My vote for the coming elections
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Originally posted by Aveme:
If the serial numbers are linked to one piece of voting slip to one voter - how much more secure can it be ?
If there is a security leak in the first place,serial number authentification could also be tampered with?For me it does seems so that the voting slip is designed specifically to introduce fear even if they try their best to tell us it is not.
And well supposedly even if we can ignore the fear factor,it will still need a very credible opposition party for people to want to vote the other way.Ignoring fear does not means one will be irrational.Having oppostion party candidates like this Dr Chee who only know how to complain while not coming up with any good solutions and also trying to make singapore look bad by complaining to foreign parties does not in the end give much choice for voters to vote anyway? For me,i will definately vote for this present goverment even if i may not have a positive impression of them than to vote for some clown
Security leak in the form of un-numbered special paper, or duplicate stamps can still result in the ballot box being stuffed by ghost voters helping out any one particular political party.
Credible Opposition Party depends very much on how much we are prepared to listen AFTER FORTY YEARS of brainwashing by the Ruling Party - based on the DOUBLE STANDARDS that they impose on the Opposition and leaving themselves out.
Do you seriously believe that credibility is based merely on what the Government say who is a credible opposition ?
I would measure credibility by the level of INSECURITY that the Government a.k.a the Ruling Political Party display over certain Opposition Candidate.
Too bad that your opinion of CSJ seems to be colored by the insecure opinions of the Ruling Political Party.
It is amazing that you can make such a sweeping statement that he "know only how to complain while not coming up with any good solutions" - where on earth did you get this idea from ?
If he only can complain - how did he get pulled into the SDP to work with CST ?
The internal politics inside SDP is another story, and there is more then meet the eye in the relationship between CST and the Ruling Political Party that caused the SDP members to have CSJ take over the Secretary-General Position from CST.
Should CSJ be blame if the SDP members elected CST out of office, and have him take over the chair in SDP ?
If you think that he has no solutions for all his complains, perhaps you should visit SDP and look up the books that he has written which detailed all the mistakes that this Ruling Political Party has made over the last FORTY YEARS, and the solutions that should have been taken.
It was with some surprise that the 2003 Economic Review Committee had some of their recommendations seemingly close to the writing of CSJ - which was written EIGHT YEARS EARLIER !
If you wait until some Opposition Member whom you believe is credible before voting him or her into Parliament, there may not be any Singapore left that is worth saving after another FORTY YEARS of monopoly power by the Ruling Political Party.
If no one is ever given the chance to perform the job, how do you go about in forming your opinion of that person is credible and qualified ? -
Originally posted by Atobe:
Don't understand the 2 quotes. Don't tell me what they mean. I will find out when I grow older. Experience accumulated over the years will help me.
The present situation of your imagination being unable to accept having other political parties to lead us - can only confirm the darkest fear that after FORTY YEARS of controlling all Life in Singapore, it has resulted in a successful operation to psychological enslave the Singapore Citizens to a common propaganda that feed on the fear of Citizens towards the unknown.
[b]You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)[/b] -
CSJ might be arranged by the govt to spoilt the images of the oppositions parties. A guy with doctorate would shout at the leader of the country....? is quite hard to believe...for whatever..PAP is getting very arrogant these days..especially the founder.Originally posted by gorby107:My Opinion:
I won't vote for the SDP
The Chairman, Mr Chee Soon Juan is spoiling the image of Singapore and not doing any good for Singapore.
He just complain about Singapore problems to other countries
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Do you remember the name of the book? I would like to read more about the solutions CSJ has proposed, coz the state media always paint him as a complainer.Originally posted by Atobe:If you think that he has no solutions for all his complains, perhaps you should visit SDP and look up the books that he has written which detailed all the mistakes that this Ruling Political Party has made over the last FORTY YEARS, and the solutions that should have been taken.
It was with some surprise that the 2003 Economic Review Committee had some of their recommendations seemingly close to the writing of CSJ - which was written EIGHT YEARS EARLIER ! -
I remember that he raised very important points during the Select Committee on Healthcare a few years back, and how they were rebutted by the Minister then as baseless and without reason.Originally posted by Calvin86:Do you remember the name of the book? I would like to read more about the solutions CSJ has proposed, coz the state media always paint him as a complainer.
and then you have the NKF saga.
Flamebait?I don't think so.He could use a dose of calm though, because if he's calm but still with poise and force, he could be a good legislator.But yelling at GCT was a no-no, he could have held a press conference and that would have been more effective. -
Yeah i agree he could use a dose of calm and should concentrate on domestic issues instead of human rights. He commited politcal suicide when he shouted at the popular GCT.Originally posted by LazerLordz:I remember that he raised very important points during the Select Committee on Healthcare a few years back, and how they were rebutted by the Minister then as baseless and without reason.
and then you have the NKF saga.
Flamebait?I don't think so.He could use a dose of calm though, because if he's calm but still with poise and force, he could be a good legislator.But yelling at GCT was a no-no, he could have held a press conference and that would have been more effective.
At least, his fate is not as bad as Francis Seow. The former Law society President's records were dug up like Andrew Kuan and was charged with tax evasion and also went under arrest under ISA. Maybe its a blessing in disguise for him to commit political suicide. It could have been worse.
For opposition members that dares to argues with PAP, they are already putting their personal wealth at stake. They also face the risk of their personal records being dug up, or bankrupted like the former opposition members.
So when PAP tells says you cant vote because of weak opposition and not because of GRC, take it with a pinch of salt. -
Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:
Does Singapore have time for anyone to grow older and accumulate enough experience over the years to understand enough to make any decision ?
Don't understand the 2 quotes. Don't tell me what they mean. I will find out when I grow older. Experience accumulated over the years will help me.
Is there any good in basing one's decision on the fear of the unknown, not stepping out to seek an alternative but to remain in one's comfort zone ?
Can it be any safer to choose the devil that you know against one that you do not, and continue with the status quo for another few more FIVE YEAR TERM into internity ?
If every opposition candidate is not given a chance to prove his mettle, and learn on the job, how can we know if the Opposition Candidate is effective ?
In the present system, the NEW CANDIDATES from the Ruling Political Party are given an opportunity to prove themselves by being pulled through a GRC election system, allowed to gain political experience by making mistakes and having the peers to clean up, and a publicity machine to gloss over the rough edges.
If the Opposition Candidate is handicapped, it is our duty as Singaporeans to be more flexible and give these Singaporeans who are prepared to open themselves to public scrutiny - sacrificing their family life and their own comfort zone - so as to make a difference for Singaporeans and Singapore.
The least we can do is to make our individual effort to give them our vote.
What is the risk to Singapore - if we have 30 to 45% PARLIAMENT SEATS to the Opposition ?
It will mean that the Ruling Political Party CANNOT push through legislations at their own whim and fancy to tighten their grip on the Lives of Singaporeans. -
Originally posted by Lowclassman:
Can CSJ be "arranged by the govt to spoilt the images of the oppositions parties" ?
CSJ might be arranged by the govt to spoilt the images of the oppositions parties. A guy with doctorate would shout at the leader of the country....? is quite hard to believe...for whatever..PAP is getting very arrogant these days..especially the founder.
He went to jail for at least two occassions - a seven day jail in 1999 for making a PUBLIC SPEECH without a licence; and the second occassion - a FIVE week jail term in 2002 for holding a Public May Day Rally without permit.
Both his INCARCERATION and ABUSE suffered at the hands of the Singapore Prison system were for his effort to bring publicity to the nonsensical attitude of the Ruling Political Party towards the Singapore Constitution that guarantees Singaporeans' Right to Assemble and to Free Speech.
Can someone with a Doctorate Degree volunteer to be a 'Fall Guy' and go to jail - simply to tarnish the image of all opposition parties ?
Perhaps we should look at CSJ shouting at the leader of the country - as what many Singaporeans would want to do, and as a practising psychologist it must have been a tremendous relief to have done so ?
In any case, during the election campaign - GCT is only a caretaker PM - as he had dissolved Parliament - and is no longer a PM in the Election Period BUT another CANDIDATE from the OTHER PARTY offering themselves to be elected.
The Government owned and managed Publicity Machines have been manipulated by the Ruling Political Party to run overtime to paint CSJ in the worst possible angle with this "shouting incident" - and for his daring to question GCT - "WHERE IS THE 10 BILLION DOLLARS LOAN TO SUHARTO ? " a libel suit was taken up to bankrupt him - not for the question raised BUT for the brazen behavior in challenging so public a sensitive issue of $10 BILLION DOLLAR of PUBLIC MONEY.
Unfortunately that question remains a valid question despite the attempt to some clever answers being made in Parliament, but the public was cowed to silence by the libel suit that bankrupted CSJ for the question that was shouted.
With all these sacrifices made by this Singaporean, could he possibly be planted by the Ruling Political Party ? -
Originally posted by Lowclassman:CSJ might be arranged by the govt to spoilt the images of the oppositions parties. A guy with doctorate would shout at the leader of the country....? is quite hard to believe...for whatever..PAP is getting very arrogant these days..especially the founder.
Like that
CSJ and SDP are puppet of the government???
Seems that Chee pop out from nowhere when the SDP is formed????
Is that true??? I am not so experienced yet -
Originally posted by Calvin86:
CSJ has written at least four books, but the one I bought for keeping was about the best one that he had written - as he offered a critical analysis of the faults of Singapore under the rule of the present Political Party, and also offered the solutions that the "Think Tank" at SDP has come up with :
Do you remember the name of the book? I would like to read more about the solutions CSJ has proposed, coz the state media always paint him as a complainer.
"Your Future, My Faith, Our Freedom" - 2001
The other books are :
"Dare to Change - An Alternative Vision for Singapore" - 1994
"Singapore, My Home Too" - 1995
"To Be Free : Stories from Asia's Struggle against Oppression" - 1995
Late Addition:
It seems that a new book was launched in June 2005 titled:
"Power of Courage : Effecting Political Change in Singapore Through Non-Violence" -
Originally posted by gorby107:
Perhaps a study in history will help you clear some doubts and also get an insight as to how CSJ took over the reins of SDP from CST.
Like that
CSJ and SDP are puppet of the government???
Seems that Chee pop out from nowhere when the SDP is formed????
Is that true??? I am not so experienced yet
From the reading of the following article on Singapore Democratic Party it will give you the information that you seek, as it has given me some new angles in the political struggle between the SDP grassroots and its party leaders. -
Originally posted by Atobe:
Changing things with non-violent resistance? Is CSJ taking some lessons from Martin Luther King?
CSJ has written at least four books, but the one I bought for keeping was about the best one that he had written - as he offered a critical analysis of the faults of Singapore under the rule of the present Political Party, and also offered the solutions that the "Think Tank" at SDP has come up with :
"[b]Your Future, My Faith, Our Freedom" - 2001
The other books are :
"Dare to Change - An Alternative Vision for Singapore" - 1994
"Singapore, My Home Too" - 1995
"To Be Free : Stories from Asia's Struggle against Oppression" - 1995
Late Addition:
It seems that a new book was launched in June 2005 titled:
"Power of Courage : Effecting Political Change in Singapore Through Non-Violence"
[/b]
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I vote for workers's party when I become egliable to vote because simply there is too many pple vote for PAP and to balance the votes and dun make PAP to be complacent I will vote for Opposition parties and the Opposition Parties Voice / Influence is 2 little in the government they need a bigger Voice / Influence
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Got time or no time, I won't know. This GE has not even started, much less knowing the results.Originally posted by Atobe:Does Singapore have time for anyone to grow older and accumulate enough experience over the years to understand enough to make any decision ?
Is there any good in basing one's decision on the fear of the unknown, not stepping out to seek an alternative but to remain in one's comfort zone ?
Can it be any safer to choose the devil that you know against one that you do not, and continue with the status quo for another few more FIVE YEAR TERM into internity ?
If every opposition candidate is not given a chance to prove his mettle, and learn on the job, how can we know if the Opposition Candidate is effective ?
In the present system, the NEW CANDIDATES from the Ruling Political Party are given an opportunity to prove themselves by being pulled through a GRC election system, allowed to gain political experience by making mistakes and having the peers to clean up, and a publicity machine to gloss over the rough edges.
If the Opposition Candidate is handicapped, it is our duty as Singaporeans to be more flexible and give these Singaporeans who are prepared to open themselves to public scrutiny - sacrificing their family life and their own comfort zone - so as to make a difference for Singaporeans and Singapore.
The least we can do is to make our individual effort to give them our vote.
What is the risk to Singapore - if we have 30 to 45% PARLIAMENT SEATS to the Opposition ?
It will mean that the Ruling Political Party CANNOT push through legislations at their own whim and fancy to tighten their grip on the Lives of Singaporeans.
Stepping out of comfort zone... I can't take it as of now, I need more time to do so. But looking at the things now, I probably will do so earlier. It's only a matter of age. -
I think the biggest problem here is not about whose right or wrong, but Singaporean voters in general think that their individual votes have no effect on the overall political system. Democracy cannot be achieved without citizen participation.
Just a cautionary statement from pre-WWII history: Hitler was immensely popular in Germany and was voted in the German Parliament. We know it was a historical disaster. The main point is Hitler was democractically elected into the parliament. Germany's Nazi history serves to remind us that popularity does not justify if a politician has a sound manifesto. It makes you wonder how many German voters actually assess Hitler's manifesto?
I think the same question applies for Singapore too:
1. How many Singaporean voters assess the PAP manifesto?
2. How many Singaporean voters assess the WP manifesto?
3. How many Singaporean voters assess the SDP manifesto?
4. How many Singaporean voters assess all the manifesto? -
The tenable position the Ruling party has carefully build up over 40 years has placed voters in a difficult choice.
The way i see it, many people are upset with actions and decisions made by the Ruling party. But the logical choice is as good as no choice at all.
Choose between PAP or an opposition member of untried calibre.
In today's context, that is as good as choosing between the lesser of two 'evils'.
Choose the Ruling party and continue to be subjected to their mundane and 'infallible' leadership? Or choose a young blood who could potentially point us in a fresh direction?
The choice isn't that difficult if you live in landed property, had a good education and enjoy the relative comforts of the middle-income living. There is unfortunately, very little the ruling party has done to earn these voters. As a result, single-seat wards like Nee Soon South almost fell to opposition hands in a 49%-51% in the 90s elections. Soon after, Nee Soon South boundaries were annexed and formed part of the new AMK GRC under current PM LHL.
The result is that such residents have not voted in the last 15 years.
In contrast, average-low income living citizens have a heavier reliance on rebates and grants from the govt. This 'dependency' syndrome means that for a significant defection to opposition votes, these people are voluntarily giving up these 'necessities' to an opposition candidate whom may be effectively 'powerless' to provide to his constituents in the same manner as the PAP.
For these people, is it any choice really?
On the other hand, if i digress a little, many people claim that the current crop of oppostion candidates are unknown, untried and untested.
But as LKY himself admitted in a recent interview about his running for the upcoming election, GRCs promote the introduction of such 'unknown, untried and untested' PAP candidates into parliament.
Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee is just one such unknown candidate who has been in Tanjong Pagar GRC for the last 15 years, a GRC which has been UNCHALLENGED since 1991 when Professor Koo joined LKY in a 4 member team. In short, NO ONE has VOTED for associate professor Koo for 15 years. Yet he remains an MP.
Ironically, the first time i ever heard of him was when he wrote out in response to Geroge Soros's claims in the ST forum entitled: S'pore is an open society despite what Soros says
And incidently, he happens to be the current Senior Parliamentary Secretary in 2 ministries: the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
references:
http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2006/yax-540.htm -
Originally posted by Atobe:
Thank you
Perhaps a study in history will help you clear some doubts and also get an insight as to how CSJ took over the reins of SDP from CST.
From the reading of the following article on [b]Singapore Democratic Party it will give you the information that you seek, as it has given me some new angles in the political struggle between the SDP grassroots and its party leaders.
[/b]
Seriously
If Dr Chee want to give us good impression on him. He should talk/interact with us through house visit, forums and.......... He should not only focus on going for meeting that is held overseas -
Originally posted by gorby107:
Thank you for asking, which got me to search for some updated information concerning the "old history" of the Singapore Democratic Party.
Thank you
Seriously
If Dr Chee want to give us good impression on him. He should talk/interact with us through house visit, forums and.......... He should not only focus on going for meeting that is held overseas
If you are serously interested to know more - instead of waiting for him to visit you, why not simply contact SDP ?
Alternatively you can check the SDP website to find out about upcoming events. -
Doesn't the GRC system force the public to vote for a PAP candidate of untried calibre if the candidate himself is contested with a group of PAP candidates who are political heavy-weights? How come the electoral procedural rules are making political campaigning an unfair ground?Originally posted by BillyBong:Choose between PAP or an opposition member of untried calibre.
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I think it would be very useful to Singaporeans to have a listing of various issues and know where the ruling party stands in relation to the Opposition. As more manifestos are published, we can fill in the gaps and perhaps then we will be in a better position to vote. For starters, I have initiated the following list and hope that others will add to it:
Affordable healthcare
PAP: Emphasize personal responsibility, relying on Medisave, medishield and personal health insurance policies that can be bought through medisave, possible means testing for ward allocation in future
WP: healthcare costs to be largely funded by the government with co-payment of basic hospital insurance, means testing for certain services, subsidies for those who cannot afford basic hospital insurance, HIV drugs and treatment to be provided to all
Greater sanctions against NS dodgers:
PAP: For (new legislation passed)
Opposition
?
Abolish Elected President
PAP: Against
WP: For
Proportional representation
PAP: Against
WP: For
Abolish Internal Security Act
PAP: Against
WP: For
I like some things in the WP manifesto but I am wary of their facts and figures. Just confining my comments to the healthcare sector that I am more familiar with, the WP is in favour of greater government funding. However, it has not given us any indication as to how much more subsidy they expect. Perhaps they do not know themselves (have they done their sums?). How are they going to fund the difference?
My fear is that because the WP does not expect to have to form the government they feel they can demand for more spending without having to handle the negative aspects of the policy, such as higher taxes, decreasing competitiveness and a dependent culture. -
My fear is that because the WP does not expect to have to form the government they feel they can demand for more spending without having to handle the negative aspects of the policy, such as higher taxes, decreasing competitiveness and a dependent culture.
I have studied in Social Studies about UK's health system. Citizens and businesses in UK have to high taxes because of NHC (or whatever it is called). In effect, lots of companies left UK for other countries to do business.
I am not sure about the dependent culture. But one thing about free healthcare is that doctors aren't as ethical. They just prescribe the medicine freely, especially those expensive ones like HIV drugs. It added more costs to the healthcare, and it was written in the textbook that they spent more than 10% on healthcare only. -
How about having free and compulsory primary education, anyone?
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You are saying Finland, Sweden etc?Originally posted by iveco:How about having free and compulsory primary education, anyone? -
It is worth considering. Basic education is very important.Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:You are saying Finland, Sweden etc? -
It's called NHS - National Health Service. What is wrong with doctors prescribing drugs "freely"? My God.. you sounded brain-washed. The public sector doctors in the UK are helping sick people by giving them the best medicine and you condemn them for over-spending public money.Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:I'm not sure about the dependent culture. But one thing about free healthcare is that doctors aren't as ethical. They just prescribe the medicine freely, especially those expensive ones like HIV drugs. It added more costs to the healthcare, and it was written in the textbook that they spent more than 10% on healthcare only.
I think it's good enough that we have cheap education here in Singapore. However, there are some causes for concerns:Originally posted by iveco:How about having free and compulsory primary education, anyone?
1. Why are foreigners paying the same fees as Singaporeans for tertiary education? They ought to be paying at least 50% higher and still being bonded to Singapore for at 3years.
2. Isn't primary education insufficient to meet the demands for today's knowledge economy? It makes more sense that the minimum education level should be secondary, so that the individual is still elligible to apply for technical institutes or polytechnics in future, when the need arises.
3. How much reliable health-care data is made available to the oppposition parties?