Who are our talents - let people nominate like American Idol

last SG · 2008-01-30T11:08:16+00:00

Not for me true. Wo bu ba ni bu dou wo.

phil30k SG

Dear Robert,

I'm glad to see your view on the idea of facilitators.

As you say "the devil is in the details" .

stupidissmart SG

I am thinking this is a system with loopholes

1. Rich people may become your prime minister simply because they can afford to pay more for SMS

2. SMS is not controlled. Someone may make use of their grandmother handphone to send out SMS when they r bathing or don't care

3. Actors and singers may have a higher chance of becoming prime minister due to past popularity

4. Attractive looking people who can talk a lot with no real calibre can have a higher chance to be the prime minister

5. Inert skills such as management is not considered in such competition. Quick thinking is the only skill tested

robertteh SG

Dear Stupidissmart,

Good thing does not come cheap or easy. There will be questions and objections but it is important that all the pros and cons should be considered with a open mind.

The traditional system of choosing talents whether political or performing is usually ad hoc and subjective giving rise to abuse and selection of unsuitable people as talents. Many yes-men were already chosen under our ad hoc leadership closed door system to become our MPs and ministers who do not have enough passion or true abilities to serve and solve our many problems.

The Live Nomination of MPs is not a talent time. The nomination process will be conducted by an independent Panel of Facilitators well chosen by the people themselves as explained earlier comprising of experts from various fields who will and have the ability and overall intellect and experience to design the right combination of criteria for sizing up and commenting on candidates appearing in Televised Live Interactive Sessions for up to 10 rounds of SMS-voting by qualified voters on one-man-one-vote nomination process. Public or the masses play a major but not necessarily naive role of choosing such candidates for good performances or rhetorics because of the roles played by the Facilitators,

It is not as easy as one likes to think to pass through the intense testing of talents, intellect and abilities by such a panel.

Ever watch live Beijing International Chinese Debates among the various teams from many international universities. It is not the good-looking and eloquent alone who will win such debates. The panel of expert judges go through topical assessments commenting on a host of factors for the live audience to decide their choice by voting guided by these experts.

Only the best with intellectual abilities presented through transparent and publicized Televised Live Nomination of Candidates will be able to throw up the best nominees of MPs, to stand for election.

If a particular candidate is lacking in sufficient command of economics or social organizations or infrastructural aspects of nation building do you think he will be well regarded by the panel of facilitators who have certain amount of casting votes to override possible errors.

So it is not possible for salesmen or performers to pass such batteries of tests in such a process. The large audience in such a live nomination ensures the best will come forward attracted by opportunities to put their abilities to such a test.

It is for both the panel of independent facilitators and the masses to weed out any doubtful candidates using the criteria to great advantage.

Like the Americal Idol it is a system which will through up the best talents due to a combination of factors i.e. great publicity and prestige, transparent screening of candidates, and democratic and fairest voting by the citizens.

We will definitely encourage many talented people who are otherwise by-passed due to lack of personal connection with the present leaders to come forward and be nominated,

stupidissmart SG

Lets look from a system approach first

SMS vs Ballot Box

Obviously in this case, the ballot box offered more control over to SMS. Ballot can ensure the person voting is the person itself, and not someone who just make use of other people vote. In all elections there r always some people who heck care. Their votes tis time can be used by overzealous supporters. Second is ballot box ensure "hiding". The person who vote do not feel pressurized to vote for people who they do not want to vote. For example a housewife, who wanted to vote a party, may end up voting the opposition because his over zealous and bossy husband who support the opposition look at her when she send the SMS. Third, physical paper is more transparent than IT savvy SMS. There may be chances of hacking, overwriting etc tat will disturbed the whole election process. To replace the ballot box, it is not feasible.

On American Idol style approach and conventional approach

Lets talk about the time frame first. American idol take a few months, each time eliminating one person out. Not all citizens r so enthusiastic in politics and forcing them to spend a night every week is time consuming and silly. Not only tat, it waste the minister time to prepare every week for tis glamour show and not working instead. I believe one night is enough. Secondly, SMS can be sent at the spur of the moment during the speech and when they regret, it is too late. It is still better for them to cool down a night before they cast the vote using their head and not their heart. Thirdly, an independent panel is prone to corruption. In the ideal case they work ideally. But in actual facts, from project superstar, there r already many rumours of corruption and personal favours involved between the judges. Also it is impossible for the panel not to be lop sided in their view because any politically interested person will find it hard not to control their perspective. U can talk about debate style and not glamour style but again it favours people who have quick thinking and good at rheotorics and argument, such as lawyers. The important skill for an MP is more than just arguing and boasting. It consist on management and good perspective tat may be hard to show during the show.

If u want, the best tat can be formed is just a 1 night 2 person debate like the US system now. The rest remain intact

stupidissmart SG

I think all the opposition party should combined to form a combined "democratic" party or something. Now they r just a plate of loose sand everybody working for themselves thing

robertteh SG

Stupidissmart,

SMS is not being used for electing MPs here but merely for nominating potential candidates to stand for election as MPs.

stupidissmart SG

So we r gonna start with 1000 over candidates before narrowing down to at least a hundred ?

Doubletalk SG

LONDON - THE BBC has acquired the option to develop a 'Pop Idol"-like show aimed at finding Britain's next Tony Blair or Margaret Thatcher, The Times reported in its Friday edition.

'The Next Great Leader", based on a format that has proved successful in Canada, features contestants aged 18 to 25 who submit a video-recorded speech that outlines their vision for making Britain a better place, and will feature former ministers and political commentators on the judging panel.

Through the course of the show, the number of 'candidates' will be cut to four, who will face off against each other in a live US Presidential-style debate, with questions on economics, social policy, the environment and moral standards.

According to The Times, the show is expected to run during the next general election, due by May 2010 at the latest.

'We have acquired the option on 'The Next Great Leader' for our in-house entertainment team to produce,' a BBC spokeswoman told the newspaper.

Mr Michel Rodrigue, chief executive of the BBC's independent producer, Distraction, told the paper: ''The Next Great Leader' is the best example of reality prime time programming that not only entertains, but educates viewers to the challenges our leaders are facing, and the necessity to develop the leaders of the future.'

In the Canadian version of the programme, called 'The Next Great Prime Minister', the winner was awarded a cash prize of 50,000 Canadian dollars (S$70,860), and a six-month internship at a leading political body. -- AFP

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/STIStory_202324.html

phil30k SG

Got to hand it to Canada. That's a great idea of educating the masses though entertainment.

Doubletalk SG

Will Mediacrop then acquire the show, then politics here be given the baptism of fire?

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