Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
PAP MPs by default vote according to the whip. "The free vote is given to them when they make a request, and the Whip will consider. In the past it was simply: 'No you can't even request'", "On 1 April 2007, he (Mr Lim Swee Say) was appointed the Government Whip". "PAP MP are bound by PARTY WHIP, ie they vote accordingly party line and not the constituencies interest and personal conviction."
Conclusion: We need more SMCs in parliament, so that we can have more independent minded politicians, uninhibited by PAP interest nor the PAP party whip, to vote according to the electorate's interest and "according to their own conviction". And 48 is a fair number of SMC having considered the need for minority racial representation [link].
On a related note:
Countries w 2 main strong parties: political wrangling +++.
1 party political dynasty e.g. GRC filled Singapore: No wrangling but dynasty rule prevails.
Moral of story, Politicians are selfish like the rest of us.
Way forward:
Honorable parties would stop gerrymandering, stop nonconstructive use of party whips in situation like these and let MPs vote sincerely and based on their morals and the electorate's wishes.
In fact:
Make all MP parliamentary actions transparent to the electorate.
Ban the party whip from influencing MP decisions in electing the cabinet or any parliamentary decision for that matter, ban overt partisan influence of parliament.
For the electorate vote either independent candidates or candidates from parties which do not place partisan interest over that of the electorate's.
Remove the partisan element from SG's GRC system of elections (it promotes gerrymandering) and slim it down to the minimum size and numbers necessary: see calculation proving that: '12': the correct number of (3-Memb) GRCs for Singapore- which explains why this optimum no. of GRCs, which also provides for 48 SMCs, based on the current 84seat parliament is able to balance racial minority interest whilst holding sacred the partisan independence of MPs in parliament.
Political parties (like any professional institution) should have the main role only of advancing political literacy amongst MPs and within communities; as beacons of scholarly learning which through reports and various publications, influence the decisions of the electorate and so their votes - they should NOT actively determine how an MP speaks or acts in parliament nor sway votes by threatening an MP's political career. For too long have political parties manipulated the government with their selfish egos and greed and I think that this is precisely the reason why people general distrust politicians.
BAN PARTY POLITICAL WHIPS.
In SG where even 'guidelines' about service fees is disallowed (from Drs to ppty agts- see e.g.(s) below), why is it that Mr Lim Swee Say is able to control the way MPs vote in parliament and punish them for non-conformity? Does voting a PAP MP equate voting by default for Mr Lim Swee Say's decisions rather then an MP's conviction/ his constituency's interest?
If these guys spend all their time "fixing the opposition", who then has the time/ energy to fix the world's/ society's problems?
Better don't trust a servile partisan politician with your vote.
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." ~ Mother Teresa [Brainy Quote]
Matthew 25:40: "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"- (NIV)
Reference(s):
- 'Fee guidelines for property agents deemed anti-competitive': "However, the CCS holds the view that even if the price recommendations are not binding, they will still provide a focal point for prices to converge. 'This will dampen competition and facilitate price coordination,' the commission said in a statement yesterday." [BT 6Aug2008]
- 'MTI says no to excluding doctors' Guideline on Fees from Competition Act': "After consulting the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has determined that the guidelines could create anti-competitive behaviour, and cannot be excluded from the Competition Act." [CNA 7June2010]
- 'Singapore lifts whip on orchestrated parliament': "The free vote is given to them when they make a request, and the Whip will consider. In the past it was simply: 'No you can't even request',' he said." [AFP 21Mar2002]
- 'Whip (politics)': "A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are party 'enforcers', who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy." [Wikipedia article]
- 'What does the term political whip mean?': "The 'chief whip' will issue a note at the start of the week telling the members of his party what votes were coming up that week. Depending on how many times the vote is underlined (1,2 or 3) tells the MP's how they should vote and whether they will be punished should they vote against their party." [Answers.com]
- 'Political changes are for “long term strength and stability”, says PM Lee': "PAP MP are bound by PARTY WHIP, ie they vote accordingly party line and not the constituencies interest and personal conviction." [TOC 27May2009]
- ''12' the correct number of (3-Memb) GRCs for Singapore.': "When X =12.2164, the number of SMCs= ... = 48 (rounded to the nearest multiple of 3/ based on optimal no. of GRCs)"[A1forums, 6Aug2010]
- 'Home > Cabinet Appointments > Mr Lim Swee Say': "Mr Lim joined the People's Action Party (PAP) in 1996. He was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament in the General Elections held in 1996, 2001 and 2006. He was first elected a member of the PAP Central Executive Committee in 1999, and chaired the Young PAP from 2000 to 2004. On 1 April 2007, he was appointed the Government Whip." [The Cabinet]
PAP MPs by default vote according to the whip. "The free vote is given to them when they make a request, and the Whip will consider. In the past it was simply: 'No you can't even request'", "On 1 April 2007, he (Mr Lim Swee Say) was appointed the Government Whip". "PAP MP are bound by PARTY WHIP, ie they vote accordingly party line and not the constituencies interest and personal conviction."
Conclusion: We need more SMCs in parliament, so that we can have more independent minded politicians, uninhibited by PAP interest nor the PAP party whip, to vote according to the electorate's interest and "according to their own conviction". And 48 is a fair number of SMC having considered the need for minority racial representation [link].
On a related note:
Quote:
Originally Posted by neddy: 21-09-2010, 01:34 PM Hung Parliaments now very popular British election produces hung parliament: Paola Totaro; May 7, 2010 The identity of Britain’s next prime minister could take days to emerge, with Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron in frantic battles for the keys to 10 Downing Street after a cliffhanger election. With neither the Tories nor Labour winning the key 326 seats needed for a majority government, a hung parliament was declared as vote counting began wrapping up on Friday. Australia in political limbo after voters punish PM: Marc Lavine; August 21, 2010 Australia was in political limbo Sunday after voters punished Prime Minister Julia Gillard for deposing her predecessor two months ago, leaving the nation facing its first hung parliament in 70 years. Sweden has a hung parliament after election: By staff writers; Sept 20, 2010 SWEDEN'S ruling centre-right coalition won the most votes in a parliamentary election but fell short of a majority, final results showed today, as the anti-immigrant far-right entered a hung house with a key position. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's Alliance won 49.2 per cent of votes and 172 seats in Sweden's 349-seat parliament in yesterday's vote, three short of a majority, according to a final ballot count. |
1 party political dynasty e.g. GRC filled Singapore: No wrangling but dynasty rule prevails.
Moral of story, Politicians are selfish like the rest of us.
Way forward:
Honorable parties would stop gerrymandering, stop nonconstructive use of party whips in situation like these and let MPs vote sincerely and based on their morals and the electorate's wishes.
In fact:
Make all MP parliamentary actions transparent to the electorate.
Ban the party whip from influencing MP decisions in electing the cabinet or any parliamentary decision for that matter, ban overt partisan influence of parliament.
For the electorate vote either independent candidates or candidates from parties which do not place partisan interest over that of the electorate's.
Remove the partisan element from SG's GRC system of elections (it promotes gerrymandering) and slim it down to the minimum size and numbers necessary: see calculation proving that: '12': the correct number of (3-Memb) GRCs for Singapore- which explains why this optimum no. of GRCs, which also provides for 48 SMCs, based on the current 84seat parliament is able to balance racial minority interest whilst holding sacred the partisan independence of MPs in parliament.
Political parties (like any professional institution) should have the main role only of advancing political literacy amongst MPs and within communities; as beacons of scholarly learning which through reports and various publications, influence the decisions of the electorate and so their votes - they should NOT actively determine how an MP speaks or acts in parliament nor sway votes by threatening an MP's political career. For too long have political parties manipulated the government with their selfish egos and greed and I think that this is precisely the reason why people general distrust politicians.
BAN PARTY POLITICAL WHIPS.
In SG where even 'guidelines' about service fees is disallowed (from Drs to ppty agts- see e.g.(s) below), why is it that Mr Lim Swee Say is able to control the way MPs vote in parliament and punish them for non-conformity? Does voting a PAP MP equate voting by default for Mr Lim Swee Say's decisions rather then an MP's conviction/ his constituency's interest?
If these guys spend all their time "fixing the opposition", who then has the time/ energy to fix the world's/ society's problems?
Better don't trust a servile partisan politician with your vote.
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." ~ Mother Teresa [Brainy Quote]
Matthew 25:40: "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"- (NIV)
Reference(s):
- 'Fee guidelines for property agents deemed anti-competitive': "However, the CCS holds the view that even if the price recommendations are not binding, they will still provide a focal point for prices to converge. 'This will dampen competition and facilitate price coordination,' the commission said in a statement yesterday." [BT 6Aug2008]
- 'MTI says no to excluding doctors' Guideline on Fees from Competition Act': "After consulting the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has determined that the guidelines could create anti-competitive behaviour, and cannot be excluded from the Competition Act." [CNA 7June2010]
- 'Singapore lifts whip on orchestrated parliament': "The free vote is given to them when they make a request, and the Whip will consider. In the past it was simply: 'No you can't even request',' he said." [AFP 21Mar2002]
- 'Whip (politics)': "A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are party 'enforcers', who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy." [Wikipedia article]
- 'What does the term political whip mean?': "The 'chief whip' will issue a note at the start of the week telling the members of his party what votes were coming up that week. Depending on how many times the vote is underlined (1,2 or 3) tells the MP's how they should vote and whether they will be punished should they vote against their party." [Answers.com]
- 'Political changes are for “long term strength and stability”, says PM Lee': "PAP MP are bound by PARTY WHIP, ie they vote accordingly party line and not the constituencies interest and personal conviction." [TOC 27May2009]
- ''12' the correct number of (3-Memb) GRCs for Singapore.': "When X =12.2164, the number of SMCs= ... = 48 (rounded to the nearest multiple of 3/ based on optimal no. of GRCs)"[A1forums, 6Aug2010]
- 'Home > Cabinet Appointments > Mr Lim Swee Say': "Mr Lim joined the People's Action Party (PAP) in 1996. He was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament in the General Elections held in 1996, 2001 and 2006. He was first elected a member of the PAP Central Executive Committee in 1999, and chaired the Young PAP from 2000 to 2004. On 1 April 2007, he was appointed the Government Whip." [The Cabinet]
---------------
This post is reflected at:
SBoy:
23Sept2010: Hung Parliaments now very popular
HWZ:
23Sept2010: Political parties- Beacons of political scholarship or nests of cronyism? (GRC, PM Gillard et al.)
A1 forum:
23Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
VRzone:
23Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
SGforums:
23Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
SGclub:
23Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
23Sept2010:
23Sept2010:
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