National issues more important or constituency issues?

Thethinker6 SG

It is interesting that in the post nomination speeches, the PAP tend to focus on constituency issues while the opposition tend to focus on national issues. Which is correct?

In the 1970s there were only national issues and no constituency issues. Our forefathers were very focused on the good of the whole Singapore. It was only till housing estate upgrading came along, then constituency issues stole the limelight during elections. Are constituency issues really that important?

In some big countries, a single constituency is already bigger than the whole of Singapore. Then constituency issues are important. In Singapore constituencies are very small and very interrelated with each other. One constituency's issues will most likely affect the other constituencies as well. We live in one constituency, and we work in another constituency, while traveling through constituencies each day. We have relatives who stay in other constituencies and have gatherings in yet other constituencies as well. Thus the good and the bad of constituencies are shared rather than wholly enjoyed by only the locals.

Therefore what is the use of a $0.6 billion upgrading in your constituency? They may promise you a new shopping center, a new hospital, new school, new stadium, new jogging path, and even a man-made lagoon. But people from other constituencies will come to use your shopping center, hospital, school, stadium, jogging path and lagoon too. You most probably would end up using other constituency's shopping center, hospital, school, stadium, jogging path and lagoon as well. So what is the big deal?

And the good news end there. How is the billion dollar upgrading financed? GST. Who will build that upgrading? Foreign labor. How will the town's living cost become? Much higher living cost. Will your son/daughter be able to buy a HDB near your flat? No, because the HDB prices rise much higher because it becomes a more beautiful estate. Will you actually be able to enjoy the estate? No because you work long hours each day, and you would go overseas for vacation anyway. What can go wrong? Well you have just sent back to parliament a group of politicians who do not listen to you regarding national issues.

The fact is that a covered walkway will not make you any happier if living costs and medical cost continues to go up uncontrolled. A lift upgrading will not make you any happier if foreigner labor continues to threaten your job. A new hospital is of no use if you cannot afford to use it. A new school is also of no use if your kids cannot get in due to more foreigners. Shopping center will not help if it is jam-packed with people all the time, and so are the buses and MRT. Therefore national issues affects our daily lives much more than constituency issues.

Why then did the PAP focus on constituency issues? Perhaps it is because they messed up the national issues and thus would not like people to think about it. Why did the opposition focus on national issues? Because there are serious and urgent national issues that require the attention of everyone.

Therefore in this election, I hope everyone can be selfless and focus more on the national issues. Our forefathers did that for us to bring prosperity to us. We need to do that for the next generation so that the future Singapore will be more citizen focused rather than money focused. Don't sell away the bright future of Singapore for merely a covered walkway or a lift upgrading.

Nelstar SG

Depends.

The majority of votes that goes to the MIW are actually older generation who tend to have benefitted from the constituency upgrades. They tend to have less issues with the current day-to-day outcomes and more equipped to live with less.It is easier for them to associate with the constituency upgrades as seeing-is-believing.

The most discomforting set of outcome from this is that they may not be able to comprehend the resultant impact made in the Parliament. On the contrary, only the educated and informed Singaporeans will tend to take national issues to heart as they can understand figures and statistics. It is rather difficult to bring to the attention of the older generation the statistical studies which show the downward curve we are heading.

These older generation do not see the swing as these are figures and does not relate to them unless someone spend more time and more effort explaining the outcomes of these figures.

Thus, based on neurological examination, material visual and audio information is always easier to digest that immaterial statistical information.

You need very good speakers to translate these immaterial statistical information into something which they can easily associate with and there is always difficulties in justifying the source.

alize SG

Aging population is actually PAP's secret weapon, best asset.

Nelstar SG

Aging population is actually PAP's secret weapon, best asset.

All men die. Eventually, these folks are not eternal.

fymk SG

It is interesting that in the post nomination speeches, the PAP tend to focus on constituency issues while the opposition tend to focus on national issues. Which is correct?

Nope, people want their lift upgrades and increased value of their 99-leased flats.....the rest are not important. It's called looking after your property first....never mind if you can't pay your bills.

Fcukpap SG

all normal matters once left unattended for a period of time becomes suddenly important and critical at the 11th hour....

i would call this election 21 as an 11th hour dilemma for them

Medicated Oil SG

All issues were brushed off as singaporean being fussy with slow and overcrowded transportation as compared to india and china.

All were supposed to be "cheaper, better and faster" cos we tell you to do so.

Now, they say "we will 'take care' all of you".

Or does he mean "we will fix all of you for going to all the opposition party rally".

Icerage SG

think of the BIG PICTURE first, then comes to details

Fcukpap SG

building castles in the air without listening to the voices on the ground

Medicated Oil SG

We will take care of all of you.

You - all the MIWs and their croonies.

You - Opposition Party will be fixed.

Seriously, we trusted you to take care of us for last ten years.

The people you take care are your self interest and your bonus.

Dun start wearing your lamb skin when your fear tactics misfired.

Can you be trusted on not to raise your living cost so that the companies under your wife can continued to make HUGE profit so that you can benefit from the bonuses ?

Have you been telling too much lies to yourself and you are living in self-denial and still believe handing out money you sucked from us will fix the opposition.

Or you yourself still stupid enough to think handing out hundred dollars to sg people and giving yourself million dollars bonus will help you win ?

troublemaker2005 SG

i never ask for shopping centers why they go build so many. so noisy somemore in the vicinity.

Askingyouto SG

Depends.

These older generation do not see the swing as these are figures and does not relate to them unless someone spend more time and more effort explaining the outcomes of these figures.

Thus, based on neurological examination, material visual and audio information is always easier to digest that immaterial statistical information.

You need very good speakers to translate these immaterial statistical information into something which they can easily associate with and there is always difficulties in justifying the source.

Think partly true, yes, older folkes tend to support PAP, but still they are some old folks with children and grandchildren hurting from PAP policies and are clear-minded that PAP is the culprit.

Wiser SG

Capitaland keep raising the rents , why ah ? Shouldn't there be a cap how much they want to squeeze out of businesses?

2.5 million voters and we have 5 million people in Singapore. Someone still want to increase to 7 million. I can't believe it. They want 4.5 millions foreigners in Singapore and they say they are taking care of us ? How ah?

2.5 against 4.5 millions. We are swamped, overwhelmed, overtaken and drown to the bottom, will they care? The 4.5 millions are the ones giving them $$$, bringing in businesses. We are useless Singaporeans. Our transport should be overswarmed by the 4.5millions, our housing, our roads, our schools, the foreigners are more important than us , the Singaporeans. This is called taking care of us ?

Junyang700 SG

I am for national issues, than constituency issues.

My parents are for constituency issues, than national issues.

troublemaker2005 SG

I am for national issues, than constituency issues.

My parents are for constituency issues, than national issues.

got country tehn got home. tell your parents that. we have to tackle the national issues. please vote wisely. the GDP so good and they claims country getting to firts world. but is your life getting first world? packed like a can of sardines with worm smell in public transport, high cost of living, cheap foreign labor everywhere. think again singaporeamn. its not too late for the 2.5 million to stant up, here, now