To SG,LauBaiXing: Your post of questions means nothing. i can
come up with a list twice as long as yours for every single damn
country in the world. You think only singapore is politically
unfair?!
Snow Leopard:
you're saying freedom of speech and the right to exert our
wishes isn't achievable in any society?
i think i may have been misunderstood. i need to clarify myself
(my previous post was hurried, i was rushing it after work). i
meant to say my first line in response to certain peoples who seem
to think that they are more capable in running singapore than the
present government. i should have quoted. Apologies. My intention
is not to fuck freedom of speech, hell, i wholly support our
generation in exercising their rights and intellects to think for
themselves. But i am questioning if it is possible to have a
well-rounded, wealthy society with a total lax in the area of such.
At what point do the views of people turn from suggestions
into demands? Because, isnt it true that there is no point
if suggestions are taken in - but nothing done about them? Do
people expect something to come out from their views? Or are they
just blowing hot air for the hell of it.
Listen: i think its all fine and perfectly okay if people are able
to voice whatever is on their minds and such. What i am wary of is
when people, who are living perfectly healthy lives try to better
things around them. Ie, "PEOPLE POWER" as it is known in indonesia.
It may all be in good heart, but with the lack of knowledge in the
complexities of such consecution, such demands can and will cause
damage.
Ok i know what the rebuttal will be. "Why let such fear come in the
way of people's rights and their views?" That is why i said,
Done intelligently with proper knowledge, research and a well
rounded viewpoint, it can benefit a country. BUT the thing is, most
complaints and ramblings are done out of boredom and childish
frustration, and i find they tend to do more harm than any real
good.
Just look at the majority of the forums topic in your Straits
Times today. The quality is appaling. That is only one example. You
may say that it is the result of the over-control of the government
in reining in our views and expressions, but what i will say is
that - people first need to start giving valuable, insightful and
well-thought out views, only then will the government see that
there is some good trains of thought out there. Perhaps then,
political discourse will not be viewed with such aversion.
the same can be said about Thaksin, of how he forgot that, at
the end of the day, he needs to answer to the needs of the people.
the more successful he became, the more carried away he became so
much so that he forgot the concerns of his people and sold away the
symbol of their national pride.
i still hold onto my stand that the Thai people did not make a
good decision in the ousting of Thaksin. Read the artical on
Thanksin in this month's Economist magazine to get an idea of why.
Btw, he did not "forget" the concerns of his people. He knew
exactly what he was doing - it was an opportunity to make money.
And right now singapore is at the bad end of the deal (ie we've
lost money!!! Haha.) Anyway. This is a real life example of the
action of "people power". We'll see how this one goes. Although
indonesia should already be a great example after Suharto.
the same can be said about our leaders achievements. i always
hear people say that they built this country, they gave us economic
prosperity. but did they achieve these all by themselves? without
the hardwork of us people, what could they have built? what
prosperity would we have had?
i think we can call even on this one.
why choose countries like india? why not choose countries like
USA, switzerland, finland, australia? compared to these countries
how much luckier can we get? teritary education in germany is free.
here, they're jacking up fees year after year, so should i count
myself unlucky instead?
This is exactly the kind of mentality that i'm talking about -
the idea that theres so much lacking in singapore that people feel
the need to whine. Oh and nothing is ever "free". Check the tax
rates if you think so. Btw, the USA isnt much better. Ever been to
lower Manhattan? Or the Bronx. Or or or... choose your pick, but
please see that we are alot better off than majority of the
countries in the world in terms of safety, education and standard
of living. i know i sound so damn cliche and cheesy, but its
true.
what right do you have to brand individuals who speak up for
injustice or wrong doing as being 'spoilt'? you belittle our
concerns and demonstrate ignorance and haughtiness. there are
certainly things we appreciate. but if these things can buy our
conscience or shut us up then surely we must be spineless
creatures.
Injustice, wrong-doing? Oh i've never mentioned anything at all
about such unfairness, my friend. Please do not assume or put words
into my post. i was referring to "nit-pickers" as you will
definetely see in my original post, people who speak up for things
that they know nothing logistically about.
You know, i think what got me upset the most was that reading
through the thread, people seem dissatisfied and upset at the
government, but for what logical reasons i do not know. The fact
that blogs such as http://singabloodypore.blogspot.com/ exist
already show that the government isnt as totalitarian as you have
claimed. Anyways i apologise if i was unclear in my first post. It
was hurried, angst-ridden and not very concise.
Your arguments are all focused on 3rd World nations, sounds so
much like a typical piece that is trying to scare the unwashed of
Singapore about a government led by any other party.
What a hoot.
Oh, but if you are soooo upset with our present government, why
not hold a revolution? If you believe soooo much in people power?
Then go form your own government with people who share your ideas
via "pure democracy" (if it exists), then come back to me and let
me know how your country is currently doing, if it is any better
than "3rd World Nations". Ps: How do you think 3rd World Nations
got like that in the first place?
Oh and with reference to Cambodia, it was a rich nation. i know
because i was recently there, and of course i have spoken about
their history with the locals. It may not have been SUPER DUPER
MEGA RICH but they were self-sufficent and a business center. And i
dont understand why i cant compare our two nations. Right after
WW2, we were on the same page, werent we? And
Atobe, as for South Africa, Thabo Mbeki is the
president, yes? Did you know that he did not win the elections
fairly? And that his cabinet is highly corrupted?
This is super selfishness in you if you said "no matter how
corrupted or authoritive or dogmatic it may be"
Yes i am ready to discuss with an open mind. i know i am taking
the difficult stand here, but i am ready to take it on 
(Mind you, i do share alot of similar views with you
guys.) Oh and for that particular line, i meant that if the country
is still successful, the people taken care of, are happy and well
fed, living comfortably... i doubt the ability of the people to
form a new government that can be as successful as previous.
Just to say. i am not fanatically pro-singapore government, but i
am highly appreciative of what they have done with singapore. i am
against crackdowns on the views of singaporeans. If i did not
believe in having freedom of speech and views, i wouldnt even be
posting this :p i know the singapore government isnt right in
everything, (they tend to make alot of investment mistakes too),
and at some times they can be overly paranoid too. (Like i think
the jail term for that guy whatshisname for showing contempt
towards the court and "insulting" our judical system may have been
abit harsh.) Anyway. i hope this post is more concise, i apologise
for the previous unclear, angst-ridden one.
