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- Dec 30, 2010
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In the case of Singapore, the political situation is of course less direful than that found in many societies in the world, that make horrific newspaper headlines. But it is no secret that Singaporeans have always been resentful of the impact of PAP dominance in their lives. This resentment was clearly reflected, more than twenty years ago, when they pointedly welcomed the new premiership of Mr Goh Chok Tong who had publicly promised a ‘kinder, gentler society’ and chosen as his slogan ‘A Gracious Society,’ that is, one that would be a marked departure from the old dispensation based on the use of fear to silence critics.
Unfortunately, in the years that followed, no political transformation took place. The people, despite their society’s material prosperity which greatly impressed the world, became disillusioned, a disillusionment that continued into the administration of Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the current Prime Minister, since it too adopted the same hard stance against political dissidents.
Still, as long as the government’s policies increased wealth and made possible the acquisition of the famous 5 Cs of material success (Cash, Car, Condominium, Credit Card and Country Club Membership), the majority more or less accepted the trade-off. After all, a well-fed, well-housed and well-shod people cannot get too angry, and so the PAP was comfortably re-elected in each General Election through the years.
But something happened, leading to a drastic change in GE 2011....
- http://catherinelim.sg/2013/03/16/the-pap-and-the-people-bread-and-butter-concerns-and-much-more/
Unfortunately, in the years that followed, no political transformation took place. The people, despite their society’s material prosperity which greatly impressed the world, became disillusioned, a disillusionment that continued into the administration of Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the current Prime Minister, since it too adopted the same hard stance against political dissidents.
Still, as long as the government’s policies increased wealth and made possible the acquisition of the famous 5 Cs of material success (Cash, Car, Condominium, Credit Card and Country Club Membership), the majority more or less accepted the trade-off. After all, a well-fed, well-housed and well-shod people cannot get too angry, and so the PAP was comfortably re-elected in each General Election through the years.
But something happened, leading to a drastic change in GE 2011....
- http://catherinelim.sg/2013/03/16/the-pap-and-the-people-bread-and-butter-concerns-and-much-more/
