ST's Zakir Hussain:Meritocracy 's hidden danger

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Insightful article by Zakir Hussain in ST 15/8, where he notes that Singapore's principle and style of meritocracy well intended that it is may now be cause for some concern. For instance he quotes academic Kenneth Paul Tan who argues that Singapore's meritocratic system

"has been practised so extremely that it is starting to show signs of becoming a victim of its own success...As the economic and political elite are rewarded with larger prizes, a vast and visible inequality of outcomes will replace the incentive effect with a sense of resentment, helplessness, social disengagement, and even envy among those who perceive themselves as systematically disadvantged."

Zakir warns

"...But if those who have gained from this system turn up their noses at those who lag behind, meritocracy as we know it today will not be the only victim. Disdain for the poor is the hidden danger that lurks in meritocracy."

 

[Hakka Tiow]

When desperate poor starve, the rich will never get to eat in peace.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Tic Tok, Tic Tok, Tic Tok.

 

[locky2ky]

Insightful article by Zakir Hussain in ST 15/8, where he notes that Singapore's principle and style of meritocracy well intended that it is may now be cause for some concern. For instance he quotes academic Kenneth Paul Tan who argues that Singapore's meritocratic system

"has been practised so extremely that it is starting to show signs of becoming a victim of its own success...As the economic and political elite are rewarded with larger prizes, a vast and visible inequality of outcomes will replace the incentive effect with a sense of resentment, helplessness, social disengagement, and even envy among those who perceive themselves as systematically disadvantged."

Zakir warns

"...But if those who have gained from this system turn up their noses at those who lag behind, meritocracy as we know it today will not be the only victim. Disdain for the poor is the hidden danger that lurks in meritocracy."

miw will say we're unique; there wont be any hidden danger! this could well be true as our people are in a slumber.

 

[myfoot123]

When desperate poor starve, the rich will never get to eat in peace.

That explains the need to increase the number of body guards, gurhkas for the white minitoots. So Singapore is no more a secured place for them to live in peace. Their conscience is shakened by the number of body guards they employed.

 

[chinkangkor]

Remember that Seng Han Tong, who was slapped by his constituent?