era of coercion is over

The Straits Times published 3 articles today on the post mortem of the GE. All written by post 65ers. And they share a same line of thought which is best summed up by Koh Buck Song, 'The era of coercion and manipulation is over. The art of persuasion is the new order,...' I am not sure about manipulation, but coercion is surely to give way with the younger group. The views of these young journalists, and the views they extracted from the younger voters, all found that unfair tactics, threats, bullying, highhandedness etc were a put off. The older generation may have to live with such election tactics, and the older politicians may still think that there is nothing wrong with them. In the new future, when the young is going to form a new majority, when the old who have been used to being threatened and bullied are gone, the consequences of following the same formula could be disastrous. The results in Hougang and Potong Pasir, and even Aljunied, have made it clear that political parties that continue to indulge in such practices will have to pay a price. They could have paid the price today if not of the strong personalities around. Some can still get away with murder. Some could say all kinds of things and be laughed away as a joke. But younger politicians who have no track record to brandish and think they could do or say the same things as old warhorses with a string of medals, would only court disasters to themselves. The result of the straw polls conducted by the journalists is very revealing. 60% of the young supported the PAP. 20% supported the PAP out of default as the opposition candidates were of low quality. And 35% did not support the PAP. Now, if in the next election the opposition could put up strong and credible candidates, the 20% who voted by default could go the other way to join the 35%. That will give the opposition a comfortable 55% of the votes. And not to forget the older generation would contribute lesser to the strong base of PAP. The future is interesting to watch.

Below are some of the known characteristics of candidates of PAP and opposition parties. PAP candidates 1. Educationally mostly are high achievers, govt scholars or overseas scholars with outstanding academic results to show. 2. Professionally also high achievers, professionals or senior management staff in govt or private sectors. 3. Family background quite varied but very proud to advertise how poor they were before. Humble background is a badge of honour to be displayed to contrast with their current middle class status and material achievements. 4. Apolitical or not interested in politics or at least not interested to become politicians. To be politicians is not their cup of tea. 5. Even if they are interested in politics they would put on an impression that they are not and are unlikely to step forward on their own. They will quietly and patiently wait to be invited for tea by the party. 6. Honest, man of high moral and integrity, prestine character, flawless. 7. Recruited only after going through many rounds of interviews and assessments by ministers and chopped 'passed' QC certification. 8. Those who are too eager to serve will be immediately rejected. 9. Must have a special liking for the colour white. 10. Willingness to sacrifice their high income and take a pay cut. 11. Only to serve as MP on a part time basis. 12. Speak in perfect English but struggle a little with dialects or mother tongue. Opposition candidates 1. Educationally from a wide band, from O level, ITE, polytechnics to university graduates. But not clearly high achievers academically. 2. Professionally from technicians to managerial level and lower grade professionals. Not high flyers in the profession or organisations. 3. Financially mostly HDB flat dwellers or heartlanders. Still trying to make it to the middle class. Probably from humble beginnings but never crow about them. 4. Politically aware and interested to serve. Volunteer themselves to stand for election or join political parties. No need to be invited for tea. Never hide their interest or intention in politics. 5. Honesty, integrity or people of good character are not broadcast as their trademark. But that does not mean that they are not good people. One thing for sure, they are not monk like or celibate. 6. Probably went through a recruitment interview but not as thorough as the screening process of the PAP. Did not carry a QC certification of approval as a flawless specimen. 7. The more eager they are in politics the better will be their chances of being field for election. 8. Must have a dislike to wear white, or at least feel uncomfortable looking too clean and white. 9. No need to sacrifice any high income to go into politics. So cannot boast that they have made a big sacrifice to serve the people. 10. Committed to serve as full time MP if elected. 11. Very comfortable in dialects or language of the heartlanders. And look every bit like a heartlander, even in habit, mannerism and interests. 12. Don't play golf or drive luxury car. Old Volkswagen or equivalent is their choice..

behavioral change in people

There seems to be a noticeable behavioral change in the people immediately after the election. No, I am not seeing people looking over their shoulders every now and then. But people are seen exercising their necks in another way. They turned their heads up and turning it around, with their eyes making a wide scan across the ceilings, as if looking for something. Then there is this reticent even among friends. Everyone appears inquisitive but guarded. Before a conversation starts, a lot of preliminary probing questions were asked, like who are your friends, whether one is involved in community services or grass root activities, etc. This is a very strange development to date. Why are people getting so cautious. Don't they trust what they said to their friends any more? Maybe my deduction of an innocent inquisitive nature of people is wrong. People are just more concern of their friends, with so much love around us.

the medisave trap

In the New Paper today, an asthma patient was reported to prefer to be resuscitated in hospital during a bout of asthmatic attack than to go on preventive medication. The later was too costly, about $100 a month. Holycow, what bullshit? Can't people afford a miserable $100 for their health? By choosing to go to hospital, she could be resuscitated and paid her medical bills using medisave. If the attempt to resuscitate her came too late, she could die. She was prepared for that. She knew. Our world best healthcare is very affordable. Cannot believe got people cannot afford a monthly preventive medicine bill of $100! I tip the doorman at the 6 star hotel $20 just to give me that big grin which he called a smile. $100 is small change. I think I must walk around more and look see at the real people instead of being driven around in my Benze.

so much love around

Peter Lim wrote this line 'Did you feel the love all around' in his article in the New Paper today. Yes he was talking about the love the politicians were showing to the voters during the campaigning. Never have the people feel so much love for them, to be courted by, wow, of all people, their political masters. And the love was real, tangible love. Not love of the fresh air type. A cool package worth hundreds of millions of hard cash, especially for the people of Hougang and Potong Pasir and Aljunied of course. In Aljunied, during the last hours prior to election, a whole detailed plan of what the PAP will do for the voters was delivered to each household. And so were many other constituencies and GRCs. It was really like Santa Claus was in town, and full of solid love, in hard cash. Housewives accosted with little pats on their darling babies or children, or the children in the arms of politicians. Suddenly life becomes so meaningful, so much warmth. Everyone is so concerned if you have eaten, your health, whether you are still jobless. If only everyday is like that, where the people, the citizens, are so much in demand. Oh yes, not a single one of them dare to be seen shaking the hands of a foreign worker. Yeah, its true, now that I recollect. Definitely not on TV. Then the two poor and penniless MPs of Hougang and Potong Pasir were left wondering what to do, what to offer or what can they offer? They can't even afford to give free salted eggs with plain porridge. So the only thing left for them to give was, yes, love of the fresh air type, with no money attached. And of course their sincerity, which most opposition candidates were attacked for not having. 9 day politicians wannabes, appearing during election and disappearing after that. Where got sincerity? I like Peter Lim's thought that love was all around us. So comforting.