Time for a one party dictatorship

We are in a major crisis. We cannot afford to have a weak govt. We cannot afford to have all the politikings going around and sapping away the energy of the govt. We need continuity so that the govt can plan ahead to overcome this crisis. All the conditions are ripe for a single party govt to manage the country over the long haul. A combative democratic process is unhealthy. We have lost probably $100b or more of our reserves. And we don't even know how much is our reserves or how much we have lost. Someone told me not to worry, we have much more in reserves than officially announced. Actually it is frightening if losing $100b is seen as nothing. We need really able men and women to make sure that our reserves keep growing and being protected. And if we are to have able people managing them, a one party dictatorship is the way to go. Through our experience many good men and women would not want to be involved in the rough and tussle of running for election. A single party dictatorship will give the govt full authority to appoint the good men to office, something like the American president appointing his cabinet. There were signs of an election coming with the electoral list being updated. The media reported that there were no new faces doing the walkabout, indicating that the team will stay put. This could be a possibility. How about the possibility of an election for a dictatorship or a single party rule? Like I said above, a dictatorship or single party rule has the flexibility for the power to appoint the office bearers. No neeed new faces to walk about and be recognised or to learn the rope of garnering grassroot support. Is it possible? But this is not the issue. The main issue now is for a sustainable govt to be in place for a long time to overcome this crisis. The people must close rank and support the govt, stay together and cut down on all the bickering and allow the govt to do its job. Maybe 10 years, 20 or 30 years, we shall overcome.

Notable quote by Ong Teng Cheong

“My loyalty is first and foremost, to the people of Singapore. It has always been so, and will always remain so.” Ong Teng Cheong, First Elected President.

Time to face the crisis squarely

All the ifs and buts and maybes must be put aside. We are facing a crisis. There is no where to hide. The country is facing a crisis. The people are also facing a crisis. It is time the man himself calls for a TV conference and talk to the nation. I would expect the man to say, look people, we are in difficult times. The whole world is also in difficult times, and we are not alone. Yes, we have been hit. Some of our investments have gone sour. Here are the numbers. We have so much and we have lost so much. Period. Now we need to go forward together in this crisis. We are family. We will face this crisis head on, squarely. We will do everything we can, for the country and for the people. Let's stand united, lock arms, as one people, one nation. We shall overcome. Thank you and have a good nite sleep. It is not the end of the world.

Obama under threats

The American corporations and thieves are holding Obama at ransom. If he does not give them the billions they are asking, they will bankrupt all the big corporations. What they did not tell him is that if the CEOs are not going to be paid well, they will turn to corruption. But one thing for sure, they are threatening to jump ship and join other companies. Maybe they will come to Singapore. We are probably the only country left in this world that has the money to pay them and is happy to have them. Our headhunters are very busy these days reading their resumes.

Earn that Sir!

This is the title of an article written by Dr Tan Chek Wee in Today. He talked about people demanding to be addressed as Sir even in the community. I have borrowed this title to replace the original title of this article which was 'Dark Clouds over the Istana.' Since our independence as a nation, the office of the Presidency has never been in question or a subject of controversy. All the past Presidents from Yusof Ishak to Wee Kim Wee were well regarded in their ceremonial roles. Then came the Elected President with a more important task to guard our reserves. Other than these nothing changes. And Ong Teng Cheong was highly respected for his role and short stay at the Istana. He wanted to do his job well and took it very seriously. Today we are seeing this huge controversy over the Presidency. The Office is even paid more the the President of the US. For doing what? People are questioning almost everything about the Presidency, from pay to how it is being elected and the effectiveness of its role in guarding our reserves. Why should the highest office of the country be subject to so much cynicism? Maybe we should go back to the drawing board and start all over again. Remove all the elitist barriers and return the right to this office to every Singaporean, rich or poor. Every Singaporean must have the right to stand for election as the President of the country. It must must not be the exclusive right of a few rich and powerful. And we should borrow the American practice of allowing the President to appoint his own team of advisers once he is elected by popular vote. No elected president is allowed to take office by walkovers. Perhaps, when people see that the elected President is able to exercise indepedence by the system that brings him to office, will the controversies go away. An Elected Presdent must be elected by the people, from the people and be able to execute his duties independently. I am not saying that the current President cannot exercise his duties independently. And the public is also not saying so.