- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
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Alfian Sa'at
I keep thinking of that line in the Singapore pledge that says 'so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation'. Somewhere down the line, some positivist technocrats probably thought that since happiness is subjective, then let's concentrate on prosperity and progress. These can be quantified: GDP and FDI and ROI rising, surplus accumulating, year on year. But how true is this? Last year metrics were devised for 'happiness', and Singapore was ranked the unhappiest country in the world. And what do the KPI's for prosperity and progress mean when it is not for all? When Singapore Inc. is a tax haven/millionaire's playground/property investment for the few and a locked CPF account/entry-levied casinos and F1 jams/seaside tents for others? When prosperity and progress are not tempered with redistributive policies and protection of the vulnerable and disadvantaged, then how do we reconcile them with those others terms in the pledge: 'justice and equality'? Note to all you scenario-planners, horizon-scanners, masterplan-drafters: the measure of who we are as a people often lies in what cannot be measured.
I keep thinking of that line in the Singapore pledge that says 'so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation'. Somewhere down the line, some positivist technocrats probably thought that since happiness is subjective, then let's concentrate on prosperity and progress. These can be quantified: GDP and FDI and ROI rising, surplus accumulating, year on year. But how true is this? Last year metrics were devised for 'happiness', and Singapore was ranked the unhappiest country in the world. And what do the KPI's for prosperity and progress mean when it is not for all? When Singapore Inc. is a tax haven/millionaire's playground/property investment for the few and a locked CPF account/entry-levied casinos and F1 jams/seaside tents for others? When prosperity and progress are not tempered with redistributive policies and protection of the vulnerable and disadvantaged, then how do we reconcile them with those others terms in the pledge: 'justice and equality'? Note to all you scenario-planners, horizon-scanners, masterplan-drafters: the measure of who we are as a people often lies in what cannot be measured.
