare centres at HDB void decks, for instance, show that this consensus is missing, she said.