What is democracy ? What does it mean to you ?

[Dan Now]

Dear friends,

Was having a conversation with a few friends earlier.

Briefly, the conversation was sparked off by the recent speech by our PM insistence that one party rule is good for Singapore.

The conclusion thus far was that Singaporeans have no idea about what democracy or even know what it means.

I kept silent amidst the cacophony of text booked, state times induced ranklings of my friends who insist that Singaporeans are stupid, hopeless case, and they deserve to be flocked for their stupidity of seeing themselves marginalise on a daily basis. That Singaporeans are the worse complainers, and they have no idea what democracy is all about.

I shot back a question, "Do you know ?" and "Aren't you Singaporean too ?"

There was an empty silence for a brief period, and then the ramblngs continued and as in all conversations which I have observe, even amongst the heartlanders, it will be "What can you do about it ?" "Not happy then go and join OPP."

I am sure many of us have similar experiences from some of the conversations we have.

That got me curious. Really, whats this thing call democracy all about ? Is it simply a call for check and balances ? Or is the X-factor that would improves our lives.

To add to the confusion, there are many models of democracy in the world we live in now. So what are the hopes or what kind of system do you think Singapore needs ? Else, are you happy with a one party system that our PM have every intention to entrench and be promoted here ?

Friends, this is a potentially emotional topic for some, and for others, perhaps its just greeted with apathy and a wry smile. I hope that this thread could open up a conversation cooly and we'll see what comes to the pot.

Cheers

Dan

 

[Man in the streets]

Dear dan,

Amongst the communists and dictatorship, they have its own democrazy.

In sinkapore, upgrading, high-valuation HDB flats, jobs and one ruling party means democrazy to many.
Sinkapore is held together by money, no economy---the system collapses---that's how bad the stage the island has reached.

Staying in power at all costs---this is the spillover.

To a common man in the streets, poor dad is everything, get a job and earn a living and this is all a common man will tell you.

Sinkapore is run not by leaders but by businessmen. Sinkapore is a not a country but a small enterprise. Citizens are tuned to worker-like mindset.

See the Thais, they are saving Thailand from going down the sinkapore way.

Sinkapore has no soul, no culture, not enough water but hear-say to have big reserves, but when the old monkey gives up his ghost, the enterprise will lose direction.

Local voters only will understand what is democrazy when the PAP system collapses.

Sad but true, the local voters are already diluted by FT sinkaporeans.

Meantime, it is about HDB flats price day in, day out, Foreign talents and gastronomy at mediacock.

Well, lets hope the crisis could last longer and deeper. Perhaps by then the true meaning of democrazy will surface in sinkapore.

cheers

 

[EssaiveE]

I have always been an objective person and i was never a huge fan of the ruling govt (especially after the 90s era). But i have to admit there is some truth in the sense that Singaporeans are too used to the herd mentality and putting themselves before others. A lot of them lack the ability to think so therefore they choose the norm, in the hopes that life will continue as per normal. Some of the older generation people feel that if opposition takes over the Govt, we will degenerate back into a 3rd worl country in a matter of years. What they dont realise is that the current Govt may have brought us into 1st world status but at the same time, it turned the country into an organisation. There is no human and social element in this country anymore. Everything revolves around money. You put a bunch of scholars and smart people to lead the country, they will use their intelligence and try to outsmart the ordinary folks.

I believe Singapore needs a 2 party Govt but if are going to have politicians like (no offense) Chee Soon Juan who shoots almost everything that the PAP churns out, we are going to waste plenty of time and money trying to rectify their petty squabbles.

I believe Singapore can achieve a peaceful and productive 2 party system when we actually have politicians who can think out of the box, come up with alternative policies without any name calling and other assorted childish behaviour.

 

[etherc]

Is it easier to make a sand castle or a stone castle?
Fear, self protection and competition keeps us separated like grains of sand.
Money, shelter and entertainment keeps us bound together.
Just hope the big wave doesn't come.

 

[DOM the Clown]

Dear dan,

Amongst the communists and dictatorship, they have its own democrazy.

In sinkapore, upgrading, high-valuation HDB flats, jobs and one ruling party means democrazy to many.
Sinkapore is held together by money, no economy---the system collapses---that's how bad the stage the island has reached.

Staying in power at all costs---this is the spillover.

To a common man in the streets, poor dad is everything, get a job and earn a living and this is all a common man will tell you.

Sinkapore is run not by leaders but by businessmen. Sinkapore is a not a country but a small enterprise. Citizens are tuned to worker-like mindset.

See the Thais, they are saving Thailand from going down the sinkapore way.

Sinkapore has no soul, no culture, not enough water but hear-say to have big reserves, but when the old monkey gives up his ghost, the enterprise will lose direction.

Local voters only will understand what is democrazy when the PAP system collapses.

Sad but true, the local voters are already diluted by FT sinkaporeans.

Meantime, it is about HDB flats price day in, day out, Foreign talents and gastronomy at mediacock.

Well, lets hope the crisis could last longer and deeper. Perhaps by then the true meaning of democrazy will surface in sinkapore.

cheers

Hey! That's a great post!

Cheers!
DOM

 

[saf_ranger]

nothing to us

 

[Tiu-leh-see-fart]

Democrazy is about money, sex, gambling, spy for the Lees to get promotion in singapore.

The true meaning will never surface unless foreigners take over singapore---usually it is too late becos the PAP baboons would not be around.

 

[Trout]

Tyranny of the majority.

Dear friends,

Was having a conversation with a few friends earlier.

Briefly, the conversation was sparked off by the recent speech by our PM insistence that one party rule is good for Singapore.

The conclusion thus far was that Singaporeans have no idea about what democracy or even know what it means.

I kept silent amidst the cacophony of text booked, state times induced ranklings of my friends who insist that Singaporeans are stupid, hopeless case, and they deserve to be flocked for their stupidity of seeing themselves marginalise on a daily basis. That Singaporeans are the worse complainers, and they have no idea what democracy is all about.

I shot back a question, "Do you know ?" and "Aren't you Singaporean too ?"

There was an empty silence for a brief period, and then the ramblngs continued and as in all conversations which I have observe, even amongst the heartlanders, it will be "What can you do about it ?" "Not happy then go and join OPP."

I am sure many of us have similar experiences from some of the conversations we have.

That got me curious. Really, whats this thing call democracy all about ? Is it simply a call for check and balances ? Or is the X-factor that would improves our lives.

To add to the confusion, there are many models of democracy in the world we live in now. So what are the hopes or what kind of system do you think Singapore needs ? Else, are you happy with a one party system that our PM have every intention to entrench and be promoted here ?

Friends, this is a potentially emotional topic for some, and for others, perhaps its just greeted with apathy and a wry smile. I hope that this thread could open up a conversation cooly and we'll see what comes to the pot.

Cheers

Dan

 

[Leongsam]

To add to the confusion, there are many models of democracy in the world we live in now. So what are the hopes or what kind of system do you think Singapore needs ? Else, are you happy with a one party system that our PM have every intention to entrench and be promoted here ?

Here's the American definition :

THE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY

• Sovereignty of the people.
• Government based upon consent of the governed.
• Majority rule.
• Minority rights.
• Guarantee of basic human rights.
• Free and fair elections.
• Equality before the law.
• Due process of law.
• Constitutional limits on government.
• Social, economic, and political pluralism.
• Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.

For the complete article, go to : http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm

 

[tonychat]

Singaporeans and those sinkies do not understand what real democracy is until they have experience it in another country that really uses it obviously.

After you have experienced democracy and come back to sinkieland to stay for a while,you will not get used to it.

You will not get used to have all ass type of rule being forced into your throat.

Seeing sinkies behaving in a way that they always need to check and ensure if it is 'Legal' before making any move even going to the toilet. Yes it is that serious.

I find it as an insult if you need your personal life being run by many rules. All these workings are just ways that your PAP govt is doing to retain their power in the govt for many years to come in your people's expense.

If sinkies want democracy, they should start questioning your PM why one party rule is good and it is not the govt to tell you that but the people should decide if one party rule is good for them or not.

Your PM is just trying his best to save his job by telling you people all the cock and bull story.

I guess it will be easy for him as most sinkies seems to be the type to accept whatever the perceived higher authority speaks since he is higher, it must be right. Sinkies can forget about democracy if they behave like that.

 

[eeoror88]

Thai style democracy the best in the world.

In a few moments the lynching will start at the 2 airports !!

 

[Leegimeremover]

Singaporeans and those sinkies do not understand what real democracy is until they have experience it in another country that really uses it obviously.

After you have experienced democracy and come back to sinkieland to stay for a while,you will not get used to it.

You will not get used to have all ass type of rule being forced into your throat.

Seeing sinkies behaving in a way that they always need to check and ensure if it is 'Legal' before making any move even going to the toilet. Yes it is that serious.

I find it as an insult if you need your personal life being run by many rules. All these workings are just ways that your PAP govt is doing to retain their power in the govt for many years to come in your people's expense.

If sinkies want democracy, they should start questioning your PM why one party rule is good and it is not the govt to tell you that but the people should decide if one party rule is good for them or not.

Your PM is just trying his best to save his job by telling you people all the cock and bull story.

I guess it will be easy for him as most sinkies seems to be the type to accept whatever the perceived higher authority speaks since he is higher, it must be right. Sinkies can forget about democracy if they behave like that.

Singapore is a golden goose. It makes money no matter who runs it. If someone screws it too bad, UK and USA will send someone to make sure the incumbent is removed. Singapore geographically too important in the world for any digit to screw it up. East India Company did not choose Singapore by fluke. They know their geography and facts very well. Everything else about Singapore and the Singapore myth is a myth. Paul Krugman repeats a hoary fact in 1995.

 

[Fuchai]

That got me curious. Really, whats this thing call democracy all about ? Is it simply a call for check and balances ? Or is the X-factor that would improves our lives.

Dan

Only when stomach is full, then people will talk abt democracy. So if you asked me whether democracy is good, the answer has to be....YES.

 

[twinseeker]

according to wikipedia, there're few systems of democracy, guess which 1 does sg fall under?

Constitutional democracy

See: Constitutional democracy

[edit] Direct Democracy

Direct democracy is a political system where the citizens participate in the decision-making personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries or representatives. The supporters of direct democracy argue that democracy is more than merely a procedural issue (i.e., voting).[29] Most direct democracies to date have been weak forms, relatively small communities, usually city-states. However, some see the extensive use of referendums, as in California, as akin to direct democracy in a very large polity with more than 20 million in California, 1898-1998 (2000) (ISBN 0-8047-3821-1). In Switzerland, five million voters decide on national referendums and initiatives two to four times a year; direct democratic instruments are also well established at the cantonal and communal level. Vermont towns have been known for their yearly town meetings, held every March to decide on local issues.

[edit] Socialist Democracy

Socialist thought has several different views on democracy. Social democracy, democratic socialism, and the dictatorship of the proletariat (usually exercised through Soviet democracy) are some examples. Many democratic socialists and social democrats believe in a form of participatory democracy and workplace democracy combined with a representative democracy.

Within Marxist orthodoxy there is a hostility to what is commonly called "liberal democracy", which they simply refer to as parliamentary democracy because of its often centralized nature. Because of their desire to eliminate the political elitism they see in capitalism, Marxists, Leninists and Trotskyists believe in direct democracy implemented though a system of communes (which are sometimes called soviets). This system ultimately manifests itself as council democracy and begins with workplace democracy. (See Democracy in Marxism)

[edit] Anarchist Democracy

The only form of democracy considered acceptable to many anarchists is direct democracy. Some anarchists oppose direct democracy while others favour it. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued that the only acceptable form of direct democracy is one in which it is recognized that majority decisions are not binding on the minority, even when unanimous.[30] However, anarcho-communist Murray Bookchin criticized individualist anarchists for opposing democracy,[31] and says "majority rule" is consistent with anarchism.[32] Some anarcho-communists oppose the majoritarian nature of direct democracy, feeling that it can impede individual liberty and opt in favour of a non-majoritarian form of consensus democracy, similar to Proudhon's position on direct democracy.[33]

[edit] Iroquois Democracy

Iroquois society had a form of participatory democracy and representative democracy.[34] Iroquois government and law was discussed by Benjamin Franklin[34] and Thomas Jefferson.[35] Though some disagree[36], some scholars regard it to have influenced the formation of American representative democracy.[35]

[edit] Sortition

Sometimes called "democracy without elections", sortition is the process of choosing decision makers via a random process. The intention is that those chosen will be representative of the opinions and interests of the people at large, and be more fair and impartial than an elected official. The technique was in widespread use in Athenian Democracy and is still used in modern jury selection.

[edit] Consensus democracy

Consensus democracy requires varying degrees of consensus rather than just a mere democratic majority. It typically attempts to protect minority rights from domination by majority rule.

[edit] Interactive Democracy

Interactive Democracy seeks to utilise information technology to involve voters in law making. It provides a system for proposing new laws, prioritising proposals, clarifying them through parliament and validating them through referendum.