democracy may or may not equate to prosperity but the fact remains that the most prosperous nations like USA are also the most democractic. in fact, it is in a very democratic city like Hong Kong that entrepreneurs like Li Ka Shing could fluorish.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Does democracy equate prosperity?
Frankly, I think if the Opposition can attract a successful entrepreneur like Li Ka Shing to join, they will have a good chance...he's got a good track record of making making for his company..
Originally posted by king108:i think you misunderstood rex. he is saying there is more to life than just making money be it for self, family or nation. that money is the vehicle to happiness and not happiness itself.
The part that running a country is just about making "money" should be related to: allow me to quote: [b]to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation. (As stated by our respectable late co-founder of Singapore, Mr S Rajaratnam.
It's is for the nation. No just big pocket for you or anyone that runs a country.
Living a commoner's life in Singapore, priority is still making money in order to survive. With one sufficient, he can then contribute to the nation development. Do you agree?.
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Fellow Rex, forgive me as I may have misinterpreted your statements. There are many types of businessman and/or entreprener. We need those that can create wealth, stable job opportunities, sharing wealth and care more for the society and no individual's pocket.Originally posted by snow leopard:i think you misunderstood rex. he is saying there is more to life than just making money be it for self, family or nation. that money is the vehicle to happiness and not happiness itself.
in any case, we also need to correctly interpret Mr Rajaratnam's words. what he means is that we should all make a good living so that we can all progress and prosper together.
just imagine, the govt needs to take over your home in order to build a new road. he gives you $1 as compensation. would you say "thank you very much i'm really happy this is for progress of the nation". if the govt does that to every other person, in the name of progress for the nation, then doesn't that become progress for the govt at the people's expense? sounds more like communist china isn't it?
King is king, no other king. Honestly, I don't know who is the one that you are refering to as "annonymouscoward"?Originally posted by ObviousMan:Why is anonymouscoward?
MIA since his last post, but came in to edit his profile.
Taking a walk in cyberspace park with the Internet Security Dogs?
Now got king108 hijack your thread --- a clone?
Just want to say this:
It is your right to remain anonymous, it is also your right to remain coward.
It is very easy to be an armchair critic, but it takes courage to be out there contesting. Just think what happened to those who contested in Cheng San.
Originally posted by king108:Mr anonymouscoward - Mr obviousman is waiting for you to service him. Regards.
Originally posted by anonymouscowardThanks Fellow anonymouscoward for your reply.
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Originally posted by king108:
There are many types of businessman and/or entreprener. We need those that can create wealth, stable job opportunities, sharing wealth and care more for the society and no individual's pocket.
similarly we need leaders who would create, not squander wealth, give us decent jobs instead of giving well paying jobs to foreigners and pay us better peanuts instead of paying itself multi-million dollar salaries.
Money is the vehicle to solve many problems, I would not said it is the happiness. But without money here, it is very stressful. Unfortunately, one had to face the real singapore, that is no money, no life. Unlike other countries, where there are still places that you still can survive with the need of some money. (depends on individual's requirements, material needs and expectation).
yes, life here is indeed unforgiving and it simply shows how uncompassionately our society is being run, which is totally different from the ideal that you wished for - a caring and sharing society. hence we really need an alternative govt that can balance the present unrelentless, unforgiving one.
A flat to me is actually for my shelter needs only and nothing else. A HDB flat only a lease to you, 60 years may be you will be relocated again. What there to be proud of having a 5 rms or even exec units. (only unless it landed and/or freehold 999)
but you can't be simultaneously encouraging people to have more kids and asking them to stay in small flats can you?
Your $1 compensation, is just like saying good morning to Mr Robin Hood. I don't want to spell it out (You know it). Don't bleed over this, it will only made you more miserable. Convert your misery into strength.
I had greeted Mr Robin Hood in a Monday morning few years back. I found myself 90% poorer after that. I think a lot of them who encountered what I encountered may have gone Heaven.
but he (who you wouldn't want to spell out) is no robin hood, for robin hood didn't rob for himself. neither did he pay himself million dollar salaries nor inherit a kingdom served on a platter.
cheers too
Originally posted by king108:
I had to agree with you that "to each his own and to each, his views and reasons."
if you read all his postings, you would realise his agenda is more than "to each his own" and he would readily fight tooth and claw to convince others that "his own" is better than "your own" although he didn't quite succeed ...
Grow up Kiddo.Originally posted by king108:King is king, no other king. Honestly, I don't know who is the one that you are refering to as "annonymouscoward"?
Did I make myself unknown to you. Just call me king then? If I am one, I won't be entertaining a "XXXX" like you.
Sorry I don't know you are handicapper, sitting on an armchair. I got 2 legs to walk.
You had yet to answer my point over the other column, is it will be too early or rightful for you to name any fellow singaporean anything you wanted?
I don't know what you refering on the last sentences...(Frankly speaking who you talking?)
No need to demote yourself from king to postman.Originally posted by king108:Mr obviousman is looking for you. Regards.
Just my way of checking by drawing you out dude.Originally posted by anonymouscoward:I've stated in my earlier post that I've read and wrote enough; and so I thought I'll sit back, come in to read once in a while and wait for the GE. Unfortunately, it seems that is not possible...
So.. to ObviousMan
I'm not King108. If there's anyone else in this thread who thinks like myself, I would say it's Oxford Mushroom. Reading past posting should give clarity as to whether King108 is my clone.
I chose this nickname because I didn't want to burn too many brain cells thinking of a nice nickname; only to realize that it has already been taken.
"Anonymous Coward" is a term applied within some online communities to describe users who post without a handle; it is a dummy name attributed to anonymous posts used by some weblogs that allow posting by people without registering for accounts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_Coward
I edited my profile... thanks to ObviousMan, who help me realize that it is actually possible to look into one's profile; although the information gathered may not be of much use and may not be true anyway (although mine is). It is not of importance for me to remain anonymous and I am willing to share with anyone my email address.
I'm not a coward. I supported opposition in their rallies and I would continue to do so. I would love to stand for election but I find myself unqualified, unconvincing and I have too dirty a past that I'll probably be a liability. I don't mind forking out $13000 although I seriously doubt the any party would make me pay with my own money if they felt I can do the job.
Lastly, I really don't want to make anymore comment on this thread. It has lost it's original intention of suggesting to the opposition that they should be pro-active in recruitment if they wish to win more votes than those from their fervent supporters. I would love to take up the challenge of making more arguments but I've been called childish for doing so.
After reading all the comments, I find myself questioning the value of having more opposition in the parliament. Almost everyone here believes there is no possibility of them becoming an alternative government (although I think they should); none believe that they are capable of blocking any policy made by the ruling party. And if all they can do is to question these policies, why the need for so many oppositions? ShouldnÂ’t they posses the qualities and knowledge of lawyers like CST and JBJ? I look at Thailand and their quest for "democracy" and I asked myself if I want to put this country into that situation.
I find myself more reluctant to vote for any candidates without substantial credentials.
There are supporters here who would vote for the opposition regardless of their candidates; there are those who would vote for the opposition if they have good candidates; they are those who would vote for any good candidates; and there are those who would support the PAP. To each his own and to each, his views and reasons. I am not ashame to say that my reasons are driven by economical, social and political stability.
Originally posted by anonymous_dickhead:
I have been following this thread and I usually just read for fun but I must say you guys are pretty mean to AnonymousCoward... especially SnowLeopard.
hello AD, since you already profess to sympathise with AC and to be in agweement with him, how do you convince us that you're not unbiased when it comes to judging who had been mean to who (first especially)?
Frankly, myself and I think most average and moderate Singaporeans will tend to agree with AnonymousCoward, OxfordMushroom and King108. Why vote for opposition party if those people are not up to mark? We should look at the person instead of just voting blindly on which party they come from. Those who have most to loose like HDB, jobs etc etc will definitely want a strong person for his ward and Singapore.
i do not deny that this perspective is very commonly taken by the people. what i would like to question is its wisdom with respect to the following:
are we not having double standards when it comes to passing judgement about not being up to mark? truth is people by and large also do not know the majority of the PAP candidates. but do they question their backgrounds? do they question their standards? so the same can be said about the many folks who vote for the PAP without even knowing the PAP candidates well. are they also not voting blindly as well? truth is, they'd probably vote for anybody that comes from the PAP because it has been (erroneously) regarded as the symbol of our success today.
secondly, many people like you, think that without the PAP, HDB will collapse, jobs will be lost but do you even question the wisdom of this thinking? will HDB function very differently, if at all?
finally, given the current unfair protection of the incumbent, there is no way (and no one has been able to show me how), the opposition can ever wrest control from the PAP and that being the case there is nothing to lose because like it or not, we would still have the same government. on the other hand if we do not have more alternative voices to represent us, we would surely be held ransom again.
AnonymousCoward's comments are sacrastic, and most time mean, but to his credit, he is being provoked by people who misunderstood his comment. Especially in Snowleopard and AnonymousCoward's exchanges. I must say Snowleopard started it first and AnonymousCoward is just defending his points. Some forumers here can be so prejudice to judge his because of his nickname and not read carefully his comment and his points. He probably got fed up and refuse to comment anymore.
since you are on his side, how do i know you're being fair to me saying he is being provoked while i was unprovoked? how can you say that i started it when the first insults were actually hurled by him? before you say i am prejudiced, how do i know you yourself are not being prejudiced? especially since you are siding with him ...
Isn't a good thing if the opposition can build up a strong reputation for themselves and possibly become an alternative choice for the government? But people can misunderstood this and call him and others PAP's spy and insult them... sigh... you support opposition, he support opposition but you guys fight internally. no wonder opposition cannot fly.
in the first place how do you build reputation? do you build reputation first before you get voted in or do you get voted in first before you establish your reputation? how do you establish your reputation if you do not get yourself voted in? do we know ministers Khaw, Tharman or Ng Eng Heng before they became ministers? the opposition cannot fly because they are chained to the ground by the weight of the GRC. i have no wish to squabble with anybody really. but if you insist on something that i feel is fundamentally wrong and i'm able to tell you why, then i would certainly do so. it is alright if you feel otherwise but do so with rhyme and reason and not with insults.
... think about how average and moderate people like myself will look at the opposition party and their supporters after reading this thread. Your obstinacy to vote for the opposition regardless of the quality of the party members will help loose precious votes because they will think the opposition party members cannot think.
but my obstinacy to vote for the opposition is the same as your obstinacy to vote for the incumbent. how come my obstinacy is viewed upon as inability to think while your obstinacy to vote for PAP, which is really not that different from the opposition, is seen as "can think"?
the PAP just announced three of their new candidates. these PAP candidates are appearing for the very first time out of nowhere too and up until now, we also did not know who they are.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Who are these Opposition party candidates who appear out of nowhere once every 4 years? Fact is: apart from the few MPs from the Opposition, we don't know who they are. Why should I think that they are any better than PAP candidates? If Prof Tommy Koh or Chan Heng Chee were to stand for election on the Opposition Party ticket, I would be the first to vote for them. I know these are people of high calibre and they have a proven track record.
But who are these Opposition Party members?
you have gotten me wrong. i did not say we should vote for the opposition even when they are not good enough. i merely asked those who claim that the opposition isn't good enough to examine the quality of the PAP candidates and ask themselves if their quality is any different. how would you rate PAP's Ong Ah Heng? i wouldn't say he is bad but are the opposition any worse compared to Ong Ah Heng?Originally posted by anonymous_dickhead:The difference is that some here (like AnonymousCoward) think the opposition party members are not good enough yet while others (like Snowleopard) think they should be given the chance whether good or not.
Originally posted by snow leopard: