Please End GRC system of Elections to save Singaporeans from Political Ignorance/ Ind

[cherry6]

Please End GRC system of Elections to save Singaporeans from Political Ignorance/ Indifference

Please End GRC system of Elections to save Singaporeans from Political Ignorance/ Indifference.

Thread source (SBY): What is the Singapore Cow?

(IMG source)

So what about Singapore 2 Cows?
TWO COWS ~{Matthias Varga}
SOCIALISM
You have 2 cows.
You give one to your neighbour
COMMUNISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and gives you some milk
FASCISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and sells you some milk
NAZISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and shoots you
BUREAUCRATISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then
throws the milk away
... ...

Singapore Cow:
You have 2 cows in a sleepy fishing village
The 2 cows produce more and more milk every year
Farmer Lee comes along and exhorts the cows to produce even more milk
Farmer Lee takes all the milk from the by now half dead cows
Farmer Lee abandons original exhausted cows and imports foreign cows for new milking.

Actually, the farmers squeezed the 2 cows for milk until they became rebellious and refused to be milked. How to get more milk? The farmer then got a brilliant idea. Why not bring in more foreign cows and feed them cheap weeds and get more milk. The rest is history.

Hi blindswordsman, well said, I like that, n our farmers tell us they are "professionals": Group Representation Constituencies (GRC): really = Goal-posts Relocation Conspiracy. In typical corrupt countries: e.g. India, Philippines, we hear stories of politicians stuffing ballot boxes with duplicate/ fraud votes (they bribe election commission/ printers etc to get their way). LKY in 1988 however, changed the goal post by stuffing parliament with amalgamations of SMCs into GRCs to keep out independent candidates and smaller opposition parties (which is about everyone else): thus promoting much in-breeding of political ideas in parliament: all this despite having had the option of simply piggy-backing minority race representation on the (existent since 1984) NCMP scheme to guarantee opposition candidates in parliament with the least disruption to the one constituency one MP system (GRCs could be cooperation between SMCs only after elections: as Punggol-East currently is now)(Non-Constituency Minority MP(NCMMP) can vote only on issues race related, but can speak up on anything).

So was the ever inflating size GRC system of elections indeed primarily created to 'guarantee minority representation'?: I reckon no, that was just the secondary intention if any, the primary intention being to keep out all forms of opposition from parliament: be they independent candidates or opposition parties, none of whom would be large enough to muster sufficient talent to conquer a 6member GRC> but channelled towards a self-defeating death trap of contesting under 10 SMCs (down from 80plus SMC seats pre GRC era): the more opposition parties contesting, the higher would be the PAP's chance of winning. Thus the ultimate Tsun Tse art of war move by LKY: to defeat the opposition by shifting the goal post to demoralise them: unfortunately however, this committed the moral hazard of fascist/ dictatorial constitutional change to exclude the opposition from parliament. The current Singapore constitution is thus corrupted in that regard; for Singapore to mature politically, GRC must go and constitutional change in that direction is necessary.

Scrap the GRC system of elections, bring on bi-monthly television debates between competing politicians to educate Singaporeans about moral-values and differing political systems. Unless Singaporeans are more involved in national decision making, political in-breeding will certainly be the downfall of Singapore.

Any extension/ embellishment of the GRC system of elections in that regard is just Pinocchio's nose getting longer: Singapore's downfall would then be twice as hard.

So they demand to be paid like professionals:

Professionals at cow inbreeding perhaps:

The ultimate result of all this hubris:

[IMG URL]

Proof:

[Wikipaedia]The Wee Shu Min elitism controversy occurred in October 2006. Wee Shu Min, daughter of parliament member Wee Siew Kim and a then-eighteen year-old student on Raffles Junior College's scholarship programme, found herself in controversy[1] after posting on her blog what were viewed by some Singaporeans to be elitist,[2] naïve, and insensitive statements against heartlanders.[3]

You-tube Video: BBC NEWS WORLD-Singapore s hidden poverty problem -News On World

Tags:
Politics, Singapore, GRC , Gerrymandering, elections, constitution, corruption, education, Group Representation Constituency,

 

[sunzoner]

It is Political Ignorance/ Indifference thats leads to GRC, on the other way around.

The problem lies in the Old Singapore Social Compact which trades in political freedom for economics gains.

 

[cancer81]

I rather point the finger at the opposition. they are either different for it's sake or just abt the same as the PAP but with a different packaging...

if the PAP sees GRC as a possible avenue for their losing the election, they will stop drawing up GRCs...

it is a matter of things happening and not how you petition for it to happen

 

[koxinga]

It is Political Ignorance/ Indifference thats leads to GRC, on the other way around.

The problem lies in the Old Singapore Social Compact which trades in political freedom for economics gains.

It worked well enough for the Pioneer Generation.

 

[sunzoner]

It worked well enough for the Pioneer Generation.

Really? Picking up cupboard paper? Selling tissues?

 

[cancer81]

not all picking up cardboard and selling tissue are poor

some folks actually want to be active and they feel that earning a few bucks to get them through the day and have some pocket money is a good thing. A lifetime of being financially independent is not a habit you shake off at old age unless physical conditions dictate otherwise.

then there are some whose prides get in their way of asking for assistance...

the systems in place could do with more effort in finding these cases and helping them

 

[koxinga]

Really? Picking up cupboard paper? Selling tissues?

I was responding to your earlier point on why the old social compact occurred.

Don't you think on the whole, their generation got a good deal because they started from a lower base, with lower, easier to meet expectations in life? Yes, invariably, got people fall off into the cracks.

Anyone, the cupboard paper collecting aunty at my HDB block has a few daughters who are living in private landed property. She tells me she does it because that's how she grew up. They give her allowance but she still wanna be active.

 

[Kiwi8]

I rather point the finger at the opposition. they are either different for it's sake or just abt the same as the PAP but with a different packaging...

if the PAP sees GRC as a possible avenue for their losing the election, they will stop drawing up GRCs...

it is a matter of things happening and not how you petition for it to happen

Instead of just pointing the finger at the opposition, one also has to point the finger at both the voters and the opposition. It's a chicken and egg thing. The voters just can't wait for the so-called perfect opposition to come up suddenly, if the voters are not willing to take the leap of faith.

 

[cancer81]

there is no such thing as a perfect "opposition"

the goals that should be set now is the shadow cabinet... but I do not see how some can be shadow ministers... let alone really take government

but let's go with baby steps shall we?

 

[Kiwi8]

there is no such thing as a perfect "opposition"

the goals that should be set now is the shadow cabinet... but I do not see how some can be shadow ministers... let alone really take government

but let's go with baby steps shall we?

Precisely, but apparently, some voters are voting as if really waiting for the perfect opposition. Sometimes a signal must be sent even when the perfect opposition is not in place nor is the opposition ready to be shadow minister, but apparently some voters waste their votes still.

 

[koxinga]

there is no such thing as a perfect "opposition"

the goals that should be set now is the shadow cabinet... but I do not see how some can be shadow ministers... let alone really take government

but let's go with baby steps shall we?

People don't understand there is no perfect opposition. If anything, the recent sagas with AHTEC town council is a good thing. At least it exposes the opposition to the daily grind of running a town council and gives them some experience.

(To be honest, some of the audit findings are laughable simple to solve. Maybe they don't have experience dealing with asset mgmt and auditing)

 

[sunzoner]

I was responding to your earlier point on why the old social compact occurred.

Don't you think on the whole, their generation got a good deal because they started from a lower base, with lower, easier to meet expectations in life? Yes, invariably, got people fall off into the cracks.

Anyone, the cupboard paper collecting aunty at my HDB block has a few daughters who are living in private landed property. She tells me she does it because that's how she grew up. They give her allowance but she still wanna be active.

They didnt get a good deal. They tot they got a good deal back when the social compact was formed.

The deal seems to turn better as someone once commented on the need to buy support if more opposition is voted into parliament...

But it is still not a good deal.

Just think about it... They got neither political freedom (they gave it up) nor economics goods (bet they didnt realise what little they managed to save will be eaten away by skyhigh inflation)...

You might tot they get a good deal because some got their flats cheap, or a few got children who become rich. But these are the exception. The majority pick cupboard paper or sell tissue because they need to make ends meet.

 

[sunzoner]

People don't understand there is no perfect opposition. ...

Most understand there is no such thing as perfection. But an excuse is just an excuse. They are just using it to cover up their fear... The fear of getting fixed by that particular vote...

 

[koxinga]

The problem is you and I hold different definition of a "good deal".

Just think about it... They got neither political freedom (they gave it up) nor economics goods (bet they didnt realise what little they managed to save will be eaten away by skyhigh inflation)...

You might tot they get a good deal because some got their flats cheap, or a few got children who become rich.

Agreed on political freedom (although I doubt they cared for it)

Disagree on economic gains. Bottom line question, in spite of the inflation, are the Pioneer Generation "better off" now than in 1965?

We view inflation as a big problem (I do). But they view inflation as a problem (e.g just one of many, not a deal breaker).

I based this on my own interaction with my mother and elder folks. To those who had survived the turbulent times of the 1960s, these are small issues to be dealt with. My mother often tells me, if worse comes to worse, we can always just eat "tao yu with ber" (soya sauce with porridge). If my MP tells me this, I will tell him to go do his job and fix the problem.

But these are the exception. The majority pick cupboard paper or sell tissue because they need to make ends meet.

I postulate the opposite. The majority got the "good deal", while the exception pick cupboard paper or sell tissue. I have visited the cupboard pickers and tissue paper sellers at their one-room flats in Toa Payoh. (where gleaming 700k HDB are just down the street) I think they need a lot of help and love. But I don't think it in terms of them having a "bad deal" from the government but more of their children not doing their job and fall out with them. Even if you got your "good deal" (aka economic gains), same thing will still happen.

 

[Genesisz]

there is no such thing as a perfect "opposition"

the goals that should be set now is the shadow cabinet... but I do not see how some can be shadow ministers... let alone really take government

but let's go with baby steps shall we?

The "Shadow Cabinet", taken from the UK parliament, hinges on the prowess of "parliamentary sovereignty or supremacy" which is recognized in the United Kingdom.

I am not sure how I can reconcile the above in the local context.

Additionally, over in UK, there exist a real and distinct separation of powers from the Executive (Government), Judiciary (Judges and administrators of Justice and court systems) and the Legislative (law-makers).

 

[koxinga]

Shadow cabinets are over rated and somewhat pointless political gestures.

 

[sunzoner]

The problem is you and I hold different definition of a "good deal".
...
I postulate the opposite. The majority got the "good deal", while the exception pick cupboard paper or sell tissue. I have visited the cupboard pickers and tissue paper sellers at their one-room flats in Toa Payoh. (where gleaming 700k HDB are just down the street) I think they need a lot of help and love. But I don't think it in terms of them having a "bad deal" from the government but more of their children not doing their job and fall out with them. Even if you got your "good deal" (aka economic gains), same thing will still happen.

Agreed that we differ on this.

The social compact (afaik) was always based on "i give you the freedom to do what is necessary and you let me and my family have a better life". So you if take the view to compare 1965 and 2014, the vast majority seems to be better off.

 

[cancer81]

Shadow cabinets are over rated and somewhat pointless political gestures.

it does give you the voter clarity over how the major opposition is doing and how the party thinks regarding various issues as they happen.

SDP and WP can post various things on their websites but these ideas are not debated in parliament.

I can recall the "FW is opium of Singapore businesses" speech by Low. He and the government have the wrong idea abt foreign labour and how the numbers should be controlled. What they already rehearsed this before hand?? Low allow himself to tio shoot and let the minister look good?

online rebuttals gradually become a mud slinging war between the different IBs...

 

[sunzoner]

it does give you the voter clarity over how the major opposition is doing and how the party thinks regarding various issues as they happen.

Only if the system changes.

With the system we have now, a shadow cabinet is for show only.

SDP and WP can post various things on their websites but these ideas are not debated in parliament.

I can recall the "FW is opium of Singapore businesses" speech by Low. He and the government have the wrong idea abt foreign labour and how the numbers should be controlled. What they already rehearsed this before hand?? Low allow himself to tio shoot and let the minister look good?

...

the above are not something that can be resolved by a shadow anything.

we need a press system that actually pushes information from the other side to the public.

 

[cancer81]

there is only one way to effect change, vote in more variety. Not increase WP's seat count.

changing one hegemony for another is just not going to change things