To reach First World - First, update the constitution

last SG · 2007-06-17T08:25:11+00:00

It is to be expected self-centred system is destined to atrophy as ngiam tong dow has so aptly put it.

robertteh SG

Yes, agreed. I think you have written many times too about the need to change the constitution with proposals to institutionalize citizens' involvements in social and cultural aspect of participation and creating a youth parliament etc. These are good works for it signaled that citizens are now coming out to speak up on wrongdoings or unfair government policies one by one like the little red dots in forums.

We will need many more little red dots, for they will make the difference and even they cannot have the power to change they can paint the whole town red to make the sea change eventually happen.

robertteh SG

Yes, if all the little red dots are to paint a little red dot each in forum walls all over, it will have the power to cause a change..not immediately but surely and eventually.

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

How exactly is our constitution interpreted? Whereas in the US and UK and other European countries, there is a proper interpretation of the law and the chief justices or some other body of the land comprising of judges or lawyers selected to enact the law of the land, in Singapore, it is murkier more so when even Govt ministers don't seem to know the constitution too well either.

robertteh SG

Yes, some years ago, MM Lee had said that if someone is to repeat something long enough eventually the message or propaganda will become the truth or be accepted as truth.

These sorts of manipulating or brainwashing of the people are being practised on the whole populations with the government thinking they can do anything but repeating their propaganda long enough.

But as can be seen in NKF and Ministers' pay issue, they have failed to brainwash many citizens who despite all the years of such propaganda, have rejected these propaganda totally with a complete waste of brainwashing efforts on their part. In fact they are now getting all the backlashes from such manipulations in that the 20-40% of citizens who know how to think out problems clearly are asking for change and refusing to listen to any more bullshits.

robertteh SG

There is an extremely self-centred mind at work behind this kind of governance - winners take all.

In such a mind, the rule of the game is winning by whatever means.

So for the past 40 years, all the talks about meritocracy, promoting talents, bringing about a value-adding knowledge-based economy or creating good life for citizens etc are just the means but the supreme purpose is only to win the election or get by.

Now 66.6% of population has already been brainwashed into accepting all such empty talks without knowing the hypocrisy that all these are pure slogans to win elections and not solemn words to work for the people - to produce the greatest benefits for the greatest number.

All the problems affecting the society as a result of empty slogans will be explained away by the same method - repeating slogans without serious intent to carry out really good corporate governance.

Another common jargon for this kind of mindset: "The End justifies the Means"

rane SG

Hey, meatbao, tell us why should we trade-off to have a strong government and so on, huh? I absolutely dont agree with you. The presence of strong government does not mean lack of democracy, prosperity, good public education and transport, security . . . . . Other countries have strong government and yet they are also given democracy. Complacency of the people (you are a good example) will encourage the gahmen to do more and more things to please themselves at our expense.

Ooops, I am hungry now, time to go for breakfast, may be I will eat bao Meat bao!!?

rane SG

and now MM talked about brand - branding. Oops, is PAP known as a good and reliable brand to the people of Singapore, we have the answer!! Brand - a good brand will always do more and more to improve on their quality, carry out research, find out feedback from its customers and ask customers how can they improve to serve them better. So what about the brand PAP?!!! ha ha ha!

crazy monkey SG

you think the constitution can anyhow update like your postings ? Laughing

robertteh SG

If government does not anyhow set up GRC to hinder the best individuals to stand for election or increase their own ministers' salaries or appoint chief justice from among their own ex-classmates then there is really no good need to worry about the constitution as such a constitution will protect the people from abuse by the government.

crazy monkey SG

edit your posting again ? can't make up your mind wat you want to say ? Laughing

robertteh SG

Any crime committed to edit postings ? What is edit button for?

crazy monkey SG

no crime Laughing

robertteh SG

(Case Study 1 of other constitutions - Constitution of United States, judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain..)

Article III. - The Judicial Branch Note

Section 1 - Judicial powers

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials

(The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another State; between Citizens of different States; between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.) (This section in parentheses is modified by the 11th Amendment.)

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

walesa SG

There's a reason why regimes run by despots and tyrants are ever-eager to run the propaganda-mill, isn't there? Wink

robertteh SG

Hello Walesa,

Self-centredness, a closed system of some kind is often the cause of failure of many regimes.

In such a self-centred system, there is very little commitments to implementation except constant talks about leadership, concepts like meritocracy or talents which are only basic but are too elusive.

Only when leaders have the extra the passion to set up the whole tasks and challenges in Objective Implementation Processes easily carried out by the whole team will it lead to result-oriented progress taking advantage of internal resources like practical talents and years of surpluses built on sacrifice of citizens.

robertteh SG

Rubbish!
I could puke at you
do you have the mandate to overhaul?
Who supports you!?Only yourself go **** off lah

I am not tabling the proposed amendments so don't get so upset. It is for our ministers and post-65 MPs to study. If they are creative and possessing good leadership qualities and can understand the current problems faced by the majority of citizens then they should table the motion to amend the constitution if amendments not only are good for the government, they are also good for their own future and future of their constituents and their own children.

If not done then once they lose power in the next election, the future political party in charge might do the same thing to them, to their own constituents and their own children. Be objective and don't be so narrow party based in thinking. They should think Singapore if they are good ministers and good MPs.

robertteh SG

republicans wrote:
roberttehkh wrote:
Quote:
Rubbish!
I could puke at you
do you have the mandate to overhaul?
Who supports you!?Only yourself go **** off lah

Robertteh:I am not tabling the proposed amendments so don't get so upset. It is for our ministers and post-65 MPs to study. If they are creative and possessing good leadership qualities and can understand the current problems faced by the majority of citizens then they should table the motion to amend the constitution if amendments not only are good for the government, they are also good for their own future and future of their constituents and their own children.

If not done then once they lose power in the next election, the future political party in charge might do the same thing to them, to their own constituents and their own children. Be objective and don't be so narrow party based in thinking. They should think Singapore if they are good ministers and good MPs.

Republican: Your proposal aint worth mine or the MPs read because no point reading smth that has no support from the ground.
Your proposal full of bullshit.I say,no ammendments needed as of now.

Robertteh:

Whether bullshits or not it is not for you or ministers or mps to judge as well.

It is not well supported by the ordinary people because ordinary people are now not really caring about politics or any future. They just live by the days and if they can do better they will go and enjoy their own lives.

Will our ministers and MPs be caring enough to understand that their past policies of taxing and recovering fullest costs while hoarding taxes as surpluses to serve their own narrow purposes and claim success is not something really good for themselves or their own future should another less enlightened government take over one day.

The ministers and MPs especially the post-65 MPs should seriously ponder over the suggestion as the constitution is too vulnerable to manipulations by any party in power and what goes around may come around one day.

It is far better they be more objective than only to serve their own narrow party agenda and become overly defensive about such a proposal which is probably the next best thing which can happen to PAP - self-renewal with new blood seeing the real problems and need for sea change from past narrow control which does not work too well in today's different world.

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

Typical intimidation. Apparently some people cannot grow up.

walesa SG

Granted, your abovementioned point is valid. That said, it's not rocket science to figure why tyrants and despots need to resort to ruling by an iron fist to sustain itself in power, is it? Wink

Quite simply, you need to abide by the rules to win a game. More importantly, however, you need to be in a game to win it. The latter underscores the importance of draconian methods being the cornerstone upon which the existence of despotic regimes thrive on.

walesa SG

Originally posted by robertteh:

Only when leaders have the extra the passion to set up the whole tasks and challenges in Objective Implementation Processes easily carried out by the whole team will it lead to result-oriented progress taking advantage of internal resources like practical talents and years of surpluses built on sacrifice of citizens.

On a seperate note, this whole notion of doing anything "in the name of the government/nation" through "sacrifice of citizens" would hardly hold any water in a civilised society that functions on the rule of law.

It's no coincidence the notion that the masses should make sacrifices for the common good (or philosophy along that line) thrives so intently in despotic regimes celebrating the rule of man rather than those that subscribe to the rule of law.

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