Partisan politics reeks of prejudice (GRC et al.)
Quote:
| PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT (CHAPTER 218) Election of Members on a group basis in group representation constituencies 27A. — (1) In every general election of Members and the election of Members to supply vacancies caused by death, resignation or otherwise, the Members for any group representation constituency shall be elected in accordance with this Act subject to the modifications in this section. (2) All elections in any group representation constituency shall be held on a basis of a group of such number of candidates as designated for that constituency by the President under section 8A (1) (a). (3) Subject to subsection (4), any group that desires to contest in any election in any group representation constituency shall consist of such number of candidates as designated for that constituency by the President under section 8A(1)(a), all of whom shall either be — (a) members of the same political party standing for such election for that political party; or (b) independent candidates standing as a group. .... |
The strict ruling of either 'same political party' or 'independent candidates standing as a group', for instance precludes viable options of either
i) >1 political parties forming a GRC or
ii) independents being co-opted up with a some political party to compete;
- therefore puts secondary after partisan politics- the interest of the electorate- as smaller political parties and independents have little if not no chance to compete as GRCs- but are forced into the catch-22 of going for the same SMC- into the election trap of the ruling PAP's SMC candidate who'd then benefit in a 'first past the post' method of elections (FPTP-voting: Party 'Opp1'= 24%, 'Opp2'= 25%, 'Opp3'= 25%, 'Ruling'= 26%; 'Ruling' wins with most votes amongst the 4 candidates).
As seen the case of the current Aust elections-2010, the electorate has now become divided amongst 2 overbearing political parties, whose right to govern it seems, would be eventually determined by pandering to "three independents, a Green Party candidate, and an independent whose seat is not yet confirmed. " [BBC, 22Aug2010]- partisan elections and politics have become a crying shame.
Seeing the divided US electorate, the hung UK parliament, the floundering US and European economies,what do I now think about MPs who are members of political parties, they- sorry for the derogatory language- are just spineless 'drones' out for a ritual blast. Why, because these 'partying' MPs have sold their souls to 'partisan brotherhood'- where membership requisites obedience to the 'party whip' in exchange for plentiful rewards- political donations et. al. Aren't they just perpetuating the curse that big brother party ('too big to fail') is all we need/ want? Why can't we elect 'independents' to represent us in parliament- persons who can discuss eloquently and effectively what's collectively a better and wiser deal for all, who can amongst peers form a government of consensus and not for reasons of partisan politics?- and yes, the PAP has sadly precluded from us this right through the unwarrantably twice bloated GRC system of elections [Question about Integrity of the GRC system of elections / '12' the optimum number of 3 member GRCs for Singapore].
We are a generation of mammon worshipers and cheap skates- whose personal pleasures come before country and community.
We are a nation of crooks, indulging in every promise by the PAP to manipulate the national coffers for the benefit of those who'd vote PAP. "The PAP argued that government was successful in raising the standard of living in the country, and those who supported its various policies, including the upgrading, should be given priority." [wiki:Singaporean general election, 2006].
In pandering to the sense of PAP entitlement, giving her free reign to order even statutory boards bypass opposition MPs, 'Lift upgrading: Why Chiam and Low are not fronting it' [ST- 8Oct2009],
we have only ourselves to blame for the dearth of opposition(s) in Parliament- ours is a fragile one man show. 'Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore is at the top of its game because of a strong political system and quality leadership' [CNA:03May2006, YouTube/@1m10s]
With the rising Gini coefficient of Singapore, we had better demolish partisan politics before it demolishes our social compact- and civil war/ revolution, the consequence of our indifference and inertia- isn't what I'd want to see.
Ditto US, ditto Europe, ditto Australasia, power to the people, down with partisan politics, down with >4 member GRCs; '12' is the optimum number of 3 member GRCs for Singapore
Do have a nice day.
Majulah Singapura.
Reference:
- 'Australia PM Gillard begins task to build coalition': "A handful of members of parliament now appear to hold the balance of power. They include three independents, a Green Party candidate, and an independent whose seat is not yet confirmed. " [BBC, 22Aug2010]
- 'Question about Integrity of the GRC system of elections': [link]
- 'Party whip': The primary role of a party whip in Parliament is to enforce party discipline and ensure that sufficient numbers of MPs from his or her political parties attend sittings of the House and vote along party lines.... [wiki: Parliament of Singapore]
- 'Debate on housing and lift upgrading': The upgrading of public housing, including the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), was a major issue in this election. As in previous elections, PAP had tied the scheduling of housing upgrades to the number of votes the party received in the election. The PAP argued that government was successful in raising the standard of living in the country, and those who supported its various policies, including the upgrading, should be given priority. In the hotly contested Aljunied GRC, George Yeo (PAP) placed lift upgrading the "top of [his] priority list" so that the lift would stop on every floor in as many blocks as possible.[59] Sylvia Lim (WP) accused the PAP of being selective in its upgrading programmes, arguing that this was a divisive policy.[60] [wiki:Singaporean general election, 2006]
- 'Lift upgrading: Why Chiam and Low are not fronting it': "This is because the HDB's practice is to deal with a constituency's grassroots advisers - who are appointed by the People's Association - for all its upgrading programmes. The advisers will then explain the programmes to residents. - Likewise for the ongoing programme to provide lift landings on every floor for selected blocks.
'I don't expect the MP who is not a government MP or PAP MP to go and front it, and explain why the Lift Upgrading Programme is like that...,' said Mr Mah. 'The adviser is always the one doing it, no different this time around,' he said, referring to such programmes in Potong Pasir and Hougang.
In wards held by the People's Action Party, the elected MPs are also the grassroots advisers.
In the two opposition wards, however, the current advisers are the PAP candidates who lost in the last general election - Sitoh Yih Pin in Potong Pasir and Eric Low in Hougang."[ST- 8Oct2009]
- 'A National Clean-up Day?': "I READ with much sadness that many people left behind heaps of rubbish for the cleaners at the Padang after the National Day Parade." [TDY 16Aug2010]
- 'Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore is at the top of its game because of a strong political system and quality leadership' [CNA:03May2006] [YouTube/@1m10s]
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