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06-07-2013, 06:10 PM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
“Right” politics = Good economy?
The article states that “He added that Singapore must get its politics right in order for its economy to do well.”
Economy doing well?
“In order for its economy to do well”? - Negative real wage growth in 4 out of the last 5 years, low 1.3 per cent growth last year (our Asean neighbours like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines all had over 5 % growth), negative – 0.4 per cent per annum productivity in the last 5 years, high inflation at 4.6 per cent last year and record household debt – total consumer loans of Domestic Banking Units – stood at 279 per cent of the total gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year?
Obsession with “the right” things?
We seem to have an obsessive obsession about having the “right” things. Recently, a Minister said in an international television news programme that when Singaporeans read the news online, we need to ensure that they read the “right” things. And now, we need the “right” politics!
“Nasty side of politics”?
Another article on the same day – “Govt seeks diverse talent but ‘nasty side of politics’ a challenge” – said “Ensuring a diverse mix of talent in the next generation of leaders and protecting their families from the nasty side of politics are some of the challenges in attracting people to politics.”
I was rather amused when I read the above “protecting their families from the nasty side of politics are some of the challenges in attracting people to politics”. Allow me to tell you what so many people that I have met all over the world say about Singapore’s “nasty side of politics”.
Singapore is probably the only country in the world where members of Government still sue ordinary citizens and opposition politicians for criticising the Government. If the Government behaves “nastily” by suing people, what do you expect the people to do – be ‘nice’? (Not that I agree that the internet in Singapore is ‘nastier’ than other countries).
The “right” criticism?
I think one of the reasons why some may not want to be politicians may be because
- http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013...-right-things/ (http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013/07/our-obsessive-obsession-with-the-right-things/)
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?156331-Gahmen-s-obsessive-obsession-with-the-quot-right-quot-things-is-getting-riduiculous&goto=newpost).
“Right” politics = Good economy?
The article states that “He added that Singapore must get its politics right in order for its economy to do well.”
Economy doing well?
“In order for its economy to do well”? - Negative real wage growth in 4 out of the last 5 years, low 1.3 per cent growth last year (our Asean neighbours like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines all had over 5 % growth), negative – 0.4 per cent per annum productivity in the last 5 years, high inflation at 4.6 per cent last year and record household debt – total consumer loans of Domestic Banking Units – stood at 279 per cent of the total gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year?
Obsession with “the right” things?
We seem to have an obsessive obsession about having the “right” things. Recently, a Minister said in an international television news programme that when Singaporeans read the news online, we need to ensure that they read the “right” things. And now, we need the “right” politics!
“Nasty side of politics”?
Another article on the same day – “Govt seeks diverse talent but ‘nasty side of politics’ a challenge” – said “Ensuring a diverse mix of talent in the next generation of leaders and protecting their families from the nasty side of politics are some of the challenges in attracting people to politics.”
I was rather amused when I read the above “protecting their families from the nasty side of politics are some of the challenges in attracting people to politics”. Allow me to tell you what so many people that I have met all over the world say about Singapore’s “nasty side of politics”.
Singapore is probably the only country in the world where members of Government still sue ordinary citizens and opposition politicians for criticising the Government. If the Government behaves “nastily” by suing people, what do you expect the people to do – be ‘nice’? (Not that I agree that the internet in Singapore is ‘nastier’ than other countries).
The “right” criticism?
I think one of the reasons why some may not want to be politicians may be because
- http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013...-right-things/ (http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013/07/our-obsessive-obsession-with-the-right-things/)
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?156331-Gahmen-s-obsessive-obsession-with-the-quot-right-quot-things-is-getting-riduiculous&goto=newpost).