I've no business in politics

I simply don't understand how the great minds of politics work. And I totally lack any diplomatic overtones and savvy networking skills. The latter, I got to get a handle on. I'm in sales now, damnit.

Anyway, the hot news today is that Hillary conceded to Obama. And there's suggestions in almost every news outlet that suggests she hopes Obama would make her his running mate?

Seriously, I can't even get a colleague I can't get along with to willingly shake my hand after a confrontation and resolution with the boss. So how can someone who has played such a nasty game of backstabbing campaign hope that she would be selected as VP? The gall.

This was an opponent who took every opportunity to put him down for his lack of experience, and now she wants a part of his campaign?

Is this how the big boys and girls play the game? Am I so innocent to hope hat one day, there'll be decent public servants who are in this for the country and not themselves? Was there ever a simpler, more honest time in politics anyway, ever? Geez, I'm so naive.

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Patrick: If you think it's bad now, imagine what it must have been like before 1804, when the Vice President's office went to the person who got the second most votes for president. Poor John Adams had to put up with having as a VP Thomas Jefferson, a man from an opposing party who, as we all know, would go on to follow him and become the country's third president.

It's been said that on many levels, Hillary and Obama have more in common than they do differences. If they can just remember that, then it should be possible for them to put aside their personal distastes. WEll, one can dream, anyway....

Christina: Nope, unfortunately there was never a simpler more honest time, at least in this country.

The stupid thing that nobody seems to realize is it doesn't matter whether we elect Obama, McCain or Zippy the Pinhead to be president. Even the Apostle Paul couldn't get things done in this country if and when there is an opposition party in control of Congress. Look how little the Democratic majority Congress has gotten done.

We really need more than one party in this country. But that's not going to happen in our lifetimes. I also doubt I'll ever see a woman president.

Jeremy: I'm beginning to think a bloody insurrection might be the only way to change, but that's usually when I haven't had my coffee in the morning. :P

It is not the first time I ran into foreign-speaking serviceworkers. And I certainly am guilty of lapsing into my Mandarin with friends when I want to keep my casual conversations exclusive to my select audience.

But this morning, the reality finally hits me that it is extremely disrespectful when you are working in a country whose primary language is English, you don't speak English. Likewise, if I were in China, I would expect my serviceworkes to speak Mandarin to one another; or Singapore, Singlish (yes, my American friends, we concocted a slang in Singapore called the Singlish. It's really a hoot to be engaging in that with my Singapore expats and family.)

I was in Micky Ds getting its run-and-go breakfast and as I waited, the cashier was speaking Spanish to her trainee and via the microphone on separate occasions. Suddenly, I felt like I was in a strange land. Transported even. And I began to panic at the prospect of future America, where Spanish becomes the primary language, what with all the mass migration (legal and illegal) and the mentality that we all better start learning Spanish to compete with the economy. Of course, I am also miffed at the influx of ATMs and touch-tone operations providing Spanish as an option.

Can you imagine countries in Europe and Asia expecting their citizens to learn a particular foreign language just because their land is slowly being populated by a different racial group? France by Algerians, Canada by Asians, Singapore by migrant workers from all over the world.

Now, I am all for learning different languages. There certainly is merit in that - Singaporeans know that from birth since we have been living in diversity, not adversity, all our lives. But in no way, did we ever thought of ceding our primary language, which is English, to another language just because there are increasingly more of them in our country now. In fact, you can expect diversity in our signage, public announcements, and commercials to cater to the primary racial groups.

Here, in the States, when you call an automated line, read a brochure (save manuals), or go to the ATM, you gotta to wonder where is the Vietnamese, the Korean, the Mandarin, the Tamil. Afterall, where I am now, in Chicagoland, there are a fair share of these other races' services.

I am annoyed at the liberties we are giving the Hispanics who refuse to abide by the standards of the country they are residing in. Worse yet, I am no in position to change the system.
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Patrick: Here in New York, there are entire areas of the city (and even pockets of the suburbs) where English is the second language. It's disorienting as hell when you're there (I know, I had to write a profile of the Latino-heavy Jackson Heights), but I've never thought of it as being disrespectful. If you want to succeed in business beyond your little ethnic pocket, you have to speak English, period. If not, that's your perogative too. As for the liberties we "give" to Hispanics via automated lines and such, I'm sorry, but you're out numbered. Latinos are now a bigger minority than even blacks, and there's strength in numbers.

I wouldn't worry about Spanish ever becoming the primary language of the U.S. English is the language of business all around the world, and as we all know, money talks.

Bob: Maybe Singapore NOW isn't Singapore that you knew then. Singapore is now a country full of migrant workers who earn more than locals. Foreign talent as they are called here are given first class privilege wherever they go in Singapore.

Road signs, MRT signs are now in Chinese and Tamil, to cater to the Chinese and Indians here.

Foreign talents are given jobs ahead of Singaporeans and no effort is spared in making Singaporeans KNOW their place in Singapore.

Retailers give Foreign talents (not the ang moh only now), first class service, because most service workers are foreigners anyway. They disdain serving locals.

Gone are the days where indian and chinese immigrants are cleaners, construction workers and prostitutes.

Now 60, 70 year olds clean up after foreigners and locals.

Indian and Chinese migrants are now programmers, bankers, economists, accountants, lawyers, doctors, engineers...etc.

A 26 year old local gets paid maybe $3,000 because he has only 2 years of working experience as he serves his country for 2 years. A similar foreigner would be earning at least DOUBLE that.

Most of the new private condominiums in Singapore are bought by foreigners.

Landed property previously exclusive to locals are now available to be bought by foreigners too.

Also, Singapore's first language is MALAY.

Locals here speak dialect. Mandarin is an official chinese language.

English is / was NEVER the primary language.

As foreigners find it hard to communicate with locals, they substitute locals at their work place with their own countrymen. This will eradicate the problem of mis-communication.

English spoken by an Indian national is different in accent and in "presentation". It is easy to mis-interprete an Indian's words.

I also disagree that English is the language of business and therefore English will "rule".

In China, if you can't speak Chinese, you can forget about doing business in China.

English is the main medium for communication especially on the internet, that I do agree. But we have to understand that as businessmen, language is an easy barrier to overcome.

Singapore has lost its edge in the international business world, because, English is no longer a "premium" language spoken by yellow coloured people.

Singaporeans are now regarded as pariahs. Because they are neither fluent in English nor in Mandarin. Singaporeans are also lacking in knowing the culture of the west and east. No matter how well versed one is in Chinese studies and English literature and history, there is nothing more important than in-depth knowledge of a culture.

Singaporeans are spiritless and cultureless beings created by the government to be drones working in factories, to be never heard and be counted. Thus, Singapore is paying the price for it.

For my take on the American situation, it is just a simple business decision to tap on the "spanish" dollar. There is nothing sinister or unnerving about it.

Me: I disagree English WAS never the primary language. Granted, there's been a lot of Mandarin and Hokkien spoken alongside but at least in school, English and second languages are stressed. And you always can find someone who's able to speak English, no matter how mangled. But you've eben lviing there all your life and is better versed in the current state than I am. And is the condition really that depressing and second-class to our natives? You gotta wonder if the government has given up on reeling back the braindrain they were so afraid of.

Bob: Brain drain is NO LONGER an issue in Singapore. Yearly, they grant citizenships (thousands of them) and hundred of thousands of PR (Permanent residents). Do not believe me?

Singapore's population today is about 4.5M, only 2-3M are locals. What the government does now is to merge the PR and Citizens stats together to mask any "problem" areas like unemployment, wage levels...etc.

Our government is efficient and has countered lack of new babies and brain drain by importing "talents" from abroad.

Recent survey shows that foreigners will never give up their citizenships for a Singapore pink IC. That goes for the Chinese, Indians, Malaysians...etc. But they will continue to "milk" Singapore for what it is worth.

Our government now consist of numerous "foreign talents".

In fact in parliament, we have a couple of ex-Malaysian, ex-Indoneisan MPs and one NMP who is I believe Indian. Our policies have therefore NOT strangely been skewed towards making foreign talents "special" in Singapore.

Like I said, Mark would NOT have ANY problems getting a top job in Singapore.

This is the toned down version as it is a national day speech.

You can read more here: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/s2006/english5.htm

But you get the whole picture.

Illegal immigrants Part 2

A bit of insight and education about this immigration situation that's getting kids leaving classrooms to demonstrate and Congress being more bipartisan than ever.

Lou Dobbs Tonight (CNN) has been in Cancun covering the Presidential Immigration Summit that had Bush, Vincente Fox and the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper participating. I have been following his coverage as I find him representing the middle class voice that is largely ignored by this vote-pandering government.

Here are some highlights from what I had observed from Lou Dobbs and also from Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room:

1. While the illegal immigrants that have been in the news are largely that of the Mexicans, the group of criminals also include those from Asia, Europe and other countries. The reason Mexicans are prominently the focus is because they make up the largest groups.

2. Vincente Fox adopts a double standard when it comes to the immigration issue. Fox, the Mexican president who BTW will be ending his term in 8 months, has closed HIS COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN BORDER to the illegal immigrants from the Central American countries. However, he is insisting that his countrymen, a la the illegals, have the right to cross MEXICO'S NORTHERN BORDER to the United States of America.Why? Because he has failed to create jobs for his people. No, he did not offer that reason himself. That would be admitting he hasn't delivered on his campaign promise. Rather, that fact was provided by a Univision (the Hispanic TV) representative in The Situation Room, a show hosted by Wolf Blitzer. The show follows Lou Dobbs Tonight.

3. Fox has a major role in dictating U.S. policies AND encouraging illegals heading to U.S.A. And it is obvious in Bush's podium speech at the summit when he told Fox he appreciated his "help." Transcript: Fox's newfound cooperation is not likely to have much impact, especially now that hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and open borders advocates are now waving Mexican flags in demonstrations on American soil. And Fox is still refusing to do anything to stop the millions of illegal aliens who gather along Mexican border towns that are staging areas for illegal crossings, saying he won't restrict the freedom of movement of Mexican citizens. Despite that, President Bush thanked President Fox for his efforts.

4. L.A. has day centers where illegals gather to seek jobs. It is run by the local government. Daily, employers will select these illegals to perform the day's labor at low cost. They do not have to show any identification and the employers do not ask for them. The greatest shock in this scenario is that the local government sanctions it.

Read Lou Dobbs' transcipt from March 31, Friday: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/31/ldt.01.html

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Christina's response: It is so hypocritical for Fox to have the southern border closed yet scream when we want to close OUR Southern border. And it is also a known fact that Mexicans while frequently yelling about immigration policies being discriminatory are also in turn VERY discriminatory to Hondurans and Guatemalans who enter their country or compete for labor with them here in the U.S. This whole situation is so full of double standards it makes me want to scream. I agree with you that Lou Dobbs has some of the best coverage. If you get a chance also catch the Lehrer news hour on PBS if you can for some very good discussions about this, and The Economist out of London has written some excellent essays!

Illegal immigrants Part 2

A bit of insight and education about this immigration situation that's getting kids leaving classrooms to demonstrate and Congress being more bipartisan than ever.

Lou Dobbs Tonight (CNN) has been in Cancun covering the Presidential Immigration Summit that had Bush, Vincente Fox and the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper participating. I have been following his coverage as I find him representing the middle class voice that is largely ignored by this vote-pandering government.

Here are some highlights from what I had observed from Lou Dobbs and also from Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room:

1. While the illegal immigrants that have been in the news are largely that of the Mexicans, the group of criminals also include those from Asia, Europe and other countries. The reason Mexicans are prominently the focus is because they make up the largest groups.

2. Vincente Fox adopts a double standard when it comes to the immigration issue. Fox, the Mexican president who BTW will be ending his term in 8 months, has closed HIS COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN BORDER to the illegal immigrants from the Central American countries. However, he is insisting that his countrymen, a la the illegals, have the right to cross MEXICO'S NORTHERN BORDER to the United States of America.Why? Because he has failed to create jobs for his people. No, he did not offer that reason himself. That would be admitting he hasn't delivered on his campaign promise. Rather, that fact was provided by a Univision (the Hispanic TV) representative in The Situation Room, a show hosted by Wolf Blitzer. The show follows Lou Dobbs Tonight.

3. Fox has a major role in dictating U.S. policies AND encouraging illegals heading to U.S.A. And it is obvious in Bush's podium speech at the summit when he told Fox he appreciated his "help." Transcript: Fox's newfound cooperation is not likely to have much impact, especially now that hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and open borders advocates are now waving Mexican flags in demonstrations on American soil. And Fox is still refusing to do anything to stop the millions of illegal aliens who gather along Mexican border towns that are staging areas for illegal crossings, saying he won't restrict the freedom of movement of Mexican citizens. Despite that, President Bush thanked President Fox for his efforts.

4. L.A. has day centers where illegals gather to seek jobs. It is run by the local government. Daily, employers will select these illegals to perform the day's labor at low cost. They do not have to show any identification and the employers do not ask for them. The greatest shock in this scenario is that the local government sanctions it.

Read Lou Dobbs' transcipt from March 31, Friday: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/31/ldt.01.html

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Christina's response: It is so hypocritical for Fox to have the southern border closed yet scream when we want to close OUR Southern border. And it is also a known fact that Mexicans while frequently yelling about immigration policies being discriminatory are also in turn VERY discriminatory to Hondurans and Guatemalans who enter their country or compete for labor with them here in the U.S. This whole situation is so full of double standards it makes me want to scream. I agree with you that Lou Dobbs has some of the best coverage. If you get a chance also catch the Lehrer news hour on PBS if you can for some very good discussions about this, and The Economist out of London has written some excellent essays!

Say no to "Amnesty" reform

This blog may anger some of you and may cost me plenty of friendships. But if it shouldn't, I hope to engage many of you to pick up the cause on my behalf, a legal, tax-paying but non-voting resident of the U.S.A.

Some of you may be aware of the political storm brewing around the Immigration Reform Act as of late. The McCain-Kennedy bill wanted to grant amnesty to illegals the guest-worker program. According to The Washington Times: "Sponsors said it is not an amnesty because it would require illegal aliens to pay all regular fees as well as a $1,000 fine to join a guest-worker program and, after six years, another $1,000 fine to obtain a green card signifying legal permanent residence. Green card holders eventually can apply for citizenship." What is $1,000 these days, even for struggling illegal farm workers? They send more than that home.

Many of my friends had witnessed first-hand the angst I went through for my legal H1B working permit. The cost was more than $1,000, and the paperwork was torturous. Each H1B visa lasts 3 years and an applicant can only have up to 6 years of H1B permit total. After that, if one chooses to continue to work in this country, the application for Green Card is next. That also took umpteenth paperwork, time and money, and emotional investment. All said and done, I had endured about a decade's worth of paperwork and anxiety while daily awaiting approval or decline from the government.

Since my college days, I had treaded with care not to break the laws, paid my taxes and medical bills, while these illegals have been given free medical care because they don't meet the income.

Now, this bill is going to grant an easy walk-on to those who had disregarded the law of the land, and reward them this easily? Granted, the greedy, profit-crunching employers are to be blamed for the permissiveness of this culture. So's the government who are obviously playing politics and trying to garner votes for their sweep into Congress this upcoming election.

Do I have a better solution? Not necessarily. But I do have some criteria to crack down on illegals. I understand that workers from Mexico are generally entering the U.S.A. to perform work considered undesirable by the North American population. Since these are seasonal jobs for the most part, why not provide a seasonal pass? In addition, they need to contribute to the taxes. Right now, our taxes are partly channeled to their welfare. That is incredibly unjust.

For those who had brought their families over or had offsprings born in this land, hence granting the latter their legal U.S. status, have them sponsor their parents. That's what I have to do if I were to have my family join me. Do I whine and cry about how unfair it is that I'm separated from them? No. I'm sad to be of such great distance but if I want them to join me, I would go about it the lawful, albeit arduous way.

Senator John Cornyn, Texas Republican and chairman of the Judiciary immigration subcommittee, sums up my idea of reform better: ' "I favor a work-and-return bill, not a work-and-stay bill," he said. "We already have laws in place that allow people to apply for legal permanent residence and American citizenship, so I think that's going to be a subject of some debate and perhaps disagreement in the Senate and in the House." Mr. Cornyn is working on his own bill, and he said that to meet his approval, a bill would have to include enhanced border security, enhanced interior enforcement, employer accountability and a temporary worker program.' Furthermore, Mexican President Vincente Fox had the gall to chastise the U.S. a few weeks ago that we'll be begging for their citizens to return to the U.S. in a few year's time. This government, if nothing, is kowtowing to him. The biggest problem I have with this entire bill right now is the reward program they grant those who are illegal, while I, who am legal, is not even granted the right to vote by the government.

If I had struck a sympathetic cord, please join in the fight to stop this by calling your congressman at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=/usbc/issues/alert/?alertid=8591911

Thank you for your support.

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Responses to earlier post:
Karen Ryan: i TOTALLY understand and support what you're saying here. especially the work-and-return bill. why can't the u.s just do what singapore does for foreign workers?! make the employers pay a levy, their health insurance, everything!! and no, the family can't follow suit unless they have employers sponsoring them as well. it's obvious that the mexicans are doing work that the americans don't want and if the employers need them, then they have to pay the government! it's not that complicated is it? we, as LEGAL immigrants, go through hell and back during the green card application process. i am sick and tired of being treated like dirt by the ins - and some ignorant citizens. i have applied to be a permanent resident in this county because my husband is american and we have decided to start our lives here. not 'coz i have nowhere else to go. certainly not 'coz i think my life is better in this country. i am not taking any of your jobs away. in fact, i pay taxes and maintain to help the u.s economy through my weekly manicures and pedicures, retail industry and certainly the sorry, on-again off-again collapsing airline industry.why should the illegal immigrants be rewarded?! i say NO! there are many ways to come into this country legally. if you can't do that, stay in your own.

Bob Oh: I don't know what the new law may be about but maybe they were considering the cost of sending immigration officers finding these illegals (very hard and costly) or just awarding them amnesty so they can come out from wherever they are and apply for it. Thus, cutting cost and earning revenue instead. How many illegals x $1000? That itself will create some new positions for legal migrants or americans!Maybe (cunningly), a big percentage won't get it (citizenship) and maybe alot would get deported?They also would start paying taxes, yes not direct taxes, but I am sure you have lots of indirect taxes over in the US of A right?What about the jobs that can be created for middle management or white collar workers? For every 10 foreign workers, you need maybe 1 local supervisor? Ok, maybe 100 FW and 1 local manager...it is STILL one more job created. Then we have the sales team right? Selling the stuff these workers produce? I am sure the sales team are true blue Americans?Then the accountant, the techie guy, the CEO....**********************************************I fully agree with the concerns displayed, they are real and definitely sucks big time, as it seems honesty don't seems to pay off right?At the larger scheme of things, we are one way or the other also beneficiaries of some other historical figure or some tax loop hole or some law that came about from such incidents.Let us not deprive others their luck (if u can call it).

Patrick: I disagree with you, but not so much that I'd consider losing your friendship. Here's the thing:"Amnesty" is a loaded political term invented by demagogues who are trying to cloud the debate here. Bearing in mind that I have the utmost respect for you, I take serious issue with you quoting the Washington Times as a source. It's a rag if there ever was one, run by the Reverend Sun Young Moon as an unapologetic mouth piece for the most conservative wing of the Republican party. Likewise, John Cornyn is not a paragon of responsible rhetoric.If you can't come up with a better alternative than the ones being floated, you're not helping. The House version of the immigration bill, as I understand it, would make it a crime to not only be here illegally, it would make it illegal to even give shelter or food to those people. It's very easy to just say "Well, go home if you're not supposed to be here," but the practical implications are not so simple. Are you really prepared to ask a priest to ask every one at his soup kitchen to have I.D. proving citizenship so he doesn't get arrested? Do you know how much chaos and civil disobedience that will generate? The real political pandering is not going on in the Senate, it's in the House, which is no surprise, since everyone there is up for re-election (the Senate is, coincidentally, not)I can't understand how frustrating thsi must be for you, because I'm not in the same situation. But I do sympathize. What's the point of jumping through hoops if everyone else seems to get a free pass? But we can't pretend that these people aren't here, nor can we pretend we don't need them, espescially in places like New York City. In a perfect world, we would not have allowed them here in the first place, but it's too late for that. And guess passes suck too, for the obvious reason that they're basically indentured servitude. Dubai anyone? Also, why would you bother learning anything about a country or it's culture if you knew you had no chance in hell of becoming a citizen?Interesting little side note. This argument should have taken place back in 2001, because before 9/11, immigration was supposed to be Bush's big issue. I guess it's better late than never.

My response to Patrick: There are going to various sides to this issue and I'm glad that the voices are coming out. I also appreciate your sympathies and my movement comes out exactly from own personal circumstances. However, amnesty is not the loaded word for this immigration proposal set by Bush, McCain and Kennedy. As for the demagogues, aren't all politicians one? The Washington Times may not be the most respectable rag out there but neither are a lot. Even those we had worked at. But that doesn't mean that the people who work at these establishments are avid subscribers of the owners' philosophies. I merely quoted the Times as it clearly explained to the uninitiated bloggees what this whole immigration reform bill is.You know, I am a hardliner when it comes to this issue. If I were to encounter an illegal (and I had and there are various reasons why they are), I wouldn't so much as turn him in but ask him to turn himself in. If I had the guts and the ability to use a firearm, I may even join the minuteman movement.But the feasible thing I could do now is to engage everyone who's able to vote and hopefully, influence their government to do so on my behalf.I don't see guest passes as indentured servitude. The latter is not synonymous to slavery. Guest pass is a choice and a legal one, one where immigrants register and pay taxes. Indentured servitude is employment without the chance of ever leaving it.
Yes, this argument should have taken place decades ago. The government and special interest are to be responsible for letting it come to the mess it is today. Let's hope and pray they fix it. As for me, I'm holding on to my present citizenship for now in case this country becomes not the country I respect.Then I have a place to return to.