“Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.” (Job 28:16)
I normally spent 10 minutes or so only on reading newspaper. Monday is terrible; the newspaper is so thin that you can literally count the pages. Now with the General Election campaigning on, I find myself spending as much as half-an-hour or more just to read through GE reports. With the permission to use social media for campaigning in this GE, all political parties are quick to use internet as a platform to reach out to the voters. One can also obtain more ‘accurate’ and ‘balanced’ news, reports, videos etc through such channel. While the baby boomers likely make their decisions based on ‘loyalty’, the parties have to use internet to get a better gauge on the ‘pulses’ of the one-third of population who are below 35 years old.
This election has definitely generates greater interest among the voters. The quality of the opposition candidates has improved, not just those who are disgruntled and “anti-establishments”. I think we are matured enough to differentiate those who are mere opportunists and those who credible and committed to serve, and will not vote for the opposition just for its sake. Will the voters give them a chance to breakthrough just as voters of Potong Pasir and Hougang did 20 years ago? We will know the answer on this Saturday.
One reader wrote to the newspaper Forum recently, arguing that there are basically two categories of voters. One views election is about obtaining immediate individual benefits, i.e. Self-centred interest comes first. They normally are politically naive and let the experts decide the political decisions. I remember in my village back in 1960s and 1970s, politicians used to throw big feasts on the Election Day for the poor villagers in order to entice the latter to vote for them.
I normally spent 10 minutes or so only on reading newspaper. Monday is terrible; the newspaper is so thin that you can literally count the pages. Now with the General Election campaigning on, I find myself spending as much as half-an-hour or more just to read through GE reports. With the permission to use social media for campaigning in this GE, all political parties are quick to use internet as a platform to reach out to the voters. One can also obtain more ‘accurate’ and ‘balanced’ news, reports, videos etc through such channel. While the baby boomers likely make their decisions based on ‘loyalty’, the parties have to use internet to get a better gauge on the ‘pulses’ of the one-third of population who are below 35 years old.
This election has definitely generates greater interest among the voters. The quality of the opposition candidates has improved, not just those who are disgruntled and “anti-establishments”. I think we are matured enough to differentiate those who are mere opportunists and those who credible and committed to serve, and will not vote for the opposition just for its sake. Will the voters give them a chance to breakthrough just as voters of Potong Pasir and Hougang did 20 years ago? We will know the answer on this Saturday.
One reader wrote to the newspaper Forum recently, arguing that there are basically two categories of voters. One views election is about obtaining immediate individual benefits, i.e. Self-centred interest comes first. They normally are politically naive and let the experts decide the political decisions. I remember in my village back in 1960s and 1970s, politicians used to throw big feasts on the Election Day for the poor villagers in order to entice the latter to vote for them.
The other group recognises that election is a part of the democratic process, and will choose representatives who will act in the best interests of all the people as a nation. With the expanded middle class and the high literacy rate here, greater political awareness is bound to take place, and the second argument will become more compelling in a matter of time.
I know that there is no such thing as perfect political party, and it is not easy to govern this country which has no natural resources, but I do hope that the party that is going to lead us into the next five years besides having the qualities of efficiency, efficacy and integrity, is also open to diverse views, be humble, apologetic when made mistakes, not resorting to personal character attacks and unwarranted legal suits, and governed with compassion, not just brain. After all, election in a democratic system is not just about winning the minds, but also the hearts of the people. Issues like cost of living, soaring property prices, transportation woes, and influx of foreigners should not to be dismissed as mere phantom issues played up by the opposition parties.
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