Questions:
What are the odds that a ruling party will relinquish power if they lose the majority in an election?
What lengths will they go through to maintain that power and what will that reveal about their politics?
How can one find the answers to the question?
VOTE: (Since we all like acronyms so much) Vote O_________ Through Elections.
I have never been a supporter of the Proud. Arrogance was always a big no no for me and, as far as I'm concerned, should have no place in biased Politics, especially when one side is so overpowering that it can use lawsuits and the courts (who were always in their favour) to pound their Opposition into submission. It's almost like watching a cat and mouse game where the cats have napalm.
What I have supported is the underdog, or mouse if you will, and so I was a little disappointed when I realised that I wouldn't be able to vote this time around. Thankful, because it means that I wouldn't have to waste an entire day on elections that don't matter anyway, but disappointed as a political dissident.
I'm not going to wax lyrical about how we should vote opp just because the PAP's been overly obvious with tilting (and this would be a euphemism) the political playing field in their favour because despite my reservations, they've been doing a fine job in Singapore so far. But I think that we the people should send out a strong message, since we're being all serious about elections here, that we will not tolerate any bullying in our elections either. Let's tell the powers that be that they will not hold the threat of non-upgrading over our heads to coerce our vote and let's shout out that they will not buy our vote with money from the government coffers. (Which was our money to begin with...) Let's tell them that the farce of free politics actually means something to some people and that just because the other guys are called the opposition, they are not opposing us as a nation and that shutting them up will cause nothing but resentment and further apathy from a nation whose political muscle (the brain) is atrophising from lack of use.
In other words, let the PAP argue their case on their merits. Don't let them use fallacies to win your vote. Force them to argue with the opposition and give your vote to the more convincing man (or woman as may be the case). Let us see if we can have a good, clean fight and let's make this a 12 round decision instead of an instant KO from the start. Let the ruling party quake in their shoes a little so that they learn a little humility and then let's go vote...
Now, let's get ready to rummmmble!
15 Comments:
dude, when u migrate to aussieland, b sure to inform us of the cons of their political system. live there for 10 yrs and you'd know it aint heaven.
I've lived there for 5 years and I can already tell you that the political system ain't perfect...It's far from it. Which is why Howard's still in power. What's your point?
I am about as angered as you are with The Party. The fact of the matter is however, that until the opposition comes up with stronger substance they will not get my vote.
I agree that alot of it has to do with the restrictions that they face, but its a difficult system, and they have to tide through it if they want to rise to power. I won't vote for an opposition which provides flimsy arguments and promises, even though I strongly believe in more political freedom and diversity in this country.
Voting for the opposition to show The Party that we will not tolerate their threats is a good idea, and I have always been inclined to do that, but at the same time, the opp have not given me alot of faith that the next four years will be as smooth sailing as life has been thus far.
In many ways, its a lose-lose situation, and again we have Them to by pissed of with. But considering that we live a comfortable and safe life largely because of them, they cannot be discredited.
Alexis
Ah well, to quote Mr Low Thia Khiang, 'When the PAP plays football, they use Singaporeans as the football!'
I went for a Workers' Party rally last night, because going for PAP rallies are a waste of time, since they'll be reported ad verbatim in the next day's papers. And it was quite a good experience.
Mike Wee
If you earn $5000 in Ozzie land, then you would only get back $3000 as the tax is 40% there! What's more, YOUR money (the $2000 that is taxed) goes to people who DON"T want to work. It is not going to your payment of a home or medical expenses. I should think that's a very clear point.
The reason I ask for the clarification is that I'm wondering what your point has to do with the political system in Singapore? Are you honestly saying that the best argument in defense of it is by looking at other (failed) governments? Because if it is, we're not addressing the issue here. (Read 42 common fallacies)
Yes, I know that there are many other failed democracies. But I think that in order to have a democracy to begin with is to actually let people have a choice. Unfortunately, that's lacking and the arrogance of the ruling party because of it is unfounded. They've stayed in power with trickery and coercion and not actual democratic election. So where's our serious election then?
I'm guessing that my post rubbed you the wrong way with all the passive aggressive angst that you're showing now, but I think we need to focus on the issue itself eh? :)
Packrat, are you saying Australia is a failed democracy??!!? I hope you might be referring to those failed democracies such as the SUb-saharan African States and erm, some of our neighbours in Asia.
I think that the anonymous poster is asserting that it is...and thus, I am simply finding common ground.
Australian politics is just as farcical as Singapolitics but with far worse circumstances. It's what happens when you put the stupid racists in power and let them rule. Come to think of it, it's pretty much the same as the USA.
But that's what Democracy gets you. The voting base tends to be quite silly when it comes down to political choice. But then again, they get a choice.
And yes there are consequences of your choice.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I lament the lack of choice because it means that we haven't reached the point where we are mature enough as a people to vote.
I lament the lack of choice because it opens the door to totalitarianism. And subsequently, Facism.
I lament the lack of choice when a government lords over its people with arrogance by patting themselves on the back after a "serious election" won by their "winning" "serious debates" when it has all been government sanctioned mudslinging which involves beating down a legitimate opposition with illegitimate means.
I lament the lack of choice when we've taken the name "democracy" and ended up spitting on it.
Mainly, I lament the illusion of choice.
(I quite understand that a democracy has its consequences thankyewverymuch)
What choice do you mean?
You have no choice to buy your flat?
You have no choice in your marriage partner?
You have no choice in your job?
You have no choice when you are robbed?
You have no choice? Wow! This must a hellish country you are in! No choice in all those things.
All things are comparative. We know things are better when we compare. Isn't that what you are doing? Comparing what your country's political system with something else? If you are not comparing, then how do you know the political system is not good?
Isn't your argument a fallacy by itself?
To quote Monty Python, "No it isn't."
Things are better when we compare = Hasty Generalisation = Fallacy.
What choice do you mean?
You have no choice to buy your flat?
You have no choice in your marriage partner?
You have no choice in your job?
You have no choice when you are robbed?
You have no choice? Wow! This must a hellish country you are in! No choice in all those things. = Red Herring + Appeal to Emotion + Appeal to Fear = Fallacy.
Should we continue?
I simply said...and I've been trying to get this across to you...that we need our government to get the message that we are not to be bullied into oppression especially if we are to address the issues of a "serious election". And serious election means choice. Unless, of course, you know some other meaning of election that contradicts that. Please, share your dictionary. Must be some new fangled one.
I'm going to put it simply now...just so you can understand it because you obviously have a problem with reading:
1. I do not have a problem with the government and the job that they're doing.
2. What I do have a problem with is the way that they run their elections.
i) Because they seem to think that elections are a joke.
ii) Because of their arrogance.
Perhaps if you spent more time reading instead of ranting, you may find that that was the point of the whole post. Perhaps you should really try reading the posts before getting into a heated debate about something that you're misreading. I really don't have all that much time to address your misreadings.
Price check on troll at aisle 10.
...says the man when he addresses misreadings at length. O, the irony.
...says the man when he addresses his own rantings at length on lack of choice. O, the fallacy
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