They don't have a "talented" family dominating the political scene. Yet, that has not done any harm to the country despite having natural calamities visited upon it like tsunamis, earthquakes, live volcanoes or nuclear meltdowns. Forget what the media paints, the country is doing very well going by the fashionably attired happy folk you run into - in the city and at the country side - and you can still set your watch by their train arrivals. Without having to pay the transport chief executive a million dollars for 6 months of on-the-job training.
Do we need only one political leader who is hell bent on self perpetuity? Can a country survive a "freak election"? It's the luxury of thought that goes through one's mind whilst soaking in the mineral waters of an outdoor onsen, eyes taking in the myriad colours of autumn leaves, and sipping cold o-sake. It's so good to be away from the madhouse of Sin City.
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I have always been intrigued by Japan. Despite deflation, hollowing out of some industries, low birth rate and perpetual natural calamities and man-made ones and prime ministers who do not seem to last long on the job, it is still a functioning democracy. It must be the People .
ReplyDeleteNo pain, no gain. 70 years ago Japan endured the calamity and humiliation of having 2 cities destroyed by atomic bomb. In those days samurai gallantry was still alive and the Japanese believed their emperor was a sun god.
ReplyDeleteSingapore I'm afraid would have to go through an equally painful period of time of its own making before democracy and the phrase "never again" become permanently etched in their hearts. At least this was what Devan Nair wrote 2 decades ago.
Yes, the political leadership stinks much like underwear, if they are not changed regularly. Unlike some so called democracies, Japan doesn't take it's People to the cleaners either, and to be called dafts, masochists who enjoy the pain they inflict on themselves time and again. Change we must have, right?
ReplyDeleteThe only change is going to have to come from a people's revolution I'm afraid. It is either that or wait for the system including the PAP to implode
DeleteVoting the PAP out isn't going to happen as they hold the monopoly over the entire process. The ones they tolerate and allow to enter parliament are a poor copy of themselves -WP.
Elections in Sg is like buying insurance. When the country goes to he'll in a hand basket, the politicians can wave it around and say, "But look, we got your mandate" however fair or foul it may sound. Then these MPs can switch to whichever side that's winning or head for the nearest exit.
The Hong Kong people or at least their youth understand what is going on and hence the umbrella movement.
In sg it looks like the "true blues" or should that be "true blurs" are simply going to fade away. That's a sad way to leave but unfortunately that is what is going to happen and all signs are pointing to it.
So does it actually boils down to paying obscene salaries so that the 'only one available talented' husband & wife team can remain in power as long as they want ?
ReplyDeleteAll those talk about honesty, integrity, meritocracy, corruption free & finding the right people to take over, etc., is not really all too important as they put it ?
Was it that someone was not really that honest with us to begin with ?
There is a reason why politicians rank lower than used car salesman and prostitutes. They simply cannot be trusted. And this is the universal truth.
DeletePower corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is why power only in a limited form should be given to politicians for a limited period of time. POTUS has a term list of 2 and no more than 8 years. Even then they are able to muck things up like Dubya.
In Singapore patronage and cronyism reigns supreme. The current PM's only qualification seems to be born out of the correct loins. His ministers are all his nobles and clansmen including generals. The president is related to him by common law marriage. The spawns of these elites are all freeloading on govt scholarships and given cushy assignments in govt and GLCs.
Even Josephine Fu an inadept minion who was responsible for the Suzhou fiasco is a minister as she is related to James Fu.
Without oversight and an active citizenry this is simply going to continue until the corrupt system can no longer sustain itself and the whole system crashes under its own weight taking the nation with it.
There is ample evidence the current crop is way over their heads. You named the causes correctly, patronage and cronyism. Add to that a muzzled press. The great thing this can be packaged as meritocracy. Not good for Singapore, and not good even for the PAP themselves as time will demonstrate.
DeleteThe press is muzzled? Not actively manipulating public opinion to help the famiLee with meritocratic $$$million assignments and to help miniLee buy supporters' votes and fix opposition?
DeleteDon't worry Tattler, but the time you come back from your Onsen trip, the graffiti case that just happened (again) at SMRT bishan depot would still not be solved. Same for the May incident, same for the Sim Lim cases. The only thing that is certain, is those taxi fares will be so-called "simplified" to include 1 mother-of-all charges which we already know, will be higher than before lah. That is as good as the sun will rise and set.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. The silent majority are such gluttons for punishment as sure as the sun rises and sets. My vote will always be for the PAP.
DeleteElections in Singapore only exist for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only. I'll list both out so don't get your fat hopes up.
ReplyDelete1. Legitimacy for the ruling party. If you want foreign investments you can't be like north Korea. The rest of the world does not care as long as you are business friendly, grant lots of tax rebates and subsidies and windows dress your dictatorship.
2. Local chinks love to gamble. As long as there is a shot no matter how long and slim the stoopid Chink will patiently wait for that shot every 5 years. So that he can shoot his load. Does not matter if it's a red herring designed to ensure a revolution does not start on the street.
In the meantime we will continue to enforce the free trade agreements and bring in as many Indians and pinoys as we can.
Wow tattler. I really enjoy your blog. Who would have have thought a innocuous post about nippon while you are busy screwing geishas while on viagara would attract so many comments.
ReplyDeleteSo you finally deleted one of my comments. Say hello to the new PAP Internet brigade where we use your own insecurities against you. Kind regards,
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Singapore politicians do change their underwear - with each other's. Remember the once-in-50-year minister changing underwear with the over-budget-Youth-Olympic-cum-bar-top dancing-leading-to-bloodshed minister?
ReplyDelete'...talented family...' surely you mean tyrannical? A reverse Freudian slip?.
ReplyDelete/// Even Josephine Fu an inadept minion who was responsible for the Suzhou fiasco is a minister as she is related to James Fu. ///
ReplyDeleteYou meant disGraceful?
Just came back from japan too. The japanese have one of the highest suicide rates and lowest birth rates. The youth have low pay and long hours and worry about employment. But unlike the west, they don't demonstrate or go on strike. They are very stoical and united as a people. That's what impresses me. They still keep clean and tidy despite the poverty. Food and housing are cheaper than Singapore but the most common size apartments for the young are the shoe box apartments which maybe only 16 sqm....
ReplyDeleteI visited Japan twice in last couple years. Without hesitation, I would rather be a Japanese than a Singaporean. LOL.
DeleteAnd that makes you an expert?
DeleteJapan is a 1st world country.
DeleteWhat makes Singapore better than Japan?
Hey Tattler, if you stay out of this country any longer we will revoke your citizenship. This will teach you to pass snide remarks about Singapore from outside.
ReplyDeleteWhile sipping your cold o-sake and enjoying the autumn colours of Japan, don't forget that our great leader is still downing his Kool-Aid in this red dot and we are staring at our ever expanding concrete jungle. Enjoy your vacation.
DeleteSome years back, our Dear Mentor visited Japan. He was still hale and hearty then and did no require any one to prop him up.He took it upon himself to advise the Japs to take in foreigners as a way out of their financial woes as his little red dot has done and has prospered.
ReplyDeleteThe Japs disregarded his advice like yesterday's sashimi.