Originally posted by panicTheory:
We lost out simply because we put all our eggs in one basket. Globalisation has increased immigration diaspora and that by itself hints at cheaper well trained labour all round.
Yes, it is true, we have put all our eggs in lee's basket.
When we first gained independence, the gist of the ideal was to combine successfully a self-consciously toughminded meritocratic individualism, in which individual Singaporeans cultivated their talents and successfully competed in the international economy, with an equally self-conscious identification with "Asian roots" and "traditional values," which referred to precolonial India, China, and the Malay world. In retrospect, Singaporeans were to be modern and cosmopolitan while retaining their distinctively Asian traditions.
Assumptions of all kinds took rein during the whole period when all the eggs were in lee's basket. One assumption was cultural and another was ancient confucianism with a half-baked objective to serve bureaucratic purposes.
The final assumption was that all the government needs is to bring in all the top graduates and give them high pays and everything will be taken care off.
Hence, 1970s and 1980s saw assumptions after assumptions being put to tests. We missed real contributions of good action- or result-oriented people some of whom might not even possess any top degree but extremely effective.
Now Singapore is shrouded by all scholarly people who will be fielded for election and given higher responsibility but we are still waiting for implementation of a master economic upgrading strategy with stage-set results showing up every quarter as Goh Keng Swee has done.
We only hear scholarly-type ministers saying things very conceptually pushing away actions and results and giving craps like the circumstances are beyond controls or people must change mindset etc etc.
Now our national identity stands at peril due to the common mindset of us being a victim of cultural imperialism. ( Hands up those that wished you were born in the states or even japan! )
There is this constant self-praises and self-adulations related to race or cultural characteristics or east versus west. At the end of all grandiose geo-political preaching of the populations, citizens are waiting for some ministers carrying out plans and policies to get results. Citizens are kept in the dark how the assumptions and concepts about cultural superiority talks will bring more bacons or food to the kitchen. There is no more Gohs or Hons monitoring and taking full responsibility to reverse crisis or downturns with proactive actions taken every day at higher level to get results.
It could also be because we employed the wrong thinkers for our direction. Edward De Bono's books arent exactly life shattering ( spermatozoa illustrations wow! ) and we failed to see what was coming.
Scholars talk assumptions and theories. Action-men are contemptuous of too much theories and work towards certainty with actions taken every day and every phase to reach goals. Theories are mostly conceptual and cannot be implemented. Only logical steps with attainable quality-time-cost controls will get to the results. These are not taught in schools or universities. They are taught in the school of hard knocks. When a government is over-weighting on scholars it is taking too much risk of theories and assumptions not being pushed or put to work.
Our education aims us at being us yes men. Even Sim Wong Hoo's attempt at broadening our mindset with his NUTS ( No U Turn Syndrome ) didnt gather as much attention as I thought it should. So we are effectively training more yes men for the future.
Sim Wong Hoo's has not talked about leadership or theoretical or undefined talents. He talks about actions measuring results and certainty beyond the U-turn. Goh Keng Swee does not talk too much about assumptions or leaderhsip too. So he carried his programs right through to end results.
My personal take is that Action men like goh are few and far between. And how many have enough national pride and identity to follow through the path of revolution? The gov has effectively developed enough bureucratic sludge to stop trend setters before they get too far ahead in the political world.
Agreed that bureaucratic sludge will take some time to de-sanitise. The scholarly type does not deliver us another changi-terminal or another Jurong. They only talks and assume someone will do it. If no one does they are not answerable for lack of performance. Salaries are too high for them to make mistakes at middle action levels so they don't want to be too pushy or action-packed for obvious self-preservation reason.
There is too much discourse analysis in everything and not enough implementation. I think it will be difficult to thrive unless the cabinet *god forbid* reshuffles or maybe introduce a shadow government composed of more gung ho people with temporary legislative powers.
Daily, we read from newspapers all growing reports and statistics about performance excellence. Good men don't have to depend too much on news and publicity to show off - they let results speak for themselves.
I am but a humble farmer so if I said anything wrong or incorrect, forgive my ignorance.
I am a farmer too. I do not claim to be any scholar or leader or talent. Where the leaders have gone wrong, I think I like you sir can sense it !!