06-06-2014, 07:36 PM
I have a slightly different perspective. For me, the issue is "trust" but from two levels:
The first and easier level is - do I "trust" the government / political party that they are competent and pragmatic. The answer is unequivocally YES for the PAP old guards, a definite NO for the Goh Chok Tong era (asset enhancement scheme, infrastructure falling behind population growth etc) and a MAYBE for the current leadership because I perceive too much populist tendencies (when you appease a monkey with peanuts, it grows into a chimpanzee and if you continue it grows into a gorilla and finally into King Kong!). But I do not "trust" the opposition to do a better job either.
The second and more difficult level is - do I "trust" that those who join the political party have Singapore's interest at heart or are they in it for the money and power. Again the answer is unequivocally YES for the PAP old guards but a MAYBE since ministerial salaries went through the roof! My interactions with them have been mixed, I find some sincere BUT I do find others unworthy of public office. The interesting bit is that my answer to this level of "trust" for the opposition has moved in the opposite direction. I did not "trust" many of the old guard opposition parties but I find some of the WP MPs (and some other opposition candidates) relatively sincere. Therein lies the tendency to give them a chance and measure them against a lower standard than the existing government.
A final point. LKY in 1994 suggested that Singaporeans who are between 35 and 60 who are married with children should get an additional vote for the sake of "their children (who) have an interest that needs to be protected". The interesting thing is that I lean towards the current Government for their past successes but I tend towards some of the opposition because they seem more willing to protect the future interests of my children.
The first and easier level is - do I "trust" the government / political party that they are competent and pragmatic. The answer is unequivocally YES for the PAP old guards, a definite NO for the Goh Chok Tong era (asset enhancement scheme, infrastructure falling behind population growth etc) and a MAYBE for the current leadership because I perceive too much populist tendencies (when you appease a monkey with peanuts, it grows into a chimpanzee and if you continue it grows into a gorilla and finally into King Kong!). But I do not "trust" the opposition to do a better job either.
The second and more difficult level is - do I "trust" that those who join the political party have Singapore's interest at heart or are they in it for the money and power. Again the answer is unequivocally YES for the PAP old guards but a MAYBE since ministerial salaries went through the roof! My interactions with them have been mixed, I find some sincere BUT I do find others unworthy of public office. The interesting bit is that my answer to this level of "trust" for the opposition has moved in the opposite direction. I did not "trust" many of the old guard opposition parties but I find some of the WP MPs (and some other opposition candidates) relatively sincere. Therein lies the tendency to give them a chance and measure them against a lower standard than the existing government.
A final point. LKY in 1994 suggested that Singaporeans who are between 35 and 60 who are married with children should get an additional vote for the sake of "their children (who) have an interest that needs to be protected". The interesting thing is that I lean towards the current Government for their past successes but I tend towards some of the opposition because they seem more willing to protect the future interests of my children.