S

[S2077s]

Your statement raise a very interesting point: Does higher intellectuals make good politicians? Or even caring ones? (NB: Note the difference between the two)

 

This seems to be the case for any ruling party candidates.

 

Like what I mentioned earlier, their candidates seem to be all the who's whos in our society, even army generals are suddenly retired & could be potential ones in their lineup. Some of these folks can even take up the top-posts given their stated intention that one of these could be our next PM.

 

Once elected, or bundled into parliament via the GRC system, do they know how to raise on-the-ground issues?

 

If a taxi-driver, no offence to their vocation, can hammer the "unavoidable" rising costs we faced, the diffculty of getting jobs bec of "unavoidable world trends i.e. FTs", the ever-increasing "unavoidable" fuel costs, the affordability of "heavily-subsidised" housing & all real problems we on the ground face, then he/she can definitely have my vote & I am sure other bros who feel the same way.

 

He/She may not be polished in their speeches or have sterling academic results but if they can speak for us & reflect what really is happening then to me they deserve to be in parliament.

 

Under the present system, however, this is not really possible....

 

The democracy we have today is somewhat like what "faith" entails in religious beliefs. You have a set of physical, scientific, empirally proven realm you are residing in. Of course, things could always be sweeter you think. So solely out of faith, you lept off your comfort zone, into the abyss of your beliefs, into the unknown.... and hope to land on a sweeter spot in this world? I guess this is human nature, you never venture you never know.

 

I just hope no one is casting their votes based on "faith". Status quo befitting, the next better player has to present beyond reasonable doubt and capability to get my votes thats for sure.

 

 

 

[Nightkids]

 

You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.

[Sky61]

singapore's floods are MAN-made.....japan's tsunami is forces of nature....how to compare....

[KARTer]

Another elite from dont know what planet collecting fat pay yet talks like a senile old man ..........PUI!!!

[Lethalstrike]

Giving credit when its due and taking into account the accumulated c--k-ups over the last few years, this is how i think they should be paid realistically.

 

Seriously, being renowned for corruption-free, somehow i feel that the stigma of all our ministars being millionaires must be addressed. Its also pegged to the payscale of the private sector in the real world.

 

So here goes...

 

1. Elected President SR Nathan - S$801k

2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - S$800k

3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew - S$500k

4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Thong - S$480k

5. Senior Minister Prof Jayakumar - S$480k

6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng - S$470k

7. DPM & Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean - $470k

8. Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo - S$465k

9. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan - S$465k

10. PMO Miniser Lim Boon Heng - S$465k

11. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang - S$465k

12. PMO Minister Lim Swee Say - S$465k

13. Environment Minister & Muslim Affairs Minister Dr Yaccob Ibrahim - S$465k

14. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan - S$465k

15. Finance Minister S Tharman - S$465k

16. Education Minister & 2nd Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen - S$465k

17. Community Development Youth and Sports Minister - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan - S$450k

18. Transport Minister & 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim Siang Kiat - S$450k

19. Law Minister & 2nd Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam - S$450k

20. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong - S$450k

21. PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hwa - S$450k

22. Acting ICA Minister - Lui Tuck Yew - S$430k

23 to 30 = Ministers of State - All capped at S$380k

 

 

[Felipe]

The democracy we have today is somewhat like what "faith" entails in religious beliefs. You have a set of physical, scientific, empirally proven realm you are residing in. Of course, things could always be sweeter you think. So solely out of faith, you lept off your comfort zone, into the abyss of your beliefs, into the unknown.... and hope to land on a sweeter spot in this world? I guess this is human nature, you never venture you never know.

 

I just hope no one is casting their votes based on "faith". Status quo befitting, the next better player has to present beyond reasonable doubt and capability to get my votes thats for sure.

 

while i truly believe in voting the best guy in, i think what's more crucial here is to create a more competitive political environment, where ideas are questioned, thought through to make things work.

 

Anyway, we won't truly know who the best guys are until they start office. Everything is all talk meantime. But whatever it is, i think there are a group of ppl who are unhappy with the policies of the ruling party. So the only way in such situations is to put your faith in someone else.

[Vulcann]

.....

3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew - S$500k

4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Thong - S$480k

5. Senior Minister Prof Jayakumar - S$480k

6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng - S$470k

....

10. PMO Miniser Lim Boon Heng - S$465k

....

 

Should exclude these whom all of us do not deserve of their "mentoring", "age-old" & "wise" advices.

 

With your new formula we can further save almost S$2.4m.

[themagi]

while i truly believe in voting the best guy in, i think what's more crucial here is to create a more competitive political environment, where ideas are questioned, thought through to make things work.

 

Anyway, we won't truly know who the best guys are until they start office. Everything is all talk meantime. But whatever it is, i think there are a group of ppl who are unhappy with the policies of the ruling party. So the only way in such situations is to put your faith in someone else.

 

I'm with you. Competition is good and more opposition in parliament is better. However, not all opposition should get our support into parliament.

[Felipe]

I'm with you. Competition is good and more opposition in parliament is better. However, not all opposition should get our support into parliament.

but in the first place, do we have a luxury of choices to pick from? the opposition always seem to be just those few. Anyway, even if vote all opposition, power would still be in ruling party's hands. But at least, there are more voices to represent the people's interest.

[Vulcann]

but in the first place, do we have a luxury of choices to pick from? the opposition always seem to be just those few. Anyway, even if vote all opposition, power would still be in ruling party's hands. But at least, there are more voices to represent the people's interest.

 

From me for another thread & still relevant to your post:

 

Let us just say there is really a freak result few GEs down the road (by then some of us already meet the maker liao), and the ruling party lose all the SMCs & 2 GRCs (say 2 nos. 4 seaters) to the opposition parties & independents,

 

For argument sake, let us just stick to the 87 nos. (12 SMCs & 15 GRCs) of seats we are going to have soon for the next parliament.

 

So 12+8=20 nos. of oppo or independent folks versus 67 ruling party MPs in the most extreme case when voting bills.

 

With such a unthinkable freak result, the ruling party still enjoy a majority in numbers so passing of bills will seem to be not a big problem at all.

 

Granted that the parliament will no longer a serene place but full of forceful but healthy arguments between the 2 or more camps, the absolute passing of bills will no longer be a done deal.

 

The above is just a pure imaginary scenario but the point I am trying to make is that it is always good to hear some alternative views, nevermind how absurd or silly it seem at that moment. At least we can hear the POVs from all parties before it is passed into law (because in this scenario the ruling party still have the absolute numbers).

 

Just my 2 cts...

[Acemundo]

but in the first place, do we have a luxury of choices to pick from? the opposition always seem to be just those few. Anyway, even if vote all opposition, power would still be in ruling party's hands. But at least, there are more voices to represent the people's interest.

 

yep, like i explained to another guy. our system is such that only PAP MPs get chosen as minister who are then the ones to run the country.

 

opposition MP are only there to provide alternative voice and as well as a presence that naturally makes the ruling party sit up and check their own work. so there is really no need to insist voting only opposition candidates that are capable because the don't get to do meaningful work to help the country. the most work they get to do is to serve the constituents which are pretty mundane and can be done by just any MP.

 

casting the vote for pap candidates only means there is additional choice of for ruling party to choose amongst as Ministers. But really, the choice of ministers have already been fixed in the mind of the PM, so it only means another MP who failed to make the grade for Minister. besides failing to make the grade as minister, this MP also does not provide a presence that will make the ruling party self check. this is in fact a worse choice to vote for, even if on paper this PAP candidate looks more impressive.

[Karu]

Bloody peanuts!!! I think he's been eating too much of his wife's kacang!!!

[Acemundo]

From me for another thread & still relevant to your post:

 

Let us just say there is really a freak result few GEs down the road (by then some of us already meet the maker liao), and the ruling party lose all the SMCs & 2 GRCs (say 2 nos. 4 seaters) to the opposition parties & independents,

 

For argument sake, let us just stick to the 87 nos. (12 SMCs & 15 GRCs) of seats we are going to have soon for the next parliament.

 

So 12+8=20 nos. of oppo or independent folks versus 67 ruling party MPs in the most extreme case when voting bills.

 

With such a unthinkable freak result, the ruling party still enjoy a majority in numbers so passing of bills will seem to be not a big problem at all.

 

Granted that the parliament will no longer a serene place but full of forceful but healthy arguments between the 2 or more camps, the absolute passing of bills will no longer be a done deal.

 

The above is just a pure imaginary scenario but the point I am trying to make is that it is always good to hear some alternative views, nevermind how absurd or silly it seem at that moment. At least we can hear the POVs from all parties before it is passed into law (because in this scenario the ruling party still have the absolute numbers).

 

Just my 2 cts...

 

 

and not forgetting by their own admission, there is a party whip policy within PAP. all their MPs will have to vote what the PM wants, even if they felt otherwise. adding another ruling party MP is like strengthening the already strong party whip. stiff enough to crack our butts

[Vulcann]

and not forgetting by their own admission, there is a party whip policy within PAP. all their MPs will have to vote what the PM wants, even if they felt otherwise. adding another ruling party MP is like strengthening the already strong party whip. stiff enough to crack our butts

 

Exactly. I do not doubt some of the ruling party MPs do serve with the genuine intention to speak out for the people & eager to raise bread & butter issues. Case in point is Dr. Liliy Neo.

 

However, they have to adhere to the ruling party stand when it comes to the passing of the bills, unless the party whip is lifted.

 

With such an overwhelming majority it is worrying that all the bills can be passed easily even with robust debates from both oppo & some passionate ruling party MPs.

 

This is not healthy for a young nation's development IMHO.

[Without_a_car]

On Vuvuzelas and Singaporeans

 

 

[Mockngbrd]

if only ALL the ministers/president can donate just 1 month's salary to the red cross.

[Zze121]

Complacency is a killer, anything can happen, time will come to proof how much they worth.

 

 

[Eyke]

whenever SM and MM open their mouth about their citizens

there is nothing but criticizism

when will they appreciate singaporeans who have been giving them the mandate to rule all these 50 years

 

when u vote them out.