Dear Latest
Ohhh I have called for YSL to resign over his "vote" issue so in no way I can be consider as biased. However this whole issue reeks somewhat of hypocrisy and double standards masquerading as political ideologues and puritans.
1. La Mei's rails against the inconvnience because she drives :_)) I take the public transport and borrow rides and she rails against the F1 as an event for the rich and the elites ? I believe the inconviencies suffered thus far by all Singaporeans concerned are a worthwhile sacrifice to host a global brand name event. I hope that F1 in Singapore becomes a permanent fixture.
2. Ejay's rails against YSL because he views F1 as highlighting Singapore's economic success. He lists in detail how Singapore has failed economically in terms of ensuring equitable growth. Simply put he wants to rail and rant against the growing in any way of the economic pie until he sees the succuess as being shared equally. For me its rather more simple, celebrate anything that grows the damm pie and argue to hell about how to divide the growing pie later. Its always better to be a poor man in a rich country than a poor man in a poor country.
3. Ejay's the political puritan views F1 as an evil and not worth celebrating because we do not have complete full civil and political rights. I guess for him hosting and celebrating the Youth Olympics will not be in order because we do not have have full civl and political rights, or any event of international stature and status. I hold that view point to be utterly small minded and petty. F1 fans are of all sorts, rich famous, branding he fails to understand comes not only from those that attend but those who view TV and in news reports. If we see F1 as part an parcel of an economic blueprint that includes integrated resorts, wealth management and financial services, and manufacturing then the whole value equation makes sense policy wise
Locke
I think its not wise to talk over people's head and dismiss their opinions just because they 1. disagree with yours, and 2. you believe that just because they're SDP means they are not worth your time.
Simply put, I don't look at government spending as a short term thing. Let's face it: this government is not fiscally conservative. It spends billions and returns very little. It can spend $600k for a renaming exercise, and rename it its original name.
As I said clearly, I would rather spend money conservatively and more on the people themselves. "Invest and grow" is not just a mantra for Bill Clinton, and for those who agree with it. Its actually true that if we spend more on education, public infrastructure for public transport, on roads and on high speed broadband networks, it would pay for itself, as Singapore, as a business city, would take advantage of such infrastructure upgrade, by improving productivity. South Korea has done just that, and they are growing better than us.
In short, I don't look at short term gains only. Your view is that as long as everything 100% goes according to plan, F1 may return the projected earnings, and we may have our reputation. Everything is "may", "possibly", "could", "should"- but nothing certain. And when you invest say hundreds of millions of dollars that returns a mere ten million(returns doesn't mean profits by the way; it only means ten million dollars worth in ticket receipts and tax invoices), then what's the point?
I'd say this: I would continue to oppose the F1 competition, even if that view is unpopular with the majority of people within the party I'm in. I don't mind taking unpopular positions within the party just as long as I know I've taken the right position in the first place. I don't want to be popular just because its good short term. I don't think of that; instead the bigger picture is more important.
In the end, the stance Sen. Obama took in Iraq is not unlike my own within my own party right now. Would I care if my views coincide with SDP currently? No. Its up to you guys however, whether is right to take such an opposing position just because its politically convenient in the first place... when you know its principally wrong.
:o