Post PE Workers Party - The next Leg

[ray_of_hope]

Not only does the PAP but LTK and much of the WP think that way too.

 

[Troll]

I think WP has wisely positioned itself as a moderate opposition party, and this has been proven to work very well. There is absolutely no reason to expect WP to degenerate into a radical party that oppose everything that PAP throws out. Doing so would be foolish and risk alienating their gains in support from the middle ground whose vote could go either way, depending on how credible the opposition candidate is.

In order for any party to be considered credible, and having a ability to form a government, the first thing it has to do is to win elections. An opposition party is worth nothing much, if it is not in the Parliament.

Many policies that we all like to bitch about, has pros and cons depending on perspective. To expect WP to come out to just oppose everything is a bit far fetched, even unfair.

One example would be the 6.9mil white paper. We do have a serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed - which is our ageing population. It was prudent for WP to hold their comments until the concept had quite a bit of publicity and for public sentiments to surface, then wait for PAP's response. Only then it would be appropriate to debate the issue during Parliament sitting.

I do not think WP is very much in favour of mass rampant import of FT, if you listen to their speeches and rallies carefully you'll understand. Just that we also have to be patient and let WP work on the issue internally - they do have their thick tank to analyse such issues, then they will fire at the appropriate time.

For those who get too frustrated at WP for keeping so quiet, you just need to be patient. I'm sure they will not keep quiet about the elephant in the room.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

With 7 MPs and 2 NCMPs, the law of diminishing marginal return sets in. The by elections effect begins to wane. Singaporeans have their needs met in the nice and constructive criticism category. Are they looking for change, something quicker or are they happy to coast along.

The next leg would be most important, from being a co-driver to be being the new potential driver. It is no longer about helping the current driver.

Are the Fox and Vixen up to it? My guess is that they will be. But it require a paradigm shift in local politics or even in a conventional Westminster sense. What form would that shift be?

My sense is that the electorate is evolving more rapidly than in yesteryears where political views were stable and you could read the ground like 3 years ago and still be relevant. Hence, WP will need to develop faster response to the changing climate.

LTK's latest salvo reveals that he still thinks the people don't want radical change need the complete assurance of a PAP-led govt and Parliament. I think that is right too but need to be prepared to alter that stance in a jiffy.

LTK's own succession must also be addressed, that isn't easy given personality politics involved.

I still feel the need for another party to fill the gap. Even if WP can contest 40% of seats in 2016, and 50% in 2021, that still leaves large room. Other players are just going for the contest but not actually fighting to win. We need a party ideologically different and more ready on the policy angle, but yet also able to win votes by appealing to the heartland population. Nicole, Jeanette, AYG can be the fore-runners.

 

[scroobal]

It an economics concept - first there was none, then we had 1 followed by 6 and then 7. The demand and enthusiasm for more dissipates as the returns from additional candidates from the same party acting as co-drivers diminishes. People will look towards other parties to do other things. You have a sedan and you are now looking for a SUV and if that brand that handled your sedan well can start producing an SUV, you will likely stick to that brand.

WP has to start producing SUV candidates or start converting their current sedans to SUVs.

There is no such thing as Law of Diminishing Returns in politics. Most empirical studies show that it is more of a step function with sudden violent paradigm shifts.

.

 

[scroobal]

People are confusing themselves when they associate terms such as moderate with non-confrontational. A liberal, a moderate, a hard leftist or a neo-rightist are folks who follow a particular ideology. From communism, socialism to capitalist. All these categories including the bleeding heart liberals who want to save the whales and the stray cats can be confrontational, demanding and ruthless to achieve their goals.

In parliament, you have to be articulate, persuasive and unyielding to push your point across and achieve a political position. Parliament is not for the meek and the mild. The PAP is very good at that and old man was an excellent proponent. Yet Singaporeans who have had little exposure to genuine parliamentary debates for decades think that it is wrong and disrepectful. In 2006, when old man held a no-holds barred forum with young Singapoans, 2 journalists took him on and one wanted his resignation. Someone actually considered it disrespectful and unwarranted.

People like LTK are battle hardened, they know the limitation of their candidates and the party and have adopted an approach that works in the interim. I am sure the game plan will change.

 

[Troll]

It an economics concept - first there was none, then we had 1 followed by 6 and then 7. The demand and enthusiasm for more dissipates as the returns from additional candidates from the same party acting as co-drivers diminishes. People will look towards other parties to do other things. You have a sedan and you are now looking for a SUV and if that brand that handled your sedan well can start producing an SUV, you will likely stick to that brand.

WP has to start producing SUV candidates or start converting their current sedans to SUVs.

Not everybody desires an SUV... WP has to be very good or work at being the best at one segment. When a party tries to please everybody by catering to every possible market segment, it end up becoming a dismal failure.

In politics as in marketing, you can't please everybody.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

One example would be the 6.9mil white paper. We do have a serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed - which is our ageing population. It was prudent for WP to hold their comments until the concept had quite a bit of publicity and for public sentiments to surface, then wait for PAP's response. Only then it would be appropriate to debate the issue during Parliament sitting.

I do not think WP is very much in favour of mass rampant import of FT, if you listen to their speeches and rallies carefully you'll understand. Just that we also have to be patient and let WP work on the issue internally - they do have their thick tank to analyse such issues, then they will fire at the appropriate time.

For those who get too frustrated at WP for keeping so quiet, you just need to be patient. I'm sure they will not keep quiet about the elephant in the room.

Nobody expects WP to oppose for the sake of opposing.

The pressing task now is to up their Parliamentary performance and show they can be a force to be reckoned with even in Parliament.

On the population issue, there is a lot of potential for divisiveness. The small business owners have gotten used to the cheap labour whilst heartlanders are suffering immensely. WP needs to walk the middle line. But first they need to get their stand very clear.

 

[aurvandil]

The Law of Diminishing Returns is an economic concept which applies to production of physical goods. It has not been found to work well to help understand the behaviour of the collective decisions of groups. For this, you need a modern information theory, the best developed being those for the prediction of markets. Most of these utilise step functions to model sudden paradigm shifts.

Put in layperson's terms, if you look at the stock market, there are no orderly changes in prices. There are often violent booms and busts. These are usually in response to shifts in market paradigm. Tranposing this to politics, this translates to a massive shift in response to paradigm change that the PAP is no longer the best party for Singapore.

It an economics concept - first there was none, then we had 1 followed by 6 and then 7. The demand and enthusiasm for more dissipates as the returns from additional candidates from the same party acting as co-drivers diminishes. People will look towards other parties to do other things. You have a sedan and you are now looking for a SUV and if that brand that handled your sedan well can start producing an SUV, you will likely stick to that brand.

WP has to start producing SUV candidates or start converting their current sedans to SUVs.

 

[wwabbit]

Nobody expects WP to oppose for the sake of opposing.

Looking around this forum you an find quite a few people who do expect that.
Fortunately, such people are in a very small (but loud) minority.

 

[steffychun]

For a long time, nobody believed that the PAP can even start to become inept or turn rogue. The people's support is eroding because of its elitist credos, the belief that only they have the monopoly of ideas, they stopped listening and connecting, or when they tried to, are incapable of being sincere anymore. That they should justifiably be rewarded with millions is another sticky sore point which they refused to back down from, notwithstanding a wayang Review in Parliament.

I therefore believe that the paradigm shift will happen when the PAP, in a last ditch effort to save itself, splits into two factions. Of necessity, the winning faction will be the one who can shed that elitist image, restore that social compact and connect, build up trust that it is pro-Singapore and not self-serving, is more in touch with the ground, and take pains to walk the ground and explain new controversial policies painstakingly and persuade the people to believe in them and to support its policies. This is because the people still wants them to be in govt but as they are not listening enough or seem out of touch, the people will continue to withdraw its support at the ballot box at every turn.

With such a new PAP, the WP will find a tough competitor in electoral performance. Still, there will be a perceived need for the WP as an alternative, until the new PAP shows it is consistent and permanent in its habits and conduct. By then, hopefully be a long time for WP to consolidate and perfect itself.

Hard to see PAP into two camps. That would mean the end of a Lee-inspired PAP.

 

[zhihau]

Hard to see PAP into two camps. That would mean the end of a Lee-inspired PAP.

not too hard actually, barisan walked out previously.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

not too hard actually, barisan walked out previously.

'


Totally different. LKY was riding the British and the Tungku to oust the Barisan. This time the PAP is held together by mutual financial interest and politico-economic connections that are worth billions. Not so easy to split.

 

[zhihau]

Not so easy to split.

bro,
let's see when the old man is gone

 

[steffychun]

bro,
let's see when the old man is gone

Split who? Teo Chee Hean one side and which leader the other?

 

[zhihau]

Split who? Teo Chee Hean one side and which leader the other?

always thought these paper generals and rear admirers are there to bolster pinky's position

 

[steffychun]

always thought these paper generals and rear admirers are there to bolster pinky's position

TCJ is LHL's sucker.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Hard to see PAP into two camps. That would mean the end of a Lee-inspired PAP.

When Old Man up lorry, it is only a matter of time before they split. But if Woody goes first before the Old Man, much harder for split to take place.

 

[scroobal]

Agree with you Bro.

When Old Man up lorry, it is only a matter of time before they split. But if Woody goes first before the Old Man, much harder for split to take place.

 

[steffychun]

When Old Man up lorry, it is only a matter of time before they split. But if Woody goes first before the Old Man, much harder for split to take place.

No one will cry much over Woody.

 

[Leongsam]

No one will cry much over Woody.

I will. He's the one who enabled Singapore to surpass the Swiss standard of living. He did a great job. I will miss him terribly.