There is another protest gearing up this evening at the Hong
Lim Park
at 4pm. This time the issue is about
freedom of expression that is seen as being threatened by the new regulations
on social media sites. Though the Govt in the name of two ministers have spoken
to assure the netizens that there is nothing to it, that the Govt has no intent
to gag the internet community, no one believes it to be so except for a few you
know who. The fact that the new regulation is so loosely drafted to cover
everything under the sky, the fear is there that it can always be used to clamp
down on bloggers at the most critical time when needed.
So the bloggers and the internet community are up in arms,
calling for a protest in Hong Lim, the safest little corner in Singapore
where one can think he is safe from harassment and can speak freely, even
against the Govt. Many speakers have been lined up to express their misgivings.
So what? What will be the likely outcome?
From the experience of the two recent protests against the
unpopular and unacceptable Population White Paper, the ending will be just the
same. You can have 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 people turning up, nothing will come
out of it. You can have another 10 protests, nothing will change. When the Govt
has made up its mind on what it wants to do, that is final. The fate of a 6.9m
population is closed. And the fate of this new regulation is just as good as
closed.
A minister, Swee Say, even proudly commented that when the
Govt decided that something is right it will just do it, and they will even
acted like deaf frogs. They will ignore the noises, especially from the lunatic
fringe, and do what is right. And the Govt is absolutely confident that the
noise will subside after a few dins. And the Govt knows for sure that it will
be re elected in the next GE come what may. This is the precedent being set,
the way the electorate will behave and it will not change.
This is a Govt that knows the people very well. There are
many grievances and unhappiness among the people caused by Govt policies. But
comes election time, it will all be the same over and over again. This Govt
knows that it does not need to listen to the people and knows what is best for
the people and the results will show.
The day when this Govt listens to the people will be the day
it loses power. That would be the day when it no longer has all the right
solutions from all the super talents in the ranks and has to accept the insane
suggestions and views of the daft Singaporeans. For the time being, the
Singaporeans can go protest and protest, for a little fun and letting off a
little steam on the generosity of the Govt.
I must agree with Swee Say here. He's merely echoing LKY's claim that "th. PAP is the government and the government is the PAP.
ReplyDeleteAlso, public reaction to ANY government policy, especially controversial ones, will be noisy as is the general nature of public discourse.
I don't agree that "the government doesn't listen". I suggest they do - - i.e. they listen to gather data and then use that data to help them plan another "carrot and stick" strategy to help them win and remain in power.
I respect the PAP's government right to ignore Singaporeans' wishes.
ReplyDeleteIf they will also respect Singaporeans' right to ignore PAP's wishes.
If PAP gahmen is so confident of the righteousness of its position;
Why do they fear the opinions of the netizens?
Seriously.
If you are right.
Why so scared?
The government does listen to the majority of the people and not the minority and that is why they are elected by the majority 60% mah. Tio Bo?
ReplyDeleteThe day when this Govt listens to the people will be the day it loses power.
ReplyDeleteRedbean
Please wait long long hor.
In the meantime, I am looking around to flipping some properties, about $1 million or so, not $10 million lah, because I am not a CEO.
When the population hits 6.9 million, $1 million property now will be worth $2 million by then.
ReplyDeleteSo strike while the iron is still hot.
After that, if still got time, blog and comment lah. No need to worry to about the MDA licensing lah, as gahmen already assured you all what.
redbean:
ReplyDelete>> the Govt has no intent to gag the internet community
I reality whether they make the claim of not is irrelevant.
I'll be t they've been accumulating data on the local blog and forum communities.
I'll bet also that anyone with an avatar is being tracked automatically. If Google can perform stat analysis, why not a tech savvy government with enormous resources?
I conjecture that Big Data -- mining, analytics etc would be outsourced to India, where there's plenty of "talent" for infomatics. If you do a web search, you'll find a shitload of Indian IT companies offering services for Big Data. If the US medical services (and other agencies from around the globe) use these Indian companies, why not the Singapore government? I think my hypothesis is plausible, although admittedly hard to test -- I'll have to hack into the govt systems, and I won't be doing that anytime soon...or ever! ;-)
One might make a weak case of the need for a government to monitor cyberspace for threats. However I don't think anyone except a ONE PARTY GOVERNMENT can make the case that the data mined may be used to plan and implement political strategies to assist the government in winning the elections. That would be flat out CHEATING.
redbean:
ReplyDelete>> the Govt has no intent to gag the internet community
I reality whether they make the claim of not is irrelevant.
I'm reasonably cetain they've been accumulating data on the local blog and forum communities. That's why they can make such bold statements like "we're not going to gag the internet".
Strategically speaking, it is a bad idea to gag. You want people to speak their hearts and minds. Then you listen, observe, gather data and process it so it becomes USEFUL to you.
I'll bet also that anyone with an avatar is being tracked automatically. If Google can perform stat analysis, why not a tech savvy government with enormous resources?
I conjecture that Big Data -- mining, analytics etc would be outsourced to India, where there's plenty of "talent" for infomatics. If you do a web search, you'll find a shitload of Indian IT companies offering services for Big Data. If the US medical services (and other agencies from around the globe) use these Indian companies, why not the Singapore government? I think my hypothesis is plausible, although admittedly hard to test -- I'll have to hack into the govt systems, and I won't be doing that anytime soon...or ever! ;-)
One might make a weak case of the need for a government to monitor cyberspace for threats. However I don't think anyone except a ONE PARTY GOVERNMENT can make the case that the data mined may be used to plan and implement political strategies to assist the government in winning the elections. That would be flat out CHEATING.
We live in a world run by algorithms. Never lose sight of that fact.
"This Govt knows that it does not need to listen to the people and knows what is best for the people and the results will show. "
ReplyDelete- all along, Gov only needs to listen to the ruling party not to the people. The ruling party is voted into power by the people. In other plain words, it is the people who gives the gov to do whatever the party rulers wants. if you do not like what have been done then stop voting for that party ever again. it is just as simple as that assuming that election is done without fraud.
if you do not like what have been done then stop voting for that party ever again.
ReplyDeleteAnon June 08, 2013 3:10 pm
But 43% are still rich and so are happy and satisfied under PAP rule what.
Another 17%, although not happy, are very scared things will be even worse if is PAP voted out because best opposition WP is not ready to rule. Which is quite true also lah.
So how to stop when 43+17 = 60% still want to vote PAP?
2016 general election could well be a Armageddon, fierce electoral battles wage in all wards unlike 2011. The ruling party former prime ministers most likely then not will retire from political contest. Having stepped down from cabinet right after 2011 election.
ReplyDelete@957:
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to believe that the "Armageddon" will be in the economy. By that time we probably would be experiencing the effects of all the new debt created, all the money printed riding on the debt, and tbe CDO and CDSs, and a host of synthetic derivatives created. They're up to their nonsense again.. Who can blame them? The consumer likes to borrow excessively, especially when interest is so low.
People are borrowing foolish amouts of money to do really stupid things: like buy houses in "bubble" cuntrees like Singapore and Australia. Hard to lose when you bet on human stupidity. :-)
Bythe time the next election roles around, the world could be hit by multiple financial bombs all going off at the same time. I'm picking two:
1. The loss of faith in over borrowed Japan - she might even default. Once people start dumping the bonds, the brutal end game for them beckons.
2. Trouble in the synthetic derivatives markets as these new CDOs tumble due to people defaulting on their debt repayments. i.e. the same shit happening all over again.
Singapore will be in deep shit. This impending GFC will be much more BRUTAL than 2008-2009. People will be scared out of their wits. Business will be shitting blood. Divorces and suicides will spike. Some socieites will implode and governments thrown out. And the PAP will seize the moment of great political opportunity by loudly claiming that they're the ONLY CHOICE to govern the cuntree through dangerous and uncertain times. Guess what? Singaporeans will fall for it kiasu kiasi line and sinker.
That's one possible scenario I'm predicting. As more data comes to light, I'll be refining my guesses. All in my own self interest. I just adore distressed and unloved assets which suffering owners literally pay you to relieve them of constant anguish. :-))