Bill Clinton was quoted to have told his Americans, if they believe America will forever be number one, then go on and bully everyone, invade and bomb every country, kill everyone, threaten everyone, rule by might is right, abuse the law, twist everything to your favour, distort the truth, lie, cheat, do anything you want, as no one would be going after you. But, if America is going to be number two one day, better be careful in what you do. The whole world is watching and will not be forgiving when America becomes number two. America will have to pay for all the crimes, abuses of the law, of the system, of power. The world will exact its revenge on the Americans. Now, with all the power, the Americans can twist and turn every word to its advantage, black can be white, white can be black, because you hold the power. What is wrong can be right, because you said so. Remember, don't be the last Emperor.
The ruling party has been in power for as long as Singapore's existence. Will it lose power one day? LKY thought so. Only the foolish will think the party will never end and will rule forever. For so long, the ruling party has been patting its own back for doing all the right thing and necessary thing. Make tough decision is a badge of honour of the ruling party, without fear or blowback.
When the ruling party is in power, there is nothing to fear, just do it and explain away the problems, even with sophistry. Who is there to say no? Did anyone say there is no monopoly of wisdom and always be right? There have been many policies and decisions that the ruling party had pushed through using its own logic, interpretation and assumptions of what is good for the country and people. No objection, no protest does not mean everyone is on board and agreeing with the ruling party and its policy and decision.
The current outburst on the Nepal landslide and SIA's investment in Air India is just a tip of the iceberg. The pent up feeling of unhappiness or discontent has been building for years. CECA, influx of foreigners in high paying professions, the repeated disparagement that we need more foreign talents, marginalisation of Singaporeans, high cost of living, high cost of medicare, high cost of everything, and many other things, have been there and waiting to blow up when something snaps.
The ruling party shall be thankful that it is given a peep into the smouldering tension beneath the serene and calm facade of Singapore socio polity. Many policies and decisions are a matter of judgement and preferences, not a black and white, right or wrong decision. And there are many options to the policies and decisions, with many shades and colours. The ruling party must know that no protest, no disagreement, no objection do not mean all the people agree with what they decided and their policies.
Unless the ruling party can guarantee that it will always be the ruling party, then all is well. When the ruling party loses its mandate and no longer be the ruling party, the can of worms will be opened and everything will crawl out. The luckier ones would have departed. But the last emperor and his coterie of officials will have to bear the brunt and anger of the day.
When in power, everything goes, everything is right even if it is not right. When power is eclipsed, everything that was right may not be that right, everything that was good may not be good after all. Political leaders can rule by its own assumptions, biases, prejudices and interpretations of what is good and otherwise. It is always good to know the feelings, sentiments and emotions of the people and take them into consideration in decision making. The other side of the coin is still a part of the coin. All quiet on the western front does not mean nothing is happening or going to happen. Many issues, decisions and policies need to be tempered and moderated by understanding and acknowledging the concerns of the people. It may not be a case of right or wrong, but a matter of preferences and subjective choices based on many personal or cultural idiosyncrasies. Ignore them at your own peril.
Political decisions, like political appointments, are never totally objective and scientific. Political decisions are often compromised solutions, never totally right or totally wrong.
2 comments:
Good morning All
Now read the ST, alamak blood really boiled!
What's hard to attract talents to be Political Leaders!
You don't be Politicians then what's?
Also salaried men and women Government Servants
Private Sectors had their whatsbso called all high salaries ah?
Some workers even just took home a thousand or so!
Also Private outside Sectors anytime retrenched and sacked and lay offs!
For those high flying ones Also not secure!
Bosses have to risk their capital, monies and continuous efforts to make sure their enterprises and companies survived
Don't have the notions that you shall do better than your present lot of renumerationsg when you are in the Private Sectors ans not in government
ALL What's top lawyers and doctors ah?
Now even Nominated MPs also all rushing to be in the Tea Party!
Why? It's oblivious!
No more reluctant selections!
Always have the mantra that we will do better than here socalled servicing the Country and Peoples
No eyes see
No eyes see. I would say also no ears hear. Just putting a stop to expressing what people is thinking does not remove the problem. It is always there, in people's mind, and that cannot be expunged with great debates, speeches, deflecting and countering.
The reality is apparent on the ground. People's livelihood has been affected and asking them to just endure and not say anything is delusional.
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