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[h=2]PAP started out as socialists[/h]
October 18th, 2013 |
Author: Contributions
The writer (‘Opposition exploiting ‘Utopia’ theme – a road to disaster‘) has
simplified the issues again. And this time it is to cast the opposition members
as utopians and tyrants. And to humanize PAP, saying that they are not perfect,
but why change the system, just try to improve it.
I think that is fair enough. But I seriously have doubts that the writer has
thought through the issues while siding with PAP. Let me give some historical
lessons here.
1. Russia in 1918 was up in revolution because the Tsar was tyrannical, he
was very rich and his nobles were very rich, they kept the production systems
and the means for economic growth to themselves, they stagnated social mobility,
and they had most people in somewhat slavish conditions.
2. Are you saying KMT that was deposed by the communists were saints, or that
Batista of Cuba was a gentle despot? It was a time of upheaval, and both ends of
the spectrum whether despots or communists were guilty of brutality and
savagery.
3. Socialism actually was the compromise that saved the democracies from
those revolutions in that period.
Socialism is the way that opened up universal schooling and public health. It
was when the elites realized that they could not rule as before, but that the
stability of the country depended on compromises, which is why social mobility
and universal education are very much part of what defines a democracy, and that
it doesn’t matter who your father is, but the system will give you a fair shot
at the good life – these are the premises of socialism.
You are trying to brand the opposition as some wannabe tyrants, yet you have
never in all your articles talked about the incarceration of people under ISA,
you said most people who protest are not the poor, you are clueless as to what
it means to be poor, the poor cannot have this energy to protest when they
cannot even know what tomorrow brings, that is why the enlightened must make a
choice to protest on their behalf. That is why we are a community.
And you are confused. PAP is not a capitalist political party, its genesis is
from socialist roots, what we want them to do, is to go back to their roots, and
that is to show empathy for the ordinary Singaporeans.
And mostly, you do not understand Singaporeans. You have not been able to
appreciate the active citizenry coming forth. You would prefer that Singaporeans
be docile, that is how the PAP likes it. But you have no imagination that a
country of citizens who are aware will actually bring innovations and creations
into the economic realm. Did not LKY say that the US will always be more
innovative and creative than China, because its system is more open and
transparent?
And since you are into rich people, take a note from people like Bill Gates,
who have dedicated their wealth to helping the poor, and Warren Buffet, who
suggested that taxes are too low and favor the rich. It is a common mistake to
think that just because we ask for higher taxes, we are punishing the rich. In
fact, we are creating a bigger middle class to buy their
goods.
BK
*
Comment first appeared in: Opposition exploiting ‘Utopia’ theme – a road to disaster
simplified the issues again. And this time it is to cast the opposition members
as utopians and tyrants. And to humanize PAP, saying that they are not perfect,
but why change the system, just try to improve it.
I think that is fair enough. But I seriously have doubts that the writer has
thought through the issues while siding with PAP. Let me give some historical
lessons here.
1. Russia in 1918 was up in revolution because the Tsar was tyrannical, he
was very rich and his nobles were very rich, they kept the production systems
and the means for economic growth to themselves, they stagnated social mobility,
and they had most people in somewhat slavish conditions.
2. Are you saying KMT that was deposed by the communists were saints, or that
Batista of Cuba was a gentle despot? It was a time of upheaval, and both ends of
the spectrum whether despots or communists were guilty of brutality and
savagery.
3. Socialism actually was the compromise that saved the democracies from
those revolutions in that period.
Socialism is the way that opened up universal schooling and public health. It
was when the elites realized that they could not rule as before, but that the
stability of the country depended on compromises, which is why social mobility
and universal education are very much part of what defines a democracy, and that
it doesn’t matter who your father is, but the system will give you a fair shot
at the good life – these are the premises of socialism.
You are trying to brand the opposition as some wannabe tyrants, yet you have
never in all your articles talked about the incarceration of people under ISA,
you said most people who protest are not the poor, you are clueless as to what
it means to be poor, the poor cannot have this energy to protest when they
cannot even know what tomorrow brings, that is why the enlightened must make a
choice to protest on their behalf. That is why we are a community.
And you are confused. PAP is not a capitalist political party, its genesis is
from socialist roots, what we want them to do, is to go back to their roots, and
that is to show empathy for the ordinary Singaporeans.
And mostly, you do not understand Singaporeans. You have not been able to
appreciate the active citizenry coming forth. You would prefer that Singaporeans
be docile, that is how the PAP likes it. But you have no imagination that a
country of citizens who are aware will actually bring innovations and creations
into the economic realm. Did not LKY say that the US will always be more
innovative and creative than China, because its system is more open and
transparent?
And since you are into rich people, take a note from people like Bill Gates,
who have dedicated their wealth to helping the poor, and Warren Buffet, who
suggested that taxes are too low and favor the rich. It is a common mistake to
think that just because we ask for higher taxes, we are punishing the rich. In
fact, we are creating a bigger middle class to buy their
goods.
BK
*
Comment first appeared in: Opposition exploiting ‘Utopia’ theme – a road to disaster
