Comments on: Singapore’s missing pillars of democracy (Part 2): What are we actually missing?

By: citizenofSG

citizenofSG — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:03:42 +0000

What I observed about people here is that they are striving for an ideal? To some people election must be absolutely in a form that should benefit the opposition specifically. When the opposition are unable to gather enough resource to contest in a GRC, there is lack of democracy. When PAP is unwilling to yield to the outcry demand, there is no democracy.
This discussion of democracy is not real because pragmatism has no place in their ideal democracy. Democracy is an ideal and will remain as one. It is prone to abused because people can never be settled or find real consensus.
So what if there is discrepancies, gerrymandering and chicanery, we must not be cowed by this. Knowing that we will get nowhere by demanding for that absolute democracy why don’t we just be practical and see how we can do our best within the set piece situation.
Every Asian country is the same, election is never ideal and people in power will not yield to petty demand.
The pillars of democracy is at best a guide, test it on every Asian countries and you may have mostly the same result with most failing the mean test.
Yes we can push on for it, meantime the way to achieve all pillars of democracy is to plot and chart the treacherous journey. The end of the search will not even be there even when the opposition finally populate the parliament.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:50 +0000

Primal Fear on Tue, 27th Oct 2009 10:18 pm

..”u believe me right , readers?”

No!!

Meritocracy DOES NOT exist when there are so many unsackable deadwoods around and these allowed parasitic ( maybe toxic as well???) mushrooms to grow on them.

By: for singapore

for singapore — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:56:04 +0000

@Amanda
well blame it on globalisation!!!
same answer should apply to the above: foreign talents???

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:16:20 +0000

Any one realised that the US took years itself to become democratic while it is forcing other countries to do so immediately (See Ha Joon Chang’s book)

By: Primal Fear

Primal Fear — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:18:10 +0000

“Until the GRC contraption is removed out of the way, any talk of democracy here is medieval and hypocritical.”

I agree with most views here that while Change is wanted by many, ‘many’ is a growing number that is unfortunately not the Majority.

I see things simplistically. There is just 1 historical event that need to happen before the new beginning.

Till then, status quo.

Waht is great about the system is many of the leaders got to where they are without use of prejudice nor favor as they have risen to their positions base on meritocracy and without nepotism and kangism.

u believe me right , readers?

By: fair and square

fair and square — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:49:40 +0000

I guess some of you guys may be as amazed as me and wonder why the same people who laud foreign talents in the name of fair
competition do not understand that GRCs system goes against
the veiws they hold so dearly on FAIR COMPETITION?
i truly need some enlightenment.
If we don’t allow for competition,how can we have “CBF” ministers for taxpayers?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:27:45 +0000

Until the GRC contraption is removed out of the way, any talk of democracy here is medieval and hypocritical. We have NOT even a single pillar of democracy here.

By: Alan Wong

Alan Wong — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:55:36 +0000

Can we then say that basically LKY or PAP has CHEATED and ROBBED us of our very basic constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression ?

Is that not itself a contempt of the RULE OF LAW of the highest degree ?

By: qussl3

qussl3 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:55:53 +0000

The current situation one party system will likely last much longer than most here surmise, as there is currently no structure in place for any form of transition from it.

It is likely that it will take a movement like that seen in the Philippines “People Power” before we will see real politcal change here.

However, is change what we really want?

For better or worse, it is reasonable to generalise that we singaporeans are a materalistic bunch, where creature comforts take precedent before idealogical pursuits, if the current system can provide said comforts, what does it matter that we have a one party system?

It is possible that singapore is at a tipping point where the wrong policies can tip our economy over the knife edge it currently is balanced on.

I suggest that we in aggregate dont really want political change (though this is likely due to cultivated apathy, which doesnt make the point less true) but rather the vitriol commonly expressed here is more a call for an account of our leadership and a desire to see consequences for poor performance.

By: btan

btan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:27:21 +0000

One the one hand, I really hope despite all the obstacles piled on opposition candidates, they can win a GRC, since they can at least win one SMC (and even then, they still get short-shifted), and make life better for Singapore by being part of a 2-party system

On the other hand, I really hope Singapore will be continually oppressed by PAP until finally people are DESPERATE enough to say “I cannot take it anymore!” and rise up in civil disobedience (a la million man march).

The MAIN reason Singaporean are apathetic is because they are still not desperate enough. Life is tough but there is still food to eat and work for most people, albeit it is not much different from slavery to job. Couple with lack of balls, not many dare to say anything.

Only when a man has nothing to lose will he rise up to rebel.