Re: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
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Originally Posted by theliverevoluti  Re: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say? Another post that makes no sense due to very bad editing on the Thread Starter's part. Why do you think that countries are eager to quickly absolve a hung Parliament? It means its a dreadlock - nothing can be done, debated, or implemented. How can the politicians possibly serve the people in such a situation? |
Thank you for your interest in my article.
Whilst it's obvious that 'Hung Parliaments' are the new bane of the 3 western democracies described, (you described: "a dreadlock(sic) - (where) nothing can be done, debated, or implemented").
It would be good if one could investigate the root causes of such a conundrum rather then merely stating the obvious.
What I have, in authoring 'Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?' is to draw attention to the problem of the electorate falling during elections for the partisan politics game played out by insincere politicians from 'big church' political parties, exploiting the naivete and uninformed electorate.
In the case of Singapore (as my essay began with); all PAP MPs have to avow absolute abidance to party rules and, with the exception of prior permission being sought granted, vote according to party agenda: "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'" [Singapore lifts whip on orchestrated parliament]; the current PAP party whip being Mr Lim Swee Say. This obviously results often in conflicts of MP's constituency interest over partisan interest. The latter often being the default tie breaker must have instinctively invoked the forum participant to conclude: "PAP MP are bound by PARTY WHIP, ie they vote accordingly party line and not the constituencies interest and personal conviction."
This concept of partisan interest first, electorate interest second (post elections)- is by my observation, the same root cause for the 'hung parliament' problem in the 3 foreign parliamentary based democracies described; whereby an electorate naivete of the disruptive and 'anti-competitive' nature of partisan politics have permissively allowed such practices to pervade through out the political system- thus resulting in much partisan political bickering and leadership stalemates, whereby even the formation of a cabinet has become problematic if not impossible. The desperate co-opting of independents, minority parties being the eventual outcome- the pre-election promises now diluted by partisan bargaining.
The 2 local examples wherein professional bodies were disallowed publication of their respective 'guideline on fees' are examples of the high 'pro-competitive' standards the government requires of local professional bodies whereby publication of even non-binding fee guidelines by these societies- whatever the intent- have been deemed uncompetitive and thus made illegal.
It is thus shocking that in this internet age of high population literacy and even amongst 1st world economies, MPs still have to routinely compromise their personal convictions in support of partisan agenda/ political dynasty- or else face sanctions, even to the extent of disqualification from parliament as is the situation locally.
Why do people around the world still depend on 'big brother' politicians to govern their country? What has happened to cordial interpersonal relations, mutual cooperation and independent ingenuity that has guided humanity over the centuries? Must the conduct of every parliamentary session- from inception to dissolution- be done 'big brother' style and along partisan lines? Are good ideas so unique that they should be sole monopoly of only 1 party? Must our differences remain the focus amongst our politicians? Is a quiet festering 'civil war' the ideal outcome of democracy?
With hung parliaments sprouting as ubiquitously worldwide as the recent recession spread, the faith of people in 'big church' political parties must be wearing thin.
Using the example of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as a distant example: "SMEs form an important pillar of the city-state's economy, employing 56 percent of workforce and contributing 42 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)." even the economy is currently being populated by smaller, 'independently run' companies- not over sized MNCs nor their clumsy subsidiaries. - This local example also applies locally- where PAP is the 'big church' party and where excess partisanship and gerrymandering remain the core problems inherent in the current GRC system of elections in Singapore.
For how long more 'big church' political parties can continue play their dirty little partisan games in the midst of recurrent hung parliaments and an increasingly aware and literate electorate is a question that I hope can soon be answered, a case of not if but when.
Rgds
B.C.
OT:
BTW- the correct term is 'deadlock': defn= A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible.
Dreadlocks refer to "One of many long thin braids of hair radiating from the scalp; popularized by Rastafarians"
Please note that 'Rastafarian' isn't a senseless word either as I proffer to your Highness its meaning: (Non-Christian Religions / Other Non-Christian Religions) a member of an originally Jamaican religion that regards Ras Tafari (the former emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie (1892-1975)) as God.
References:
- '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]
- 'Parliamentary democracy': "A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch are drawn from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined. In such a system, the head of government is both de facto chief executive and chief legislator." [Wiki Article]
- 'Singapore to roll out more schemes to help SMEs': "SMEs form an important pillar of the city-state's economy, employing 56 percent of workforce and contributing 42 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)." ['People': 05Mar2007]
- 'Betrayal of the original intent of the GRC system of elections. (By SMC minimization)': "As figures show, the original good intentions of the GRC system of elections have since been overwhelmed by obtuse manipulation for party political interest such that GRCs serve the PAP’s interest rather than the original objective of 'ensuring minority representation'"[A1forums, 25Aug2010]
- 'The new authoritarianism': "More and more of us are willing to trade freedom for wealth or security... ... A modern form of authoritarianism, quite distinct from Soviet Communism, Maoism or Fascism, is being born. It is providing a modicum of a good life, and a quiet life, the ultimate anaesthetic for the brain." [Guardian, 1July2008]
- 'Don’t risk real freedom for short-term material gain': "Our civil liberties are in jeopardy and we are to blame. We have reduced democracy to the right to make and spend money... (in return for) a temporary blanket of security and what turned out to be an illusory prosperity" [The Times, 7Sept2009]
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This post/ related articles are reflected at:
SBoy:
24Sept2010: Hung Parliaments now very popular
HWZ:
24Sept2010: Political parties- Beacons of political scholarship or nests of cronyism? (GRC, PM Gillard et al.)
A1 forum:
24Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
VRzone:
24Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
SGforums:
24Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
SGclub:
24Sept2010: Vote for any PAP MP= vote (by default) for Mr Lim Swee Say?
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