<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Nov 21, 2008
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : start --></TD></TR><TR><TD>Why Singapore's political system works
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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I REFER to Mr Gilbert Goh's letter on Wednesday, 'Two-party system better'.
He argues against groupthink - and we agree. Within the People's Action Party (PAP), we embrace views from across the political spectrum - and our parliamentary debates demonstrate the strength of our diversity amid unity.
A two-party or multi-party system is no guarantee against groupthink. In some countries, competing parties - to capture the swing vote - have moved so close to each other as to become nearly indistinguishable, even as those without access to special interest lobby groups or patronage suffer.
Elsewhere, two-party politics has become the politics of obstruction, with government decisions blocked and debates filibustered. Indecision and paralysis prevail, even in the depths of economic crisis - and it is the ordinary men and women who suffer for it.
In yet other nations, multi-party politics has led to division, as short-term sectarianism trumps the long-term national interest.
The key issue is not the form of the democracy, but the results of the political process.
Our current dominance is not a pre-ordained right. Every election we must earn anew, at the ballot box, the mandate of our fellow Singaporeans. It is a process which is honest and open to contest.
Our political system brought Singapore from Third World to First. In partnership with the people of Singapore, PAP governments have kept this nation afloat through the 1970s oil shocks, the 1980s recession, the 1990s Asian financial crisis, the post-9/11 aftermath and Sars. Which other party in the world has this depth of experience?
Were this accumulated wisdom and concentration of talent to be dispersed across multiple parties, Singapore would be the poorer for it. And in these times of global economic turmoil, it would be foolhardy - and a disservice to our fellow citizens - to throw away what has kept Singapore strong these 50 years.
But we will not rest upon our laurels. The PAP welcomes the scrutiny, interest and passion of the people of Singapore. We continually seek to improve ourselves.
To those who call for more diversity, I invite you to come talk with us, to join us in our community work and to see what we do. We may surprise your scepticism, even as we find common cause in our aspirations for a better Singapore.
Dr Tan Wu Meng
Organising Secretary
Young PAP
[email protected]
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : start --></TD></TR><TR><TD>Why Singapore's political system works
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->
I REFER to Mr Gilbert Goh's letter on Wednesday, 'Two-party system better'.
He argues against groupthink - and we agree. Within the People's Action Party (PAP), we embrace views from across the political spectrum - and our parliamentary debates demonstrate the strength of our diversity amid unity.
A two-party or multi-party system is no guarantee against groupthink. In some countries, competing parties - to capture the swing vote - have moved so close to each other as to become nearly indistinguishable, even as those without access to special interest lobby groups or patronage suffer.
Elsewhere, two-party politics has become the politics of obstruction, with government decisions blocked and debates filibustered. Indecision and paralysis prevail, even in the depths of economic crisis - and it is the ordinary men and women who suffer for it.
In yet other nations, multi-party politics has led to division, as short-term sectarianism trumps the long-term national interest.
The key issue is not the form of the democracy, but the results of the political process.
Our current dominance is not a pre-ordained right. Every election we must earn anew, at the ballot box, the mandate of our fellow Singaporeans. It is a process which is honest and open to contest.
Our political system brought Singapore from Third World to First. In partnership with the people of Singapore, PAP governments have kept this nation afloat through the 1970s oil shocks, the 1980s recession, the 1990s Asian financial crisis, the post-9/11 aftermath and Sars. Which other party in the world has this depth of experience?
Were this accumulated wisdom and concentration of talent to be dispersed across multiple parties, Singapore would be the poorer for it. And in these times of global economic turmoil, it would be foolhardy - and a disservice to our fellow citizens - to throw away what has kept Singapore strong these 50 years.
But we will not rest upon our laurels. The PAP welcomes the scrutiny, interest and passion of the people of Singapore. We continually seek to improve ourselves.
To those who call for more diversity, I invite you to come talk with us, to join us in our community work and to see what we do. We may surprise your scepticism, even as we find common cause in our aspirations for a better Singapore.
Dr Tan Wu Meng
Organising Secretary
Young PAP
[email protected]
