~by: Ghui~
The last few days of a year about to pass away into history are always reflective ones. As the world sits at the cusp of 2012, it is time to take a long, hard look at the events that have reverberated the globe.
In many ways, 2011 has been an explosive year. These 12 tumultuous months heralded the advent of the Arab Spring, which paved the way for the collapse of many totalitarian regimes. The Occupy Wall Street movement was born. The London riots wreaked havoc across the city and spread all over England as the world watched, simultaneously horrified and enthralled. Deadly riots spread in Kazakhstan. In short, the world was not deprived of sensational headlines.
As 2011 draws to a close, without condoning violence, we must acknowledge the common denominator underlying each of these dramatic events. Despite the fact that they took place far apart from each other, similar emotions are easily identifiable. Anger at professed suppression, information, which brings about enlightenment and mass frustration at the status quo, which has spilled into large-scale demonstrations. A combustible threesome, which has seemingly rocked the world.
In our little island state, the Ménage à trois of anger, frustration and enlightenment also rings true. In the virtual world of the information age, Singaporeans became disenfranchised with the status quo as blunders were exposed. From the Orchard Road floods to the overcrowded public transport, the populace became acutely aware of the government’s shortcomings. For a people who were brought up to believe that the government could do no wrong, this was a severe shock to the system. Singaporeans felt betrayed and angry. The General Elections came along and the electorate was frustrated by what they interpreted as “more of the same” as apparently inept candidates such as Ms Tin Pei Ling were introduced. Her seeming unsuitability further highlighted by the similarly young but eloquent Ms Nicole Seah. Public backlash saw the PAP winning its lowest ever majority.
With the dust of the General Elections barely settling, the Presidential Elections rolled around and provided us with the most exciting year in Singaporean politics since 1965! Robust debates were rife and the election was contested like never before.
Although, Singaporeans did not resort to violence, 2011 was the dawn of a new age for us. It was our political awakening. As a nation, we came together and realised our democratic identity. It was not an anti PAP year, as some would argue. It was merely a year where we became politically alive. The ballot box spoke and the PAP retains its majority. The opposition parties merely gave them tougher competition, which afforded us, the voters, a better choice.
As we bid adieu to 2011, we have to applaud ourselves for having regained our political awareness. It is not about pro or anti PAP but simply about the right to make an informed choice and in many ways, 2011 brought that into our political consciousness.
I await 2012 with bated breath. The best is yet to be.
–
picture courtesy: Current Affairs
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
Let us keep the momentum going, spread the good news to the unconverted, keep demanding the best from the govt, and help to prepare a better govt in 2016!
Towards a better age, towards a first world parliament!
Wonder how many MPs and their families chose to ring in the New Year in their respective constituencies to mingle with people under their charge, instead of attending glam & showy New Year parties and flaunting their elitist status?
The PAP ministers and their lackeys are all busy huddling together on the pay review report, assuming that the Pay Review Committee is really honorable and above-board. Of course our self-elected ministers n MPs hv no time to mingle with the masses – it’s not their passion; their passion is in their year-end bonus on top of their absurdly ridiculous self-awarded salary with self-recommendation for annual pay-rise while at same time raising all costs on us citizens – ERP, COE, gantrys, petrol, electricity tariffs(increasing in Jan12), water tariffs, bus fares, MRT fares(ALL go to the stupid retrenched Malaysian nincompoop Saw), taxi fares(80% goes to NTUC not cabbies!), and of course, PAP’s favorite FT(foreign trash!). Every costs increases for us Singaporeans except for our salaries, job opportunities, job progression chances. And the damnit PAP still expect us to quietly n meekly support them!??! HELL WITH THEM ALL – PAP LACKEYS AND ALL FTs, and all those false PRs who are here to steal from Singaporeans!
Thank you GUI for articulating the hope that we would like to see happening to our nation in thecoming years. Have a peacful new year everyone.
Gdbye 2011 Welcome 2016!
2012 ushers in a 47% in the price of a botlle of black soy sauce. A botlle was $2.85 last month. Now $3.20
Black sauce is a necessity for poor family. Its their almost daily and only menu. A ministerial meal can feed 60 poor people.
47% increase
Lower classes are quick to show compassion in the face of suffering. The elites are very cold in response.
let me placed it bluentLEE
2011 was not a good ear for me nor my neighbours…
on the 1/1/11 @ 9pm preciseLEE met with an accident thru no fault of mine
hurt/pain liked hell…
waste $$$$$/waste skin/blood
then cum the USELESS erections where 65% of my neighbours voted in the useless overpaid pap party
not only that..me bloomin chronic illness start to corp up..cau$in me lotta$ wa$ted dough$$$$$ for treatment and neverendin outpatient xpensives consultation$ with hard ca$h upfront….
whoever tell me to rely on medicsave$/medic$hield$ will get a hard bollickin from ME…
final ear endin 2011 hit some1 rear end car..wasted $$$$$ again…
so to me good RIDDANCE 2011
More than 200 countries on the planet.
This little no resource, no economies of scale, tiny island in a green neighbourhood has again done exceptionally well.
100% and perfection is what the opposition expects.
But sorry lah.
Be thankful and count o0ur blessings.
The world is faring badly.
People have eyes and they can SEE.
Former MM has just donated from his own pockets, his hard earned savings, $12 000 000 to help our kids to become more bilingual in this dog-eat-dog world.
Who would unless you’re a billionaire entrepreneur.
ACSians and Rafflesians united? Never thought I’d see the day lol. “The best is yet to be”, and “Towards a better age”.
Singaporean1 January 2012
More than 200 countries on the planet.
This little no resource, no economies of scale, tiny island in a green neighbourhood has again done exceptionally well.
100% and perfection is what the opposition expects.
But sorry lah.
Be thankful and count o0ur blessings.
The world is faring badly.
People have eyes and they can SEE.
Former MM has just donated from his own pockets, his hard earned savings, $12 000 000 to help our kids to become more bilingual in this dog-eat-dog world.
Who would unless you’re a billionaire entrepreneur.
Singaporean1 January 2012
Former MM has just donated from his own pockets, his hard earned savings, $12 000 000 to help our kids to become more bilingual in this dog-eat-dog world.
Who would unless you’re a billionaire entrepreneur.
…………………..
you meant he can carried his $12 million$ to his coffin?
wah you 1 strong coffin bearer hor…
you aint no singaporean..you are a singaporium lacky…
I was hoping the last Despot would not have lived past 2012 so that i can enjoy the red wine written with his name in it and with words “not to be opened until despot is dead.”
But sadly , it survived 2011.
Here is my middle finger to you Despot! Fux U!
Your time will be up . Every second ticked away is every second nearer to your death.
You may be the lasr despot left, tyransaur.
You bloody TRex, each shit!
Yours
Kar Chua Shit Hang Thong
Only the able n powerful can survive in spore next year:
HPL properties :Nassim Jade n Scotts 28(average price $3 million in 1995):
These two developments are popular amongst the powerful:
LKY,LHL,Lai kc(judge),Freddy Lee(LKY bro),Lee Suan Yew(LKY bro),Kwa Kim Li(LKY niece),WeiLing,Lee Kim Mon(LKY sis married to Chan Chee Chiu),Gloria Lee(wife of Lee Kim Yew ),Tommy Koh.
N we hv up n coming Chan C.S. ,who was at mdm Kwa funeral wake recently.Next PM?
Why is Singapore touted by the world as an “economic miracle”?
Simple.
Can a provision shop (S’pore) survive side-by-side megamarts (resource-rich huge countries)?
No way.
But we did.
Coming to half a century.
Credit must go to the incumbent PAP government for managing the economy.
Pay peanuts we get monkeys and be submerged.
Ring a bell?
Our Singapore is heading towards Doom under One party.
Cant you see? all things are getting Worst.
Envy, Envy, Envy
2 hrs ago
Why is Singapore touted by the world as an “economic miracle”?
Simple.
Can a provision shop (S’pore) survive side-by-side megamarts (resource-rich huge countries)?
No way.
But we did.
Coming to half a century.
Credit must go to the incumbent PAP government for managing the economy.
Pay peanuts we get monkeys and be submerged.
Ring a bell?
—-
Bell rang in wrong way. It is unsubstainable and fake miracles. Very few home grown mega mncs, think only creative whom had to make it first in USA then sg pappies carried balls.
Importing fts.
High unemployment where lots of people didn’t want find jobs after 1 year. Cos cAnt find and jobs go to fts(foreign trash)
Our pappies no balls and no long term vision. And no wisdom and no compassion
Singaporean
19 hrs, 36 mins ago
More than 200 countries on the planet.
This little no resource, no economies of scale, tiny island in a green neighbourhood has again done exceptionally well.
100% and perfection is what the opposition expects.
But sorry lah.
Be thankful and count o0ur blessings.
The world is faring badly.
People have eyes and they can SEE.
Former MM has just donated from his own pockets, his hard earned savings, $12 000 000 to help our kids to become more bilingual in this dog-eat-dog world.
Who would unless you’re a billionaire entrepreneur.
—-
12 million is only 6mths pay at most. Lee is already hundred billionaire. Wake up your idea man
Thank you PAP for another good year.
How is the country managed so well these years?
We have NOTHING, NOTHING at all.
Empathise -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq2xwLsXsUU&feature=related
Realist 2 January 2012
Thanks for the stark reminder.
Yes, some people out there think that there is FREE lunch in this world.
Sadly . . NO.
And yet we are not there like so many of the povert-stricken underdeveloped countries considering we neither have the SIZE nor RESOURCES.
BBC yesterday remarked that only 1 of 10 shoppers are actually shopping. They don’t carry bags!
Just look at our shopping malls . . . .
Thank GOD for good governance. The team managing the economy shd be paid at least 1% of the GNP not 0.001%!
Even small factory owners operating in this congenial environment made good by the government are paid millions if not billions.
Logic my fren . . .
Fortunately, they have Chan C S, Kate Spate , Yeo G Kwang, Foo Mee and of course, the lovely Lui T Y.
This dream team should join LHL and contest in AJ GRC.
Of course, it may become AJ smc.
whahahahaha!!!
Wonder how’s the ministers pay going to look like …I do not expect much deviations from what they are getting .. maybe a bit less..but still million dollars.
Steve Goh 3 January 2012
Hello Economist.
Pay is tied to performance.
Measurable.
Anywhere. Everywhere.
Bosses’ pay is determined by their companies’ profits.
Likewise, hawkers, salesmen, etc.
The cabinet’s pay?
Common sense, right. The country’s GNP or GDP growth.
What proportion?
Look around the world.
Not easy managing the economy. Toughest!
US and Europe today?
So all equal – the perfect communism in the N Korean government?
Or the perfect socialism in the Myanmar government?
The lococomotive (government) that plans, organises, directs, leads, etc., is THE most important factor.
Pay peanuts and you will get . . .
For that you won’t have to look far awar.
Mr Stevie Wonder
Just name the heroes you want in our cabinet.
Forget abt the past 50 good PAP years.
Mr Chee, Mr Jufri, Mr Wijey, Mr Gomez . . .
When Aljunied PAP members lost what happened? The private sector grabbed grabbed them up. Everyone knows there’s no free ride in the private sector unlike the iron ricebowl public sector.
Action always speaks louder than words. Who will offer you a clerk’s job let alone a director’s post?
Deliver or Out
When Aljunied PAP members lost what happened? The private sector grabbed grabbed them up.. Who will offer you a clerk’s job let alone a director’s post?
…………
indeed a good grabber..a indonesian company grabbed sirgeorgeyeo and paid him just $18,000/month
bargained right?