My thoughts on the General Elections 2011
If there’s one thing one must have realised, is contrary to PAP’s popular belief, today’s youth is far, far from politically apathetic. In 2011 alone, we have two candidates under the age of 30, one more mature in age, the other more mature in thought.
I don’t profess to be an expert in Singapore politics. It’s always been a thing of interest for me, but honestly, it’s too much of a pain to have to scrutinise and attempt to understand every cheem jargon loosely thrown around for the sake of sounding pro. Why cannot use Singlish leh? Easy to understand what.
Anyhoo, here’s my two cents’ worth.
I am of the belief that the PAP has done a great job running Singapore. Find me another country more efficient, more administrative, more peaceful and more prosperous (depending on which year we’re referring to, of course). Employment rates are at an all time high, the SGD is gaining muscle against the USD, our citizens are highly educated and while other countries take a daily gamble on public transport, our main gripe is on transport overcrowding. Our streets are squeaky clean, and I mean this both literally and figuratively.
Others pick out the high costs of living in Singapore (highest after Tokyo and Shanghai), increase in GST, ERP and even costs of public transport. In PAP’s defense, Wong Kan Seng may just have a point about housing costs, lower it and risk being slapped by the invisible hand. We pay on average 20% of taxes to the Singapore government yearly, compared to up to 50% in other European countries (granted some of these countries adopt a welfare system).
On the surface, the PAP has done a great job. So why is it that the PAP is being slapped so hard this election?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
After WWII, our immediate concerns were food, water, security and employment (physiological, safety). With a forceful hand, our founding fathers swept in, cleaned up the streets, forged alliances (some more lasting than others), provided food, jobs, safety and comfort. Once the basic needs were met, they focussed on education. What we can’t beat with resources (actual manpower, natural resources), we fought with intellectual strength. They built a community of people, focussed on racial and religious harmony. With that came love/belonging and esteem.
Maslow’s needs, physiological, safety, love/belonging and esteem have all been met, leaving the highest level of need – self-actualization.
The astounding progress forged by our founding fathers have led to an inevitable – complacency and infallible pretext. I believe most Singaporeans to be informed enough to understand the issues our nation struggles with, and they will accept what they can. Do you seriously think our votes will be swayed by the GST, ERP or tax increases? I doubt so. What my main discomfort stems from is the complacent attitude adopted by our incumbent leaders and the infallible image they love to portray to their citizens.
Let’s look at it one issue at a time.
1. Refusal to admit mistakes
Flash floods – Happens once every 50 years, act of God. Whatever you may call it, would it have been so difficult to say it was unexpected and steps are being taken to prevent or at least prepare for further occurances?
YOG – Millions wasted. Administrative disaster. Simply put, it looked terrible on the organising team. Best way forward? Sorry, we made a mistake. It was the first year we organised this, in the interest of putting Singapore at the forefront. Instead, all we saw were figures inflated to boast of its success, while the gaping errors were desperately played down.
Mas Selamat – We let a convict escape. Instead of shedding responsibility (case in point – DPM Wong), it was a costly mistake, one we learnt dearly from. We applaud the attitudes of our soldiers in their tireless attempts to hunt him down, but clearly, our defense needs more muscle.
2. Changes from top down
Singapore is as democratic as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China. Changes in policies and such are always done in the name of the people, spearheaded by our almighty leaders in white. Name me one change that is powered by the people. The only semblance we had of a people movement was when we called for a repeal of 377A, and even that was shot down.
3. Smear tactics
Vote wisely. Vote opposition if you want to gamble with Singapore’s future. WP’s housing policy ‘dangerous’ to Singapore. Smear tactics with little or no solid foundation backing them will look bad, we’re educated enough to tell.
4. Really bad PR
Tin Pei Ling. Facebook ‘banner ads’. MParader’s fan page. Need I say more?
Make no mistake, as sure as the sun rises from the east, the PAP will be voted in for yet another (bureaucratically painful) term. But let’s show some support to the opposition, for every opposing voice will provide an alternative point of view forcing the incumbent to take into consideration, and this will (hopefully) lead to progress.
So dear beloved leaders, in campaigning this year, do remember this – we are no longer a small fishing village struggling for survival. We are a prospering first world nation (no matter what UBS says), whose basic needs have been met, whose educational qualifications exceed too many of our contemporaries, whose needs are now leaning toward the ideological. Either remember that, or ban education and the internet altogether.
