Local, "born-and-bred" Singaporeans.
We have yet to, and may likely never, have a large enough population of Singaporeans who can think and act differently to ensure the survival of the country for future generations.
As much as people want to assign blame to SG politics, there is the larger and more important issue about whether the majority of Singaporeans realize the dire straits we're in, caught up in the daily grind and aren't aware of how their inaction, ignorance, apathy or comfort zone actually threatens their children's and grandchildren's future.
For those who are placing bets on GE 2015/6 and the next, I hope they are not deluded into believing or hoping that things will become better. Because it will not. It's not about a personal sense of pessimism or cynicism, but about simple mathematics - the limited number of Singaporeans who can influence their immediate circle of family, friends and network.
Some may think that the crowds are getting larger at opposition-held events with each GE and this trend alone brings hope of more people voting against the ruling party. Some try to explain away the mental models: people want change but don't want to rock the boat too much; people don't want change because they are grateful for the transformational success over decades or still believe in the status quo; people want competence in the alternatives before changing; et cetera. Some consign change to a dichotomous either-or-no-in-between danger.
But many forget that GE crowds have been increasing in size since over 20 years ago, but the number of Singaporeans who vote status quo have not dipped proportionally or adequately to be meaningful. Aljunied is simply a small footnote of David against Goliath, much like Anson was 33 years ago. Stretch out the timeline long enough across the past four decades and I hope you'll understand how much longer over the next few decades it will take for any meaningful progress to result.
In a few decades, where will you be, in all existential sense? Or which columbarium will you occupy? What about your children and grandchildren?
A sad fact is that for all the well-travelled and educated heels of local Singaporeans, many are unable or unwilling to accept that we ourselves are the biggest threat to SG - not PRs, not the ruling party, not the other political parties, not regional or global threats as much as all these do impact the country. Many even remain status quo believing that we are doing good and well.
We are our own worst enemy without realizing it.
We have yet to, and may likely never, have a large enough population of Singaporeans who can think and act differently to ensure the survival of the country for future generations.
As much as people want to assign blame to SG politics, there is the larger and more important issue about whether the majority of Singaporeans realize the dire straits we're in, caught up in the daily grind and aren't aware of how their inaction, ignorance, apathy or comfort zone actually threatens their children's and grandchildren's future.
For those who are placing bets on GE 2015/6 and the next, I hope they are not deluded into believing or hoping that things will become better. Because it will not. It's not about a personal sense of pessimism or cynicism, but about simple mathematics - the limited number of Singaporeans who can influence their immediate circle of family, friends and network.
Some may think that the crowds are getting larger at opposition-held events with each GE and this trend alone brings hope of more people voting against the ruling party. Some try to explain away the mental models: people want change but don't want to rock the boat too much; people don't want change because they are grateful for the transformational success over decades or still believe in the status quo; people want competence in the alternatives before changing; et cetera. Some consign change to a dichotomous either-or-no-in-between danger.
But many forget that GE crowds have been increasing in size since over 20 years ago, but the number of Singaporeans who vote status quo have not dipped proportionally or adequately to be meaningful. Aljunied is simply a small footnote of David against Goliath, much like Anson was 33 years ago. Stretch out the timeline long enough across the past four decades and I hope you'll understand how much longer over the next few decades it will take for any meaningful progress to result.
In a few decades, where will you be, in all existential sense? Or which columbarium will you occupy? What about your children and grandchildren?
A sad fact is that for all the well-travelled and educated heels of local Singaporeans, many are unable or unwilling to accept that we ourselves are the biggest threat to SG - not PRs, not the ruling party, not the other political parties, not regional or global threats as much as all these do impact the country. Many even remain status quo believing that we are doing good and well.
We are our own worst enemy without realizing it.
