Are we living in The Matrix?
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My dear ndsef, you should not immerse too deeply into the fantasy world of the MATRIX, but also learn to UNPLUG from that fantasy world, and PLUG yourself into the REAL WORLD.
Why should 'unplugging' the system cause chaos and destruction ?
Why should we look at the extreme scenario when change is to be made ?
Why do we not look at improvements and building on the present system ?
Why do we need to dismantle and destroy what have been built ?
Who do you think will most likely to cause chaos and destruction, when change to a political system is made ?
When Indonesia was voted out of East Timor, in a United Nation sponsored Referendum, Indonesia was deeply disappointed, and felt that the East Timorians were an ungrateful lot despite the many years of 'tending' from Indonesia.
Did the East Timorians caused the chaos and destruction to their property, or was it the Indonesians who went into a rampant rage to destroy and dismantle all that the Indonesians have built since occupying the seat of Government in East Timor ?
Why should there be chaos and destruction in Singapore, when change is made to Political Rule, especially when the Singapore Police Force is a disciplined force that has shown its efficiency in dealing with lawlessness ?
UNLESS..... God forbid ...... the Singapore Police Force (and its Security Agencies - ISD ) is an instrument of the Government a.k.a the Ruling Party, to look after the interest of the Ruling Party ONLY !
After FORTY YEARS of social development, is the Singaporean of the 21st Century, similar in social-political attitude and behavior as the Singaporean in the 1950s and 1960s ?
Has there been no iota of change in social responsiblity and social cohesiveness towards the Country and the Community ?
If the answer is doubtful, or NO, then what is all the hullaballoo of National Day joy that is spread across the front pages of the Straits Times ? -
UNLESS..... God forbid ...... the Singapore Police Force (and its Security Agencies - ISD ) is an instrument of the Government a.k.a the Ruling Party, to look after the interest of the Ruling Party ONLY !
I think you should know what had happened before when you make this statement.
I am not afraid of the change itself, but rather the consequences of the change. I think its only human to be afraid of the unknown. What guarantees do we have as citizens that once the minority ruling party becomes the major ruling party things will be different
I foresee that things will still be the same!! Because of the deep down greed in all of us!! Everyone is greedy, can you say for sure that people like Chee Soon Juan is rising up for the good of all Singaporean Citizens? Is he not eyeing the commanding seat? Is he not after the riches of Singapore and be the one in control of these riches?
Statements proclaiming actions that will be taken if elected are often made without thorough knowledge of the whole system. When one is in the control chair, things will be much clearer and one will find his hands tied just like one's predecessors. -
Originally posted by ndsef:
No, I am not sure what had happened before this statement was made; but the Singapore Police Force and the other Security Agencies - as well as the entire Civil Service, Government Departments, and GLCs - should be politically blind and should serve any Political Party that form the Government of the Day.
UNLESS..... God forbid ...... the Singapore Police Force (and its Security Agencies - ISD ) is an instrument of the Government a.k.a the Ruling Party, to look after the interest of the Ruling Party ONLY !
I think you should know what had happened before when you make this statement.:
Change is always inevitable, why should you be afraid of the 'consequences change' ?
I am not afraid of the change itself, but rather the consequences of the change. I think its only human to be afraid of the unknown. What guarantees do we have as citizens that once the minority ruling party becomes the major ruling party things will be different I foresee that things will still be the same!! Because of the deep down greed in all of us!! Everyone is greedy, can you say for sure that people like Chee Soon Juan is rising up for the good of all Singaporean Citizens? Is he not eyeing the commanding seat? Is he not after the riches of Singapore and be the one in control of these riches?
Statements proclaiming actions that will be taken if elected are often made without thorough knowledge of the whole system. When one is in the control chair, things will be much clearer and one will find his hands tied just like one's predecessors.
Why should change be 'NEGATIVE' only, and cannot be 'POSITIVE' ?
When Singapore was 'kicked out' of Malaysia, this was a SUDDEN CHANGE, and there were uncertainties, fear, self-doubt, and all the superlative negatives; but was Singapore cowed ?
When Britain decided to withdraw their military presence in Singapore, it caused another round of anxieties, fear, uncertainties, and self-doubt, but were we paralyzed ?
Did we sit on our bottom and worry, and find another way to MAINTAIN THE OLD STATUS QUO, or did we face the CHALLENGE of CHANGE and find a new path to forge ahead ?
Did Singaporean seek any guarantee for success in the decisions that were taken to overcome the 'challenges of change' ?
If in the next General Election, Singaporeans can knock down the seemingly formidable Ruling Party from its pedestal, can Singaporeans not handle the SDP and CSJ ?
The best example of new found freedom from autocratic dictatorship is the South Korean experience, which was rediscovered despite the constant perilous threat of an invasion from an erratic and unpredictable North Korea.
Is Singapore facing a more perilous threat than South Korea that we cannot change, and trust in a new Govenment being formed by a new Political Party ?
Everyone knows that 'ABSOLUTE POWER corrupts ABSOLUTELY' , and yet we will NOT wake ourselves to accept POSITIVE CHANGE ?
Is your fear of the consequences of change merely an excuse to accept inaction, indecision, and the fear of the unknown, and prefer to maintain the status-quo perpetually ?
No wonder the present Singapore Government a.k.a the Ruling Party can claim that Singaporean severely lack the X-Factor, which results also in a shortage of REAL TALENT ! -
Point noted Atobe. But u did not seem to have answered my question whether the minority party will be able to govern this country as well as the present ruling party. Will things be the same
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Originally posted by ndsef:
When the Ruling Party was an Opposition Party, the same was asked about them - can they make it ? What is their track record ?
Point noted Atobe. But u did not seem to have answered my question whether the minority party will be able to govern this country as well as the present ruling party. Will things be the same
Zilch... it was the first experiment at Self-Government, with the current Ruling Party stepping into the shoes of Government, as the Third Political Party to do so - after two Chief Ministers - Lim Yew Hock and David Marshall.
There was also self-doubt by the leadership of the Ruling Party then, when they first stepped into the shoes of Government, and no longer sitting on the Opposition bench in Parliament.
The true colors of Singaporean will always rise to the occassion - when Challenges of Change have to be faced.
Singaporeans have faced many worst crisis since Self-Rule in the 1950s, AND after FORTY 'FRUSTRATING' YEARS of INDEPENDENCE under the tight grip of an autocratic ONE-PARTY Government, surely enough experience has been accumulated to tackle the numerous problems.
Is there truly a dearth of TALENT amongst Singaporeans, or is it simply a dearth of INTEREST to come forward and participate in the Politics that are practised by the Ruling Party ?
It is TALENTED SINGAPOREANS - who stood up in the past to join the various sectors and levels of Government, as well as in the Private Sector, that had contributed to the success of Singapore over the last FORTY YEARS.
Do you seriously believe that the ELITE CIRCLE of the Ruling Party had made Singapore WITHOUT the participation and contribution of efforts from SINGAPOREANS ?
The FUTURE belong to SINGAPOREANS with a VISION, a HOPE, and KNOW WHERE WE SHOULD BE HEADING.
POLITICS should be a competition of ideas, of ambitions, of dreams, ALL FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SINGAPOREANS and SINGAPORE.
Unfortunately, the type of Politics that is practised in Singapore, is a Politics of EXCLUSION, where talented people are afraid to stand-up to be counted, for fear of being ridiculted, for fear of failure, for fear of public rejection.
Since the POLITICS of EXCLUSION is practised, the potential of OPPOSTION PARTIES have to be viciously suppressed, ridiculed, obstructed, and confined, so as to put the Ruling Party's position in a better light.
Firstly, before doubting the Opposition Parties, and to have a better understanding of the Opposition Party's potential capability, perhaps we should give the Opposition Party an opportunity to project their ideas with an open mind, before shooting them down with a knee jerk response.
Secondly, are we setting higher standards to measure the Opposition Party, than the Ruling Party ? Are we more forgiving and tolerant to the mistakes of the Ruling Party, or do we simply have no choice but to be forgiving and tolerant, and simply hit the Opposition Parties harder for their failure to be better than the Ruling Party ?
Thirdly, if ever the Opposition Parties step into the shoes of Government, do you think it is not in our own interests that SINGAPOREANS should come forward and offer FULL CO-OPERATION and SUPPORT to the new OPPOSITION GOVERNMENT - in the same manner that we have so obediently shown to the present Ruling Party a.k.a the present Singapore Government over the last FORTY YEARS ?
This piece may not assure you of the ability of the Opposition Party to govern Singapore, but the fact that it is only after FORTY YEARS, that MM LKY has slowly begun to admit his mistakes - despite the strong protests and warning of those wronged policy position - will show clearly that the Ruling Party is not failure-proof.
Their inability to accept alternative views has caused hardship that will have long term effects to Singapore and Singaporeans.
Can Singaporeans continue with this kind of autocratic TOP-DOWN decision makeing process, in which the voices of the people are heard, but the paternalistic position of 'I KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU' continue as a guiding policy of the Ruling Party ?
To better understand the potential capability of the Oppositon Party, perhaps you may wish to - firstly - make an attempt to read the book written by SDP CSJ : 'Your Future, My Faith, OUR FREEDOM' - which incidentally has been adopted as the SDP party manifesto.
This book was written in 2001, and had identified the problems faced by Singapore, and how these problems are to be resolved, and where Singapore should be heading.
Surprisingly, since the book was written in 2001, recent Government a.k.a the Ruling Party has paid close attention to those problems that have arisen, and taken partial measures and actions that are quite similar to the solutions stated in the book written by SDP CSJ.
Are the Singaporean TALENTS the monopoly of the Ruling Party only ?
Are Singaporean Talents no longer seen to be talented when they join the Opposition Parties ? -
Hi Atobe, I think the whole thread is full of our comments only. What happened to the rest? Anyway, I am enjoying this interesting discussion I have with you. I can't say that I agree with everything that you have brought up but I do have to agree with you that some policies, measures taken by the ruling party has flaws and MM LKY did brought up these flaws.
I do not doubt the ability of the minority ruling party. Its just that there is a big difference between now and 40 years ago. 40 years ago, Singapore is akin to a white piece of paper, the system was just not running on tracks. Now its different, different because the system is deeply entrenched. A change now may (in my words) do more harm than good.
It is like cancer, treated early, chances of survival is higher. But when left to a later stage, any attempts to remove the tumor or eradicate it may do more harm to the patient. This is the law of nature. A young sapling can be uprooted without much disturbance to the surronding, but a full grown tree of 40 years with roots deep in the ground when uprooted will cause much more disturbance to its surronding. This is what I mean, do we want that?
Or maybe a better approach to the problem will be to co-exist the system and change it to suit the world today!! This is what the govt at present is trying hard to do. Which is why, a book from CSJ (in your words) were read by the ruling party.
Like the full grown tree, what we need to do is to trim off branches that may fall off in a storm and keep those that are still healthy. -
Originally posted by ndsef:
nsdef,
Hi Atobe, I think the whole thread is full of our comments only. What happened to the rest? Anyway, I am enjoying this interesting discussion I have with you. I can't say that I agree with everything that you have brought up but I do have to agree with you that some policies, measures taken by the ruling party has flaws and MM LKY did brought up these flaws.
I do not doubt the ability of the minority ruling party. Its just that there is a big difference between now and 40 years ago. 40 years ago, Singapore is akin to a white piece of paper, the system was just not running on tracks. Now its different, different because the system is deeply entrenched. A change now may (in my words) do more harm than good.
It is like cancer, treated early, chances of survival is higher. But when left to a later stage, any attempts to remove the tumor or eradicate it may do more harm to the patient. This is the law of nature. A young sapling can be uprooted without much disturbance to the surronding, but a full grown tree of 40 years with roots deep in the ground when uprooted will cause much more disturbance to its surronding. [b]This is what I mean, do we want that?
Or maybe a better approach to the problem will be to co-exist the system and change it to suit the world today!! This is what the govt at present is trying hard to do. Which is why, a book from CSJ (in your words) were read by the ruling party.
Like the full grown tree, what we need to do is to trim off branches that may fall off in a storm and keep those that are still healthy. [/b]
1) You and Atobe are basically dominating this discussion. You two pple are not exactly involving other people, even implicitly, in the conversation. Of course, that's typical of Atobe's convos.
2) If your garden is infested with a large weed, would you rather kill a few good plants in pulling up that weed, or let that weed continue to grow and infest until all your garden's plants are dead anyway?
3) see 2)
4) Every system has a shelf-life; sometimes to adapt it means to perform fundamental change to it. You can't just hope it to "co-exist" with the new world. Take a leaf from history: Could Royal Families in Europe successfully adapt absolute monarchies in the wake of the Industrial Society? Nope. If they tried to assert their royal power, they would be immediately forced out and replaced by Republican Parliaments. Those Monarchies which survived eg. England and Denmark, are those which surrendered most of their monarchichal authority and became Constitutional Monarchies.
5) When the tree starts rotting, it needs to be cut down, or else the disease will spread to the younger saplings in the vicinity.
Regards,
the (reformist) pikamaster -
Thanks pikamaster for joining in the discussion. I see that both you and atobe "assume" that the system is rotten to the core. To me the system just needs some tweaking to it. It is akin to a rotten branch on a tree that needs to be removed before the whole tree gets infected.Originally posted by pikamaster:nsdef,
1) You and Atobe are basically dominating this discussion. You two pple are not exactly involving other people, even implicitly, in the conversation. Of course, that's typical of Atobe's convos.
2) If your garden is infested with a large weed, would you rather kill a few good plants in pulling up that weed, or let that weed continue to grow and infest until all your garden's plants are dead anyway?
3) see 2)
4) Every system has a shelf-life; sometimes to adapt it means to perform fundamental change to it. You can't just hope it to "co-exist" with the new world. Take a leaf from history: Could Royal Families in Europe successfully adapt absolute monarchies in the wake of the Industrial Society? Nope. If they tried to assert their royal power, they would be immediately forced out and replaced by Republican Parliaments. Those Monarchies which survived eg. England and Denmark, are those which surrendered most of their monarchichal authority and became Constitutional Monarchies.
5) When the tree starts rotting, it needs to be cut down, or else the disease will spread to the younger saplings in the vicinity.
Regards,
the (reformist) pikamaster
To you, I have this question, " On what grounds do you think or believe that the present government is rotten to the core and has to be removed?" And what would your proposed solutions be for a better Singapore?
This is important, because, we can yak all day long about this is not good that is not done properly. So if you or Atobe is in the hot seat of the PM, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE SINGAPORE A BETTER PLACE? -
Originally posted by ndsef:
"Assume" ?
Thanks pikamaster for joining in the discussion. I see that both you and atobe "assume" that the system is rotten to the core. To me the system just needs some tweaking to it. It is akin to a rotten branch on a tree that needs to be removed before the whole tree gets infected.
To you, I have this question, " On what grounds do you think or believe that the present government is rotten to the core and has to be removed?" And what would your proposed solutions be for a better Singapore?
This is important, because, we can yak all day long about this is not good that is not done properly. So if you or Atobe is in the hot seat of the PM, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE SINGAPORE A BETTER PLACE?
It will be interesting to know how did you come to your assumption that such an 'assumption' has been made - at least - by me, and perhaps pikamaster ?
To each his own - if you believe that the system just needs some tweaking to it, you are privilege to your position.
If you believe in accomodating the system developed in the 'MATRIX' and remain plugged, you are most welcome to remain in your assumed world of perfection - and keep to your preference to turn a blind eye to the obvious lunacy of deception, arrogance, autocracy.
As you have so eloquently started this thread :
"Singapore is a Matrix just like the one in the movies. We are given a false sense of security, given work, family, peace... we live on so that our "Brain activity will generate electricity keep the machines alive"
If you cannot discern the contradictions in the MATRIX, and firmly believe in what has been planted in your mind, can anyone help you, if you insist in living in the 'perfect' MATRIX ?
ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY -
This thread as well as the replies posted by Atobe got me to dig up my collection of VCDs today in search of "The Matrix" 1st part.
This is prob the 5th time I've watched it and it still gives the creeps..., just thinking that this could well be happening in our lives.
One interesting portion is, Morpheus was labelled a terrorist by Agent Smith. This sets me thinking... -
Originally posted by ndsef:
Morpheus is a terrorist ?
This thread as well as the replies posted by Atobe got me to dig up my collection of VCDs today in search of "The Matrix" 1st part.
This is prob the 5th time I've watched it and it still gives the creeps..., just thinking that this could well be happening in our lives.
One interesting portion is, Morpheus was labelled a terrorist by Agent Smith. This sets me thinking...
Perhaps in the minds of those who have taken the Blue Pill and remained plugged to the MATRIX.
There were quite a few in the Singapore MATRIX also labelled as 'terrorist' - starting with
Chia Thye Poh - was a political activist, and came forward to take the place of those who were arrested, and stood as a candidate with the Barisan Sosialis.
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw00/001014mk.htm
http://www.singapore-window.org/81130sc.htm
The Catholic Church Social Workers - a group of active social workers from the Catholic Church who provided assistance to some foreign workers, and was seen to cross into the sensitive territory that is normally tended by the Trade Union - (which would have exposed the impotence and bias of the NTUC in favor of the Employers).
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw01/010521m1.htm -
nsdef,Originally posted by ndsef:Thanks pikamaster for joining in the discussion. I see that both you and atobe "assume" that the system is rotten to the core. To me the system just needs some tweaking to it. It is akin to a rotten branch on a tree that needs to be removed before the whole tree gets infected.
To you, I have this question, " On what grounds do you think or believe that the present government is rotten to the core and has to be removed?" And what would your proposed solutions be for a better Singapore?
This is important, because, we can yak all day long about this is not good that is not done properly. So if you or Atobe is in the hot seat of the PM, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE SINGAPORE A BETTER PLACE?
1) disease spreads fast. look at bird flu.
2) I don't know abt Atobe (dun 4get ur caps) but for me, I think that the system has a rotten core, not that it is rotten to the core i.e. it has some very good peripherals, but the core engine is kinda rusty.
The grounds?
1) NKF... duh... problem with accountability
2) Elitism, which is becoming a cause for social division. you can even see that effect within this forum itself, even within ur other thread, the one abt opposition. Notice many of the grouses go against "the elite". Such a class system is not beneficial to society in the long-run and would possibly cause more disunity than overpopulation. (not ur pt, so u can ignore this; the 2nd phrase I mean) Ironically, it is the pillar of meritocracy that forms this problem. the history of the concept is rather strange: Meritocracy started out as a derogatory word used by an author criticizing capitalism, and was transformed into an ideal through the rhetoric of the British Government...
3) Unlike Atobe (I think), I do have the basic framework of a policy plan whould I become PM (which I may never become unfortunately becos I'm not deciding to join any political party). It is outlined below:-
[Preliminary Policies]
a. Rewrite the Constitution to gvie it a more democratic character, which I am doing now already btw. Though due to time constraints, not gone beyond Part IV. (Article 19).
b. Divorce ELD from PMO and CPIB from SPF. Put CPIB under newly-divorced ELD.
c. Dissolve MITA.
d. Get local arts people to manage NAC.
e. Make MOE immune to Parliament.
f. Establish a (temporary) minimum wage.
g. Get Fandi Ahmad to be principal of Sports School.
h. Sack Lim Boon Heng and CJ Yong. (no personal grudge, merely to keep NTUC and the Judiciary politically neutral.) Separate FairPrice from NTUC.
i. Set up a Council of Inter-Religious and Moral Affairs (CIRMA) comprising the heads of all the religions. The body shall promote harmonious inter-religious ties or at the very base, serve as a peaceful platform through which issues, such as the current islamic fundamentalism, can be resolved.
j. Make Prefectorial Boards, Student Councils and Student Unions independent of school administrative control. Abolish School uniforms and school ties.
k. dissolve the 'Y' section of MCYS.
[Mainline Policies]
a. Create Singapore Journalists' Assiociation from journalists currently working in the press. Get Michael Backman or Lee Han SHih to head SJA. Divorce SJA from SPH. SJA will gather news and op-eds independently ands ell them in packages to newspaper companies like Straits Times or TODAY, who will then hire SPH to print the papers for them.
b. Reorganize CDIS into a School of Linguistic Knowledge (SLK), a School of Historical Knowledge (SHK) and a School of Utilitarian Knowlege (SUK). SLK will train teachers to teach and design syllabuses for language, literature, dance, theatrical studies, visual arts, architecture and music, including 3rd Lang, and decide a list of literary texts for exams. SHK will train teachers to teach and design syllabuses for Integrated Education, Southeast Asian History, European History, Chinese and Indian History, American History, Japanese History, Geography, Politics, Philosophy and Sociology. SUK will train teachers to teach and design syllabuses for Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics (A+E, C+F) , Biology, Microbiology, Life Sciences, Molecular Science, Quantum Mechanics, Environmental Conservation, Economics, psychology and all other related fields.
SUK and SHK together will prescribe the list of texts for Textual Study. CIRMA shall regulate the teaching of Religious Knowledge.
NOTE: CDIS will create syllabi for uni education as well.
c. Bring together the newly independent student unions and the STU to form a collective body called the Educational Parliament (EP), presided over by the Deans of SUK, SLK, SHK, NUS, NTU, SMU, NAFA, UNSW Singapore. This body shall regulate youth and education.
d. Allow students in and beyond puberty the right to vote for their union leaders and their Estate Managers. The Estate Manager shall replace the current headmasters/CEOS/Principals, and his/her pay shall consist of both a fixed component and a variable component. The variable component shall be voted on annually by EP. For that particular session, EP will be presided over by the DEM, rather than the EM.
e. Surrender the handling of schoolyard discipline to specially-assigned police officers. The only constant will be that homework is a mandatory obligation of the student. Decentralize Boys' and Girls' Homes to campuses.
f. Make all schools co-ed.
g. ban abortion.
h. Abolish the law against private homosex.
i. Abolish the Death penalty and ban Euthanasia.
j. Repeal the Land Acquisition Act.
k. Repeal the Defamation Act.
l. Replace the ISA with a series of Acts providing the same functions, but respecting Citizens' privacy at the same time.
m. Create under CIRMA a high court of appeal called the Court of Religious Justice (CRJ). To prevent formation of Theocracy, limit CRJ's powers to reduction of severity of sentences.
n. Add CIRMA in as one more avenue which bills pass through before Presidential Assent. To prevent Theocracy from taking root, CIRMA may only have temporary veto power and will have to submit a Memorandum to the House of the Miscellaneous, as Parliament shall be called, explaining why the bill was vetoed.
o. Make all companies in the country sell 50% of their shares to their staff. Establish by law that 50% of a Corporation's (as defined by the Constitution) shares must be owned by its staff.
p. Dump SEF, NTUC and CASE into one debating body under the supervision of the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This body will be responsible for deciding on macro-economic policy.
q. Peg basic ministerial salaries to the median wage of the rest of the population, and have the variable proportion (bonuses, pensions etc) decided on by public referendum of citizens above 16 years of age.
r.
[Appendix Policies]
a.Put all charities under the charge of CIRMA.
b.Dissolve the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
...to be continued
(sry,having maths tute now) -
The majority of the people in SG are in the first category.They will resist strongly any attempt to change the system for they have been insidiously engineered to be some sort of buffer protection against any uprooting of the MIW.
Those of us who are in the know can only hope to inform and educate others, no matter how tough the journey nor how obstinate our targets. -
a. Rewrite the Constitution to gvie it a more democratic character, which I am doing now already btw. Though due to time constraints, not gone beyond Part IV. (Article 19).
b. Divorce ELD from PMO and CPIB from SPF. Put CPIB under newly-divorced ELD.
c. Dissolve MITA.
d. Get local arts people to manage NAC.
e. Make MOE immune to Parliament.
f. Establish a (temporary) minimum wage.
g. Get Fandi Ahmad to be principal of Sports Schoo
h. Sack Lim Boon Heng. (no personal grudge, merely to keep NTUC politically neutral) Separate FairPrice from NTUC.
Good points... +1
I like the Fandi Ahmad part, but can he run a school properly? 
Dissolve MITA for
Yeah CPIB should work like ICAC. Before 1997, ICAC reports directly to the Queen and no one else. But who can CPIB report to? President Nathan? Hmmm....
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---post deleted---
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Originally posted by ndsef:
nsdef,
[b]a. Rewrite the Constitution to gvie it a more democratic character, which I am doing now already btw. Though due to time constraints, not gone beyond Part IV. (Article 19).
b. Divorce ELD from PMO and CPIB from SPF. Put CPIB under newly-divorced ELD.
c. Dissolve MITA.
d. Get local arts people to manage NAC.
e. Make MOE immune to Parliament.
f. Establish a (temporary) minimum wage.
g. Get Fandi Ahmad to be principal of Sports Schoo
h. Sack Lim Boon Heng. (no personal grudge, merely to keep NTUC politically neutral) Separate FairPrice from NTUC.
Good points... +1 I like the Fandi Ahmad part, but can he run a school properly?
Dissolve MITA for
Yeah CPIB should work like ICAC. Before 1997, ICAC reports directly to the Queen and no one else. But who can CPIB report to? President Nathan? Hmmm....
[/b]
MITA is an outdated construct. MITAs only exist in dictatorships like NK and China.
As for Fandi Ahmad, let him try ok?
CPIB will report to the Chief Elector, the newly-independent head of ELD.
the pikamaster -
Siam siam siam!!! -
???Originally posted by ndsef:
Siam siam siam!!! 
the confused pikamaster -
I dream
I am a butterfly,
or am I
a butterfly
dreaming I am a man.
- Japanese haiku
How would you know
you are not living in The Matrix? -
The Matrix is all around you and the Matrix has you.
-
just wanted to inject some humour into this post lah...Originally posted by pikamaster:???
the confused pikamaster -
haha... I guess I was just looking for a more "educated" reply...Originally posted by ndsef:just wanted to inject some humour into this post lah...
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c. Dissolve MITA.
Isn't this the Ministry of information and the arts? Or am i reading wrong that you want to dissolve this?
e. Make MOE immune to Parliament.
By doing so, you make MOE a de-facto ministry answerable unto itself. It is less likely they will be more open to subsequent policy changes etc.
g. Get Fandi Ahmad to be principal of Sports School.
No offence but the only good that will come out of this is soccer players. The rest will rot in decay.
h. Sack Lim Boon Heng and CJ Yong. (no personal grudge, merely to keep NTUC and the Judiciary politically neutral.) Separate FairPrice from NTUC.
Not sack but rotate. A policy stipulating that presiding heads of positions in cabinets and judiciary should be rotated after a designated number of years, brings in change instead of one omnipotent person holding the chair till his last dying breath.
j. Make Prefectorial Boards, Student Councils and Student Unions independent of school administrative control. Abolish School uniforms and school ties.
Student council committees can't even manage themselves at sec sch level and you want to offer autonomy?
School uniforms given a sense of belonging and identity. It will be difficult to set a similar standard to plainclothes should that day come.
g. ban abortion.
This has been debated over countless times over countless years. No one policy can declare an outright banning of abortion despite its ills to society because it is in fact killing a foeteus, which being a living person, has a right to live.
i. Abolish the Death penalty and ban Euthanasia.
While the death penalty is primitive at times, there is no viable alternative for it at the moment. Life imprisonment doesn't even cut it. Perhaps if mind-warping (forcefully reprogramming a convict's mind to adhere to society) is possible in the future, it may be a humane substitution to the DP.
Euthanasia is a similar argument to Abortion, except this time, a person should be given the right to die in a dignified manner of his choosing.
l. Replace the ISA with a series of Acts providing the same functions, but respecting Citizens' privacy at the same time.
You can't re-design the ISA into a series of polices and still respect citizen's privacy. Then it won't work at all.
o. Make all companies in the country sell 50% of their shares to their staff. Establish by law that 50% of a Corporation's (as defined by the Constitution) shares must be owned by its staff.
No profit-making business will agree to your suggestion since it gives undue power to the staff which will eventually lead to 'company-hostage' situations in decision-making instances.
p. Dump SEF, NTUC and CASE into one debating body under the supervision of the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This body will be responsible for deciding on macro-economic policy.
It's still under the scrutiny of the MTI and MFA. What's the difference even if you dissolve them? Better to have them form an independent body to provide the necessary check on the welfare of consumers and workers, completely separate from the govt. The way the late Ong Teng Cheong sanctioned a strike by workers during his tenure as NTUC Chief in Jan 1986 showed how important it is to have your own union backing when workers are being exploited. It only succeeded when Ong withheld the news of the impending strike from the cabinet.
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0310/nat.singapore.ongiv.html -
I don't think we live in a matrix.
I am yet to find out that I can dodge bullets and leap from building top to building top.
Where is the matrix? plug me in please -
Hey people, The Matrix, is in Hollywood!
The very fact that we need to eat and s.h.i.t, says we aren't in "the matrix"!
The only matrix we are stuck in, is the same government we inevitably vite for everytime no matter how much people here grumbles!
...matrix... hah!!