Why do people believe they can change the government in one election?
Pardon me, let me vent here a little.
People are always going on about voting the PAP out. Singapore for change. Be One people. Take matters into our own hands and all that jazz. Overthrow the PAPees. By voting the PAP out we can stamp out the influx of foreign 'talents', abolish NS, etc.
Bleh. Noble intentions, no doubt, but don't people realize that the PAP has already put into place policies to prevent them from losing power in one election?
The GRC system. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in order for a constituency to be even be able to vote, it needs to be contested. The past couple of elections have seen many many that have had walkovers, and only a few are contested at a time. Part of it is because of policies that make it extremely difficult for the opposition to field candidates, be it extremely high deposits, limited exposure to the public etc.
Singapore's elections are different from America's and Japan's in this way. In the latter two, every state/prefecture are contested by both parties, and hence the government can change in a single election. In Singapore, only a few constituencies are contested at a time. Even if the opposition wins in the few constituencies that are contested, it is not enough to win enough seats in Parliament to form a new Cabinet. The PAP will still be the governing body after the next election.
If Singapore is to truly see a change in government, the opposition must be able to challenge all constituencies, if not majority of them, such that if they do win their contested constituencies they would have a bigger stake in the Cabinet.
That said and done, while I have no love for the PAP, I wouldn't want to see voters vote the opposition simply out of spite. The reason for this? We don't have a singular opposition force. Our opposition is made up of several parties, namely SDP, WP etc. Each will field their own candidates to contest a constituency. Let's say that they do manage to win enough seats in the Parliament to create a new Cabinet, each. What we have now is a mish-mash of several political parties in one coalition government. Remember the last time that happened? An army general by the name of Suharto had to step in and 'fix' the government because nothing was being accomplished.
Do correct me if I'm wrong about how the election works though. I just wanted to vent after so many such 'political discussions', so I might have mixed some stuff up.
Note: This article is abstract from another forum.
Originally posted by John Penn:Why do people believe they can change the government in one election?
Pardon me, let me vent here a little.
People are always going on about voting the PAP out. Singapore for change. Be One people. Take matters into our own hands and all that jazz. Overthrow the PAPees. By voting the PAP out we can stamp out the influx of foreign 'talents', abolish NS, etc.
Bleh. Noble intentions, no doubt, but don't people realize that the PAP has already put into place policies to prevent them from losing power in one election?
The GRC system. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in order for a constituency to be even be able to vote, it needs to be contested. The past couple of elections have seen many many that have had walkovers, and only a few are contested at a time. Part of it is because of policies that make it extremely difficult for the opposition to field candidates, be it extremely high deposits, limited exposure to the public etc.
Singapore's elections are different from America's and Japan's in this way. In the latter two, every state/prefecture are contested by both parties, and hence the government can change in a single election. In Singapore, only a few constituencies are contested at a time. Even if the opposition wins in the few constituencies that are contested, it is not enough to win enough seats in Parliament to form a new Cabinet. The PAP will still be the governing body after the next election.
If Singapore is to truly see a change in government, the opposition must be able to challenge all constituencies, if not majority of them, such that if they do win their contested constituencies they would have a bigger stake in the Cabinet.
That said and done, while I have no love for the PAP, I wouldn't want to see voters vote the opposition simply out of spite. The reason for this? We don't have a singular opposition force. Our opposition is made up of several parties, namely SDP, WP etc. Each will field their own candidates to contest a constituency. Let's say that they do manage to win enough seats in the Parliament to create a new Cabinet, each. What we have now is a mish-mash of several political parties in one coalition government. Remember the last time that happened? An army general by the name of Suharto had to step in and 'fix' the government because nothing was being accomplished.
Do correct me if I'm wrong about how the election works though. I just wanted to vent after so many such 'political discussions', so I might have mixed some stuff up.
Note: This article is abstract from another forum.
Will voting for PAP change anything ?
Originally posted by jojobeach:Will voting for PAP change anything ?
Short and sharp...
Makes a lot of sense..
You get my vote...
which means the PAP don't get mine..
Originally posted by Lionnosy:
Originally posted by Lionnosy:
Sad to say....opposition parties and their candidates.....leave one to be desired....so can't really blame PAP for being the dominant party after so many years......
Originally posted by maxsee:Sad to say....opposition parties and their candidates.....leave one to be desired....so can't really blame PAP for being the dominant party after so many years......
Are there many PAP candidates who are desirable nowadays ?
An elected Government should serve the people.. not the othe way round.
No problem with the Old PAP..
Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, Hon Sui Sen, Ong Pang Boon, S Rajaratnam, E W Barker, Othman Wok et al..
were all Honourable Men who served the people / nation selflessly and are still respected and revered by many Singaporeans today.
Lee Kuan Yew could have been a great one... but unfortunately he overstayed his time... and destroyed his own legacy and that of his Party.
The New PAP are nameless souls who serve nobody but themselves and their one-and-only Master... LKY.
To change the PAP Government is not going to be an easy task..
but Change We Must for the sake of Singapore... and our future.
both ruling and opposition are the same thing now. Why does it matter? oh wait, it may matter because the ruling at stooped to levels of the opposition due to its incompetencies in handling current economic problems
Although I dislike the current PAP, I must say I have no faith in Opp. parties at all (not that I have faith in PAP). I mean look at Dr. CSJ and you will know what I mean.
Currently, I don't see there is any way to pull PAP down. The only way to is for all the opp. party to come together and form 1 big united group but I guess that's impossible.
One thing I'm wondering though, if in any case any one of the Opp. party were to win and take charge, do you really think they will dismantle the previous set system or do you think they will make use of the chance to enjoy what PAP had previously enjoyed (e.g. the millions dollar minister salary)?
In any case, I doubt they will cut the salary down, its a big sum of money, who wouldn't want it? Maybe they might cut it down but guaranteed it won't be a significant difference.
My current perspective is both group (PAP and Opp. Parties) currently have no real abilities in governing Singapore. Personally, I don't care whether is it PAP or the Opp. parties but someone with real abilities to govern Singapore as a leader in the right direction got to step up before its too late.
The current PAP have done nothing but increasing our difficulties surviving in Singapore. Look at the absurb HDB prices. Look at the never-ending rise in cost of living (e.g. GST increment). Look at our stagnant salary despite the increase in cost of living. Oh wait, stagnant the wrong word, there will be changes to our salary, change for the worst due to influx of cheap foreign 'talents'. We can't compete with the foreign 'talents' unless we sell ourselves cheap too.
Originally posted by furb:Although I dislike the current PAP, I must say I have no faith in Opp. parties at all (not that I have faith in PAP). I mean look at Dr. CSJ and you will know what I mean.
Currently, I don't see there is any way to pull PAP down. The only way to is for all the opp. party to come together and form 1 big united group but I guess that's impossible.
One thing I'm wondering though, if in any case any one of the Opp. party were to win and take charge, do you really think they will dismantle the previous set system or do you think they will make use of the chance to enjoy what PAP had previously enjoyed (e.g. the millions dollar minister salary)?
In any case, I doubt they will cut the salary down, its a big sum of money, who wouldn't want it? Maybe they might cut it down but guaranteed it won't be a significant difference.
My current perspective is both group (PAP and Opp. Parties) currently have no real abilities in governing Singapore. Personally, I don't care whether is it PAP or the Opp. parties but someone with real abilities to govern Singapore as a leader in the right direction got to step up before its too late.
The current PAP have done nothing but increasing our difficulties surviving in Singapore. Look at the absurb HDB prices. Look at the never-ending rise in cost of living (e.g. GST increment). Look at our stagnant salary despite the increase in cost of living. Oh wait, stagnant the wrong word, there will be changes to our salary, change for the worst due to influx of cheap foreign 'talents'. We can't compete with the foreign 'talents' unless we sell ourselves cheap too.
Vote for me instead, free public housing etc, must learn some from socialist - communism nations! Oh- I have not reached 21 ar, forget it, just remember me then good liao.
Well...Kenneth Jeyaratnam of the Reform Party seemed to have a pretty good idea of the problems and have pretty decent suggestions on improving the stituation.
He's not confrontational like CSJ and seems to be quite refreshing compared to Low Thia Kiang or Chiam See Tong.
I'm quite eager to see what he plans to do for the next elections.
Originally posted by furb:Although I dislike the current PAP, I must say I have no faith in Opp. parties at all (not that I have faith in PAP). I mean look at Dr. CSJ and you will know what I mean.
Currently, I don't see there is any way to pull PAP down. The only way to is for all the opp. party to come together and form 1 big united group but I guess that's impossible.
One thing I'm wondering though, if in any case any one of the Opp. party were to win and take charge, do you really think they will dismantle the previous set system or do you think they will make use of the chance to enjoy what PAP had previously enjoyed (e.g. the millions dollar minister salary)?
In any case, I doubt they will cut the salary down, its a big sum of money, who wouldn't want it? Maybe they might cut it down but guaranteed it won't be a significant difference.
My current perspective is both group (PAP and Opp. Parties) currently have no real abilities in governing Singapore. Personally, I don't care whether is it PAP or the Opp. parties but someone with real abilities to govern Singapore as a leader in the right direction got to step up before its too late.
The current PAP have done nothing but increasing our difficulties surviving in Singapore. Look at the absurb HDB prices. Look at the never-ending rise in cost of living (e.g. GST increment). Look at our stagnant salary despite the increase in cost of living. Oh wait, stagnant the wrong word, there will be changes to our salary, change for the worst due to influx of cheap foreign 'talents'. We can't compete with the foreign 'talents' unless we sell ourselves cheap too.
In the name of progress and growth, they are destroying and bringing about a situation which they wan to avoid , ironically
Originally posted by Stevenson101:Well...Kenneth Jeyaratnam of the Reform Party seemed to have a pretty good idea of the problems and have pretty decent suggestions on improving the stituation.
He's not confrontational like CSJ and seems to be quite refreshing compared to Low Thia Kiang or Chiam See Tong.
I'm quite eager to see what he plans to do for the next elections.
Never heard of this Kenneth Jeyaranam before
Originally posted by Lionnosy:An elected Government should serve the people.. not the othe way round.
No problem with the Old PAP..
Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, Hon Sui Sen, Ong Pang Boon, S Rajaratnam, E W Barker, Othman Wok et al..
were all Honourable Men who served the people / nation selflessly and are still respected and revered by many Singaporeans today.
Lee Kuan Yew could have been a great one... but unfortunately he overstayed his time... and destroyed his own legacy and that of his Party.
The New PAP are nameless souls who serve nobody but themselves and their one-and-only Master... LKY.
True.Hard for any PAP members who read this to accept it,but its true.
錢錢錢錢之衣食�行篇(No Money No Talk)
Originally posted by Lionnosy:Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, Hon Sui Sen, Ong Pang Boon, S Rajaratnam, E W Barker, Othman Wok et al..
were all Honourable Men who served the people / nation selflessly and are still respected and revered by many Singaporeans today.
That is true.
Originally posted by keeptouch:
Never heard of this Kenneth Jeyaranam before
KJ is the son of JBJ and the person you are going to vote for soon.
Originally posted by Lionnosy:The New PAP are nameless souls who serve nobody but themselves and their one-and-only Master... LKY.
but Change We Must for the sake of Singapore... and our future.
That is true. We must vote for opposition in next elections.
I wish all opposition combine into one party.Then got better chance against pap
Originally posted by new user:I wish all opposition combine into one party.Then got better chance against pap
NOT THAT UNITE YET - THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
Originally posted by new user:I wish all opposition combine into one party.Then got better chance against pap
What cork chance when all opposition combine into one party has against the PAP smear gang? The main policy will be so farked up that it cannot work.
A big change would have to start with little ones...dono who said that?
needs to change governmnet fast!!
reason:to buy more food and live happily ever after in decent place of my own........to buy more cheap ps2 games too.
not asking for alot here fer pap to do,,,,,,,,,,,, ...that also they cant provide!!what else r they good at besides getting high slary and spouting stuff they never do in life!
bet u dey never even upgrade themselves even!
they said you must better, cheaper and faster
what about they themselve
better in what way
cheaper is it in term of salary
faster in term of what
i had enough of their ... ...