Dear PT,
The question as always, the basic philosophical fight in Singapore within the Opposition is as JBJ put it " Do you want to Reform or Do you want to tinker with the System , " LTK was and is always a tinkerer, JBJ was a reformer, branch root, in total opposition to the PAP , where opposition meant opposing everything and anything. JBJ was despite his parliamentary fevour an MP of the people, his offices in Anson , the block , his actions on the ground still well remembered by those old timers within the constituency. Ground Work and its importance was a lesson learnt from JBJ by LTK. How many of these people remember him for his parliamentary voice ? Those that supported him in Anson remember him for his presence on the ground. I have always wondered how well JB could have functioned as a TC manager, but its a question we will never know.
Between the Confucian educated "ethos" and a "liberal western" educated ethos is the balance within the extremes. With respect JBJ damm well nearly killed the Workers Party with his lack of control, discipline and of not having a management system in place. The lawsuit that saw the party destroyed ? How did he allow that article to pass in the first place ? How about those in the CEC who were liable for the damages ? Those who sweated to pay it back over the years ? People of not very comfortable means. You said you were a Cadre loyal to JBJ, how about those people liable for the mistakes under his leadership ? I admire JBJ for his conviction but I despair at his lack of strategy and leadership, much like I admire Chiam but despair at him not setting in place a transition for him to retire.
You speak of fiery glorious battles with the PAP, How about the human costs of that battle ? The issue of unfairness being moot, the issue of lawsuits being unfair being moot, I respect and admire LTK because of his promise to those he led into the battle against a giant , that he would ensure that they would not have to lose their shirts in battle against the PAP. Do u know that before 2006 and or 2011, he had to reassure parents of members and candidates to be that "their" sons and daughters would not lose careers, or get sued into the ground for joining opposition politics.
The WP absorption of Lee Siew Chiow and the BS carried into its blood, the culture of flag waving opposition, the history and memories of martyrs who went to jail fighting against the PAP, It found common ground with JB but it was not enough to build a party that could win against the odds. For what its worth LTK did and history will remember him for that. Aljunied GRC was part Eunos GRC but who remembers that Eunos GRC grew from three to four and in that period it was unwinnable under JBJ. It became five with G Yeo helming it and LTK took it down. For those who do electoral maths, increasing GRC sizes favor the PAP.
The SDP exists now as the party for martyrs and those who believe going to jail enhances ones election credibility. Lets just see the results in the PE BE.
Locke
The question as always, the basic philosophical fight in Singapore within the Opposition is as JBJ put it " Do you want to Reform or Do you want to tinker with the System , " LTK was and is always a tinkerer, JBJ was a reformer, branch root, in total opposition to the PAP , where opposition meant opposing everything and anything. JBJ was despite his parliamentary fevour an MP of the people, his offices in Anson , the block , his actions on the ground still well remembered by those old timers within the constituency. Ground Work and its importance was a lesson learnt from JBJ by LTK. How many of these people remember him for his parliamentary voice ? Those that supported him in Anson remember him for his presence on the ground. I have always wondered how well JB could have functioned as a TC manager, but its a question we will never know.
Between the Confucian educated "ethos" and a "liberal western" educated ethos is the balance within the extremes. With respect JBJ damm well nearly killed the Workers Party with his lack of control, discipline and of not having a management system in place. The lawsuit that saw the party destroyed ? How did he allow that article to pass in the first place ? How about those in the CEC who were liable for the damages ? Those who sweated to pay it back over the years ? People of not very comfortable means. You said you were a Cadre loyal to JBJ, how about those people liable for the mistakes under his leadership ? I admire JBJ for his conviction but I despair at his lack of strategy and leadership, much like I admire Chiam but despair at him not setting in place a transition for him to retire.
You speak of fiery glorious battles with the PAP, How about the human costs of that battle ? The issue of unfairness being moot, the issue of lawsuits being unfair being moot, I respect and admire LTK because of his promise to those he led into the battle against a giant , that he would ensure that they would not have to lose their shirts in battle against the PAP. Do u know that before 2006 and or 2011, he had to reassure parents of members and candidates to be that "their" sons and daughters would not lose careers, or get sued into the ground for joining opposition politics.
The WP absorption of Lee Siew Chiow and the BS carried into its blood, the culture of flag waving opposition, the history and memories of martyrs who went to jail fighting against the PAP, It found common ground with JB but it was not enough to build a party that could win against the odds. For what its worth LTK did and history will remember him for that. Aljunied GRC was part Eunos GRC but who remembers that Eunos GRC grew from three to four and in that period it was unwinnable under JBJ. It became five with G Yeo helming it and LTK took it down. For those who do electoral maths, increasing GRC sizes favor the PAP.
The SDP exists now as the party for martyrs and those who believe going to jail enhances ones election credibility. Lets just see the results in the PE BE.
Locke
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