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外来人口应该加强新加坡的文化资本和软实力


外来人口对新加坡的经济贡献,就好像行动党政府一直强调的经济第一的国策一样,已经走到了一个极限,再走下去,很可能是边际成本高于边际收益,除非他们在文化资本,社会资本方面增强新加坡的软实力。

文化,社会,软实力,这个可不好衡量。行动党政府一向最拿手的就是经济,人数越多,产出就越多,国家的国民所得当然也增多了。但是人口的极速增加,自然的,无可避免的会到来问题,而一般人,普通老百姓的生活素质并没有因为人均所得增加而提高。

因此,从去年开始,就出现了所谓的政治新常态。国人对外来人口的增加,在容忍度上,已经表现在选票上。虽然没有排外, 但是,不满的声音已经越来越多,这不就说明了,政府虽然认为外来人口对新加坡有利,但是,民间的反应却是最直接的;他们的感受也是最直接的。

政府虽然说有做民意调查,反馈,明白国人的感受。但是,这些都不如国人和外来人口相处在一起,每天生活在一起,来得直接。就是因为直接,所以人民的才感受到和外来人口生活在一起的喜怒哀乐。因此,行动党虽然想说服人民相信,外来人口对新加坡的经济有利,但是,一旦经济效益报酬递减,社会成本增加,国人在忍无可忍的情形下,就只有发声,在选票上表现出来。

现在的情形是,即使政府想要继续大力引进外来人口,也不敢公开,明目张胆的去做。只能希望国人包容新移民,而新移民也应尽快融入新加坡的社会。但是,当初把新移民,外来人口引进来的时候,就是摆明经济理由,他们来新加坡也是经济理由。大家都是为了一个同样的经济理由。你情我愿的收,你情我愿的来。

融入一个社会,可不是简单的经济问题,你可要喜欢这个地方,这地方的人喜欢你。当时为了钱而来,当然,也可以为了钱而去。难怪,有这么多永久居民的第二代不愿意留下来完成国民服役。

或许,用另一个思考的角度来看这个问题。创新,发明,设计,新方法,。。。。等等软实力的东西,不是越多外来人口,就越能解决。这些东西,主要还是要靠文化资本,社会资本来完成。过去那套依赖人力,单纯的以为经济问题,要靠经济因素来解决的想法,已经过时了。

作为一个城市国家,新加坡要想再进一步,就需要靠经济以外的软势力来推动经济。事实上,外来人口也好,还是外来投资也好,如果,一直希望政府引进更多外来人口来增进经济发展,而不对新加坡的文化资本,社会资本做出贡献,那么,最终的结果将是,有如永久居民第二代不愿尽国民服役的义务一样,对新加坡来说还是白投资,白教育。

在引进外来人口的问题上,我们应该更加重视这些人能够为新加坡的文化价值,社会价值做出什么贡献。我们当然不可忽视人口老化的问题,但是,人老了也要活得有价值,有意义。新移民能否给国人带来更高的生活价值和生活意义呢?

纽约,伦敦已经是个多元化的社会结构,外来人口,不只是在经济上做出贡献,在文化,社会方面也为这些城市添加新的活力。不要口口声声说新加坡人排外,不欢迎外人,只要他们能够把国人的生活素质提高,不一定要大大加快经济发展,适度的增长,再加人文素质的生活,那么,国人有何理由不欢迎他们呢?

因为行动党政府要的是经济快速增长,自然的,贫富的距离就拉大了。外来人口中,当然也有富有贫,他们的贫富距离也一样拉大了。这样一来,对于处于中下层的本地,新移民和外地人来说,自然就会怨声载道了。但是,对于永久居民来说,他们和他们的第二代还有一个选择机会,留在新加坡如果没有好处,如果没有经济的甜头,倒不如远走高飞算了。

文化,社会资本,行动党看起来是有心无力。因为,几十年来经济成绩,已经使到政府认为钱就能买到一切。没有人文,就引进博雅学院,没有设计,就引进设计大学,没有人,就引进人,。。。。这是多么数字化呀!

是的,我们已经是世界上最适合居住的城市之一,又是花园城市,国人为何你们有这么多怨言?难道,没有文化资本,文化熏陶,没有社会资本,社会关怀,我们会活得不快乐吗? 精神的提升有这么重要吗?


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