I am very heartened to hear that you’ve managed to meet up with others at TOC and I hope you can continue to do so because, contrary to what I have been championing ie. online discussions, I have come to realise that there is also a need for some to meet up face to face.

What changed my stand was an article I came across recently relating how the govt intends to reach out to the citizens. This was a yr2006 plan and Amy Khor described it thus:

“….the agency is mindful that diffferent segments and demographic profile of the population are comfortable with different communication channels. Hence, the focus is not limited to online or media but a range of methods covering conventional face-to-face dialogues to SMS, web chats, discussion forums, blogs, and an interactive exhibition ………..”

Listening to this ade me realised that there is a need to reach out to the masses in the same manner that the govt has adopted. We have to compete and we do have the advantage because I believe the public has ears for news of a different kind. We have to bring this alternative to them in whatever way possible.

So you see, Patriot, your worldly-wise education has brought about an intellectual solution to a simple problem.

It proves that when one has a heart, one can see solutions in manifolds.

Nice to see you around again. We all learn from one another and hopefully we are better off together than alone.

Cheers.

when our Finance Minister talks about money, we expect him to, as it is his duty to deal with the National Economic Health. When the MM and SM(Posts Uniquely SIN) talk about money, we kind of accept it because they do not seem to have any specific duties and money maybe the most valued item to them. If the PM is also talking about money more than other issues, than I suspect something is wrong somewhere.

AND when Tranport, National Development, Sports and Social Development, Health, Education, Labour Ministers and other Parliamentarians all talk about money and much less other national affairs they make me feel wary and weary.

Met up with Redbean of My Singapore News, whom I got acquainted through his Blogs, for a fews hours. Soon after our self introductions, he sang praises for our leaders. I asked him why he was so respectful and he replied that the Old Guards have made Singapore into the present prosperous state that it is now.

As he is a financial sector professional, I expected him to talk about money just liked much of the contents in his Blogs. BUT, he was different in one aspect, he emphasized ethics in ‘money-makings’.

I would like to pen here that even if national prosperity is ethically achieved, but, at the expense of other social endeavours, it will still fall short of holistic and wholesome developments. Unless ethical financial gains naturally lead to all other wholesome attributes, putting all efforts to economic progresses alone is taking a tree mistakenly for a forest, very much like saying because of one capable man, the whole country progressed because of him.

A humane and happy society is likely able to motivate its’ people to do all their best for the developments and protection of their country. Making a country rich without the wealth evenly or fairly distributed, worse, suspected to have being misused, misinvested and remunerated unjustly only make the people sad and angry.

The few hours were too short for the Two of us to discuss much, we talked briefly about Western and Oriental Cultures, a little about the History of Singapore after Straits Settlement and about bloggers and netizens etc. I told redbean that I was looking forward to have the company of Zefly, however, I did not have his contact.

I like to hereby assure Gilbert and all others that none has offended me nor am I offended by any comments. However, I was scared off, not by Authority of any kind, but complements that were too ‘glorious’ for me, here in this Thread. Over the time that I was in Blogoland, I had revealed that I am lower secondary educated, very much a menial worker that job hopped frequently and presently laid off myself from work due to burn-out and is entering the twilight zone.

Cyberspace is the School where I get free education now and my contributions of comments and views are to those that I feel deserve the accolades, supports and sometimes criticisms, which I do hope were(are) justified and fair.

May come in for a peep once a while and say hello when inspired and or aroused.

patriot

Politicians like Tharma, Khaw, George did a good job in their respective ministries and should be appreciated. MPs like Mdm Yacob, Lee Siew Wah, Charles Chong and some others stood out from the rest during Parliament and asked some pointed questions. Charles also led the infamous white elephant protest so that the MRT station is opened.

Singaporean politics and governance suffered from a group-think mentality and is seriously flawed from improving the lives of our people. One can see that most of our politicians are technocrats and work more for nationalistic interest ie. they care more for the welfare of the country rather than the people. They want to see Singapore prospers, make it’s mark on the world map and gain the respect of the developed countries. They want to see our GDP grows, that we boast of a cosmopolitan work force and we are seen welcoming to foreigners (talent). Most of the government’s agenda irks the population as we hold different views from the govt. on what is best for us Never have I see how detached the governance is until these past few years. The recent steep tariff increase despite reporting sky-high profits, privatisation of public utilities at the expense of increase in costs pass down to the public and unfair political tactics have all but drive the most loyal PAP supporters away.

Perhaps we have given them the mandate to rule us election after election when we were knocked left right and center. They have became complacent and govern from the “I know best” attitude.

I am afriad that our best option for change is still at the polls – like the Americans. Change is at hand if we use our votes intelligently and bravely.

Lastly, don’t ask what the country can do for you but what can you do for the country?

when the Finance Minister talk about money, it is to be expected and in fact it is his duty to talk about the National Economic Health. When the MM(Uniquely only in SIN), SM(another Unique one in SIN) and PM also talk about money, we will still think okay, these people have very little else to interest them(selves). But, when You find your Health, Transport, Manpower, Sports and Social, Labour

I wholly disagree with your comments. It sounds very ‘defeatist’.

I say this because if you are to look at ‘opposition’ in the context of a political party, then, yes, most of the opposition parties are in hibernation mode at the moment. Then, it becomes “no point”.

However, if you are to look at the ‘opposition’ as a collective voice of the people, being able to come together at one gathering point to make this voice loud enough, then, it can be more effective than you’ve otherwise made it out to be.

I believe this is the recommendation made by TOC in post #230

No point. WP See no evil, talk on evil, hear no evil. Maybe in hibernation.

SDP, too busy getting themselves arrested or sued. Wonder what will they do if AG and PAP ignore them.

Reform Party — vehicle for JBJ. Now shell co.

Chiam’s party — vehicle for him.

Interesting that this discussion has gone on for so long. There’re like 226 comments to this article now, most of which are excellently civil. Thanks to everyone for making it so…

Perhaps someone should compile all the comments into a little booklet and sell it at Speakers’ Corner or something – and give free copies to the opposition parties…:)

Carry on, please…

We have heard of Singapore Inc where Singapore is run like a big corporation.

In politics, the equivalent of SG Inc is PAP Inc. As you’ve rightly observed, anyone who falls outside of this invite to join PAP Inc is not considered a ‘politician’. He is considered a pain in the butt.

For the same reason, all of us here; whom you have also correctly mentioned, would make good politicians but are considered pains in the butts because we too do not get invited to join the PAP White Inc.

Because of the exclusive membership, there are young academics who aspire for a life on the fast track to easy and assured riches who would do all they can to ensure that they are noticed and then get invited into this circle of exclusive membership.

Do you think these sort of people with these sort of ambitions would have the heart or the ability to speak for the people and represent them? Representing the people and speaking up for them will stall their personal advancement and might even end their dream of becoming ministers and thereafter to becoming chairman of big private corporations where the real money will flow in like water.

Look at the PAP MPs and you will notice that not one has prioritized the Singaporean’s interest over policies that make life difficult for the ordinary Singaporean.

To continue to be an exclusive member of this exclusive club and to continue to enjoy the obsene benefits that come with it, the member has to ensure that PAP Inc comes first before everything else. This is a sure road to riches.

It msut be the only place on earth where politics earns you more than you could as a businessman. Politics in Singapore is business. PAP Inc.

the other point about politician, or how politicians came about in other countries, is that they are just like entrepreneurs. they are the few little businessmen that have become successful while many faded into oblivion. they went through a long process before being accepted as leaders of their countries. as contrast to our present day politicians, many are instant trees/politicians, with instant success. one day a soldier or a doctor or a lawyer, the next day full fledged politicians, tested and done battle in the arena of a general election.

actually many of you here or anywhere else have the makings of a good politician, if your heart is in the right place. there must be genuine passion to want to do something for the people and nation. too much talent in making money is not a good attribute in a politician.

try a little caring and compassion. have a heart. these are simple ingredients of what is a good politician. of course there are professional politicians who thrive in being a politicians as a life long occupation.

now, did i digress from the interesting discussions you people are into?

Thanks for your affirmation. I feel hopeful now with great sites like TOC and brave souls like yourself who will fight for democracy and freedom.

It takes alot of guts for people to reveal themselves here and this must be appreciated. We are not like US or Europe whereby you can criticize the govt anyhow. So credit must be given to those who continue their fight here.

At least, I found a place where I belonged:)

Thanks alot TOC and Gemami.

I can see clearly that you’ve written the ‘hope’ in your heart in these pages. Many of us share the same hope.

However, hope alone is not enough to bring about a change in the political scenery. Hope can give you the drive to fight on, it can give you the strength to struggle on, it gives you the energy to plod on and most of all it gives you the believe that things can change. This is a much as it can do.

We need to do more than just ‘hope’. We need to breathe life into this ‘hope’. We need action. We need a course of action. We need a plan. We need a game plan. We need everyone who share the same sentiments to contribute their ideas, their plans, their solutions and whatever.

It does not matter if you present them as a joke, as a rebuttal, as an academic as a layman, rich or poor, tall or short, young or old, Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasion, these all do not matter. What matters is we are Singaporeans and we have the capacity to think, to plan, to decide what’s best for us.

We need to decide and decide soon enough. We have no time to waste.

We need change – and- CHANGE WILL COME! …. if we turn hope to reality.

YA I can feel your frustration right from here. We can learn a lesson or two from the recent US election. The public was frustrated at the Bush govt which did not do much to make things better for the Americans especially economically. They were deep in debt and the financial crisis precipitated the swift downfall of the Republicans. The worse thing is they lost to a brand new black senate American. Talking about the worse case scenario!

Singapore is facing the same situation back home. If we don’t take our protests to the polls, the ruling party will not relent. Some of them may even mock at us saying that we are “all talk no action”.

The polls is the best form of protest as it hurts where the heart is. It is a solid form of democratic defiance indicating that we are unhappy about how things have being.

Our ruling party has won too many elections handsomely and has turned arrogant and cocky. They are unable to comprehend the aspirations and frustrations of the common people having live in big houses and drive big cars themselves. They have gone for corporate governance without really feeling how the ground is. I can see there will be alot of swing votes in te 2011 election with quite alot of youth voters.

The oppositon parties have being really very quiet during this period and it does not endear them to the public. Surprisingly, non-partisan groups like TOC has risen up and caught the attention of the public who is looking for ward to a group or leader not from the govt body to point them the way.

Maybe they have lost so many elections that they may have resign themselves to not doing much at all. Their silence in this current financial crisis is deafeningly quiet.

Except for Khaw and Tharma, I cant see the rest of our ministers coming out to touch base with the ground. MP Lee who met a few times with the Serangoon Garden workers’ quarter saga also should be appreciated for her efforts to do something for the people. Our MPs are hardly public figures and besides attending to PArliament sittings and weekly Meet-The-People sessions, they are pretty much behind the scenes.

If we don’t take our protests to the polls, I am afriad we will live be governed pretty much the same way as before. As no matter what happened, there will be that majority who will vote for the ruling party. A swing vote of at least 5-10% needs to happen before any GRC can fall. Once that happens, something revolutionary may have happen in our land – not unlike that of the recent US election.