Ladies & Gentlemen: A Great Letter to Straits Times
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no matter what, im still hoping lao lee will take me as his godchild.
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He is "far too high above the ground" and in-touch with common people. Anyone on the ground who in touch with commpn people will know that or expected that not more than 73% votes will go to themOriginally posted by www:everytime i read this, i want to laugh. -
A good wish.. everyone is entitled his/her rights to some fantasies...Originally posted by digicharat:no matter what, im still hoping lao lee will take me as his godchild.
But you really don't know the man... to be someone close to him or for him to regard you as Godchild, you will have to be 99% close to being PERFECT PERSON in EVERY aspect. -
Let's not forget two blatant myths the fascist media distorted which give as accurate a reflection of a warped reality as having people believe Santa Claus actually delivers presents to kids every Christmas.
Firstly, there were those headlines that the PAP was not returned to power on nomination day. While it's true that the PAP had a theoretical chance of not garnering 50% of the seats in parliament, the myth fails to account for the fact that no other single party could have even chalked up 37 seats(to rival the number PAP had been assured on nomination day), even accounting for the theoretical chance that the PAP lost all 47 contested seats. In essence, under the practice of a parliamentary democracy, how could you effectively be 'out of power' if you still held the most seats in a coalition government?
Second myth - the PAP had a 66.6% mandate. This is utter nonsense. The fact of the matter is PAP won 66.6% of the valid votes cast, and not 66.6% of the total votes cast. Evidently, the figure does not account for the substantial share of invalid votes and needless to say, had this portion been factored in the statistics, their mandate is actually lower than 66.6%! Quite simply, how people who haven't been in favour of you(although not necessarily against you) could be cast aside and omitted from one's "mandate" is beyond me...
Well, welcome to the wonderful world of Singapore politics with a 'first world' government and a 'first world' media...
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It's rather difficult and misleading to look at pure figures and attempt to interpret their significance. The fact that 33.4% of the electorate voted for the opposition does not necessarily mean that all of those people were against the PAP per se. We cannot really speculate with any degree of accuracy on their intentions based just on the figure alone. Some might have voted for the opposition because they felt that the PAP had been too heavy-handed in the Gomez affair, some because they wanted to encourage the development of the opposition, some because they genuinely wanted the opposition candidates to be their MPs, some because they genuinely hated the PAP and would vote opposition come what may. We can't really tell unless we do an extensive ground survey. So without that both sides of the story are just rhetorical "spin"; both sides can claim victory without concrete proof and without fear from irrefutable refutation.
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... on the flip side, straits times would have ignored the letter.... so? is our press really government controlled?
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Die-hard PAP detractors would probably claim that it's just "wayang" by the Straits Times to fool the naive and gullible into believing that the Singapore press is impartial and unbiased.Originally posted by Chin Eng:... on the flip side, straits times would have ignored the letter.... so? is our press really government controlled? -
i hope the members of parliament would bump into this forum thread while net surfing.
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Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:Die-hard PAP detractors would probably claim that it's just "wayang" by the Straits Times to fool the naive and gullible into believing that the Singapore press is impartial and unbiased. exactly.... fact is, there is no such thing as impartial and unbias reporting.... SDP's DEMOCRAT is also bias towards their own views.
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In fact, another good letter was written right below it. Just read the last para is sufficient.
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I have been reading all this coming and going.... and let me share with you what my fellow singaporeans which i talked to as a "straw poll" thinks... below are quotes from what they said:
"I don't like PAP, but opposition lousy. so i vote PAP lor"
"Vote PAP lor, then what?"
"PAP no good, opposition not good, so I still think PAP should be govenment"
"I am not voting opposition, I don't want someone like Chee Soon Juan to be a Minister".
from a resident in the old "bukit gombak" (SDP ling how dong win Seet Ai Mei last time)
"If given another chance, I will not vote opposition, why? becos last time with Mr LHD as MP, we tell Mr Ling we want bus stop, but he didn't do anything, and then this pap guy come along and promise to do this and that... so we vote him lor!"
from another person on my comment that opposition should win a GRC:
"How can! Then a lot of MPs will be out you know. and at least one minister will be out! How Can!"
From a person which we were discussing about upgrade and I told her to vote based on national issues(need for opposition) rather then "local" issues.
"Elections is about upgrade mah, then what? what do we know about national issues??".
So you see, there is a very very slim chance that PAP will lose a GRC or even more seats, because the MAJORITY of singaporeans have no inkling what they are voting for or what the issues were....
There is no way we can reach out to these people, and they are ALL pretty well educated and are all professionals..... but they have no idea what is happening....
I tried to talk to them, but the "gap" is just too wide....
Also, MOST singaporeans feel that it is RIGHT for the PAP to dangle the PAP as a upgrading carrot. -
Why not his son-in-law? He still has an unmarried princess...Originally posted by digicharat:no matter what, im still hoping lao lee will take me as his godchild. -
Interesting point you noted there, but as with any reference to a 'mandate', I don't suppose you'd include people who aren't for you(whether they're against you or are just neutral is obviously another matter) as being people who actually support you, would you? If anything, a vote of abstention, is certainly never considered to be for compliance - case in point : if a resolution had to be passed at a UN General Assembly, any abstained votes will certainly never serve to count towards obtaining the mandatory 2/3 majority for a resolution to be passed.Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:It's rather difficult and misleading to look at pure figures and attempt to interpret their significance. The fact that 33.4% of the electorate voted for the opposition does not necessarily mean that all of those people were against the PAP per se. We cannot really speculate with any degree of accuracy on their intentions based just on the figure alone. Some might have voted for the opposition because they felt that the PAP had been too heavy-handed in the Gomez affair, some because they wanted to encourage the development of the opposition, some because they genuinely wanted the opposition candidates to be their MPs, some because they genuinely hated the PAP and would vote opposition come what may. We can't really tell unless we do an extensive ground survey. So without that both sides of the story are just rhetorical "spin"; both sides can claim victory without concrete proof and without fear from irrefutable refutation.
I mean that's a statistic - you wouldn't get a mandate anywhere close to 66.6% if you included the share of invalid votes(well, let's just give them the benefit of the doubt that the uncontested wards, had they been contested, would not have shaded this figure any further ). -
Seriously, I think that the ruling party has got to rethink how it should position itself. We are a rapidly maturing state and that our citizen's do have the ability to think for themselves, and know whats good for us. We don't need to be ruled with an iron fist, all we need is that room to really grow to make us a truly 1st class nation.
If a nation has petty politicians who pick on the tiny little things which the opposition does, and hurls lawsuits here and about during every election, what does this show the world about our government? Also, the very idea that there are GRCs which have walkovers are unrealistic. Everyone on the island should vote, why? As this will show that the election is a good guage of the people's decision on which party they want to have rule over them.
The issue of bribing the voters...this shows how underhand and strong armed the ruling party is doesn't it? If I can't convice you...I would just buy you. But don't forget, you are buying us with whose money? Is it your? I seriously doubt so...and add to the fact that we S'poreans are not a poor lot compared to other countries.We do have our pride, if you dangle the bribe infront of us, won't that be insulting our people? Won't that be telling the world that our people are so cheap can and will be bought over and its simply a matter of dollars and cents?
Lastly, I belief that the problem of voters and opposition parties being suppressed is actually a ticking timebomb which if not defused, will actually cause us more harm then good. -
I have not been to the North side of AMK where I used to live. So I went for a cup of coffee and met some heartlanders there. Impression I received is that they are quite happy for the PAP returning to power but someone indicated they would like to see PAP more accountable and undo many of the wrongs done by whatever means - they didn't suggest waht or how..
This morning I also went to deposit a garmen CPF cheque for an old man who is unable to go there so I went for a plate of ''Keow Teow har fun''. The lady said that it was good that the older people are getting some money from the government. I replied "well you should and see the queue up at the OCBC banks. .Some many of them could have it without the long wait and queue!''
And she and her husband quickly & quietly replied: " Oh, but the older people tend to worry, at least it's more '''ban sim"' !!!
so I also agreed.
Politics I say is just for those people here who think they are the exclusives and high minded , however, there are those at the bottom of the ladder in our economical attainments of social success status: the grassroots know '' far better'' and they voted accordingly, whatever the issues are involved!
BTW I voted for WP and they had quite a good result that I personally am happy too! Those outsiders are still outsiders and they did see well sometimes but mostly in error...sometime with a hidden agenda? who knows?
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Have to say these few days after the election ST forums page has been a lot more liberal with the letters they choose to publish ah?
Maybe the Iron Fist not so tight around their necks after the elections already... -
Don't be too sure. Never assume.Originally posted by Himbo:Have to say these few days after the election ST forums page has been a lot more liberal with the letters they choose to publish ah?
Maybe the Iron Fist not so tight around their necks after the elections already...
For all we know, they have taken a few steps back, take a broad look at the whole scene, reload their powerful shotguns with ammo, and then come blazing after whoever the deem have Defamed them.
Defame? What's there to defame? -
how come they never destroy this link?Originally posted by www:everytime i read this, i want to laugh. -
Lemme ask you peoples;
Do you respect a boss who can take critisms from his employees, or, a boss who will sack anyone who critises him and has an air of arrogance just because he is in charge and ALMIGHTY over you? -
as an employee, i would choose the first one.Originally posted by ShutterBug:Lemme ask you peoples;
Do you respect a boss who can take critisms from his employees, or, a boss who will sack anyone who critises him and has an air of arrogance just because he is in charge and ALMIGHTY over you?
but as an employer, i will be the latter one. -
They forgot one thing...we put them in power.It is OUR assets which they are managing. But perhaps the ruling party will loosen its iron grip once our citizens show that we can be responsible for ourselves. For though I am only a 19yr old student, I see that many of my peers in school are totally not bothered about small simple things and haf to be "spoon-fed" all the time. If only the people are united and not selfish, then will we be able to change. Mark my words, for a country to succeed, not only must the party in power be strong and clear in their heading, but also the people must be responsible for ourselves.
Its sad that we have lost our empathy in this mad rat race, and makes me question myself what is life about. Now that our empathy is gone, will our humanity towards each other be gone in a few decades? If we wanna change, we gotta change now..it starts from those who have read this, and it will spread. Its like u help many, many will help you. -
i'm of the same age as you. its strange how many of my sec school friends from the mainstream schools are like yours. they are more worried about the pimple of their faces, or what to wear tomorrow than national issues. However, most students in my present class now are always questioning the system. i think the way the school teaches us also plays apart in being more aware about the political scene, and not just accepting what is provided.Originally posted by SpecOps87:They forgot one thing...we put them in power.It is OUR assets which they are managing. But perhaps the ruling party will loosen its iron grip once our citizens show that we can be responsible for ourselves. For though I am only a 19yr old student, I see that many of my peers in school are totally not bothered about small simple things and haf to be "spoon-fed" all the time. If only the people are united and not selfish, then will we be able to change. Mark my words, for a country to succeed, not only must the party in power be strong and clear in their heading, but also the people must be responsible for ourselves.
Its sad that we have lost our empathy in this mad rat race, and makes me question myself what is life about. Now that our empathy is gone, will our humanity towards each other be gone in a few decades? If we wanna change, we gotta change now..it starts from those who have read this, and it will spread. Its like u help many, many will help you. -
dont u think social ttalks 2 much on wad the garmen PAP has done housing, health care blah blah. ! that is the 'political scene' we r being taught.Originally posted by inextremo:i'm of the same age as you. its strange how many of my sec school friends from the mainstream schools are like yours. they are more worried about the pimple of their faces, or what to wear tomorrow than national issues. However, most students in my present class now are always questioning the system. i think the way the school teaches us also plays apart in being more aware about the political scene, and not just accepting what is provided. -
The sad thing is that we Singaporeans have only got ourselves to blame for being in this whole political mess in the first place. The situation now seems to be that in the minds of many, everything PAP == Singapore and that everything Opposition == traitor.Originally posted by SpecOps87:They forgot one thing...we put them in power.It is OUR assets which they are managing. But perhaps the ruling party will loosen its iron grip once our citizens show that we can be responsible for ourselves. For though I am only a 19yr old student, I see that many of my peers in school are totally not bothered about small simple things and haf to be "spoon-fed" all the time. If only the people are united and not selfish, then will we be able to change. Mark my words, for a country to succeed, not only must the party in power be strong and clear in their heading, but also the people must be responsible for ourselves.
Its sad that we have lost our empathy in this mad rat race, and makes me question myself what is life about. Now that our empathy is gone, will our humanity towards each other be gone in a few decades? If we wanna change, we gotta change now..it starts from those who have read this, and it will spread. Its like u help many, many will help you.
It really, really broke my heart when I saw the MSN nick of one of my friends on the night of the election. It said: 'Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!' To me the implication of that is clear: PAP is Singapore, and Singapore is PAP. He thinks that to be Singaporean, you have to support PAP, and that everything to do with the opposition isn't Singaporean at all.
Let's face it; in the minds of many, all those who don't support PAP don't deserve to be called Singaporeans. They don't seem to realise that many a time, anti-PAP can be the same as pro-Singapore as well. And those of us who do realise it and start questioning PAP's policies and practices get labelled as 'traitors' and 'ingrates' by the majority.
In this light, I find it hard not to despair. The only hope I can see is that PAP's mandate is indeed weakening, no matter how much they say. The statistics speak for themselves: they fared worse compared to the previous elections.
The sad thing is that the population seems to have swallowed their claim that they have a 'strong mandate' hook, line, and sinker.
If we're ever gonna turn the situation around in this country, it's up to the people to realise just how far down the black hole we've come. Our situation will never change if the people are going to continue with this sense of apathy and naivete. -
and that is the reason why we each have a part to play in ensuring we give the lil ones a place that I can trust to nurture them.Originally posted by the Bear:we never own anything... we just hold it in trust for our children
isn't that, in itself, worth working hard for?
the status quo is not good enough, reforms are needed..but a overnight collapse of the status quo will be more harmful than good.