HERE WE GO AGAIN

thinkloud2004 SG

The Workers' Party has come out with its manisfesto. Even before the press has a chance to publish it the Government is coming down hard on it. As expected, the headlines - loud and alarming - are slanted in a manner to favour the Government.

Language, Religion and Money issues Laughing Very Happy Shocked - all these will be unabashedly stirred hard and fast; ostensibly to educate, remind, advise and even warn the people of the consequence of a bad choice of leadership. But there is another dimension that those in command will not say and that is, POLITICS. Twisted Evil

Housing, transport, daily commodities, medical, education, law.........and the list goes on. Are we happy with them all ? Of course the Government always have a reason for what they implement. Ultimately, they said, "it is for the good of the people".

Some of the policies by the Government are indeed good and beneficial to the masses, even at the expense of the opposition parties. However there are some that not only hurt their opposites but the bulk of the citizens. Some sweeteners during the election times are welcome but as they are few and far between, let us ask ourselves "What happens after election ?".

Any high handed attempts by the Government or the civil service to coerce or cow people into believing a few persons at the top are always right is an insult to Singaporeans and a disservice to democracy and civlisation as a whole.

Not every citizen can be depended upon to make a right choice but then not everything the Government of today do or say is right. If an individual chooses to elect a clown than a scholar that is HIS freedom to choose. Given the prevalent condition we are now in, we should trust the majority to vote wisely.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE and let the people live with their decisions. For the sake of Singapore, I hope the coming GE will be a free and fair election. If there are mud slingings then be gentleman enough to receive as ghastly as you may give.

Atobe SG

The "sweeterns" that are being handed out to Singaporeans are already PAID FOR by Singaporeans during the last few rounds of price increases in 2003, 2004 and 2005 - even BEFORE the restoration of the cuts to Salary and CPF during the 2002 economic meltdown.

Hopefully Singaporeans have not forgotten the price increases to transportation - (bus, taxi, and school bus); utilities, garbage collection, hospitals, education - (primary, secondary, and tertiary); excise tax increases - (tobacco and liquor); ....... and any other taxes that have been missed out (?)

This Government a.k.a the Ruling Party has forty years of experience in perfecting the 'Art of Giving with ONE Hand, and taking it back with the OTHER".

Will it be surprising if AFTER THE ELECTIONS, all the benefits that have been paid out will be returned to the Government in another creative scheme to "milk" the CPF and Bank Accounts of every working Singaporeans ?

BillyBong SG

As with any political opponent, the Ruling party's style is to bury alive the seeds of question before they reach fruitation.

Ng Eng Hen's response itself shows the beligerence and insecure disposition of the Ruling elite. In all of his 4 rebuttal points, his issue on the use of the president as a check on corruption and to hold the 2nd keys to the national reserves seemed to directly contrast the bureaucratic foot-dragging encountered by the late president Ong Teng Cheong.

Even one of their own could not perform this said task, try as he might. Having been thwarted at every turn by an administration bent on prolonging the saga till OTC's term in office was over, the limited overtures OTC DID succeed failed to materialise into anything useful, only to reiterate the lack of transparency, incidently, the SAME TRANSPARENCY they demand of other GLCs and charity organisations.

Would anyone expect fair play from an insecure govt lacking in creativity and always keen to faulty-find others instead of themselves?

Medicated Oil SG

What do you expect from the million dollar ministers who have ZERO experience in handling opposition ?

One word - Paranoid.

The people are smart enough to judge whether the WP mandate is feasible or not.

If it is crap, no one would listen.

If there is any truth, it is time to examine the system and improve it.

No need to slam the mandate in the 1st time.

Unless some one is afraid that the truth may be out.

I admire the WP's ability to come forward to propose a mandate and not just slamming policy without any planning.

ShutterBug SG

Whatever they say about the opposition, I’m making a change this round.

charlize SG

I think the party is a little worried for the coming elections this time round.

Even the SM has stated that he does not expect the current PM to do as well as the previous elections when they won a relatively high majority. Laughing

SilverPal SG

I remember the dragon king saying that he wants to encourage younger singaporeans to be more politically aware and to actually "speak up".

After his ascension to the throne until now, do you guys see the new king and his couriers encouraging "younger singaporeans to speak up"? Is the political climate more encouraging and accepting of diverse opinions?

charlize SG

Speak up, yes.

BUt it had better be what they want to hear. Laughing

meleagent SG

The objective of the game is to last for the full twelve rounds.

Theres no use coming out in the first round and throwing wild swings and running out of steam for subsequent rounds.

Let the pappies do the punching. Since "timebomb" Ng wants to lead the assault let him.

Singaporeans are not beholden to anY partY. The time for change is now.