The election fever is now on. With a few more days to polling day, one would expect to see much political sparring about more pressing matters concerning the state, rather than long, seemingly inconsequential tirades that are splashed throughout the newspapers these days. Maybe its because I don’t get to vote this time round (I have not voted before) that I start to question if I were to vote, what will be the matters that concern me?
Certainly, I would not be overtly concern about defamation suits and a missing form. I would be more concern about quality of life issues and about how things are going to change for the next few years. And I would require more than mere promises that things will be better and that I have to trust what you are doing. Surely, some details of the grand plan can be spared?
I’ve always wondered why we are split into geographical boundaries when it comes to voting. Won’t this inadvertently make it easier for people to focus on more micro issues (like if the lift is gonna stop on every floor) rather than macro ones (like how come it wasn’t built on every floor in the first place)? Wouldn’t it be great if we get to choose which Minister get to be in charge of which portfolio based on their “business plan�
I, for one, would like a chance to vote for someone running for the post of Media and the Arts. I would like to know what the incumbent has planned for this industry and what they hope to achieve. There are of course other areas in which I would be keen to learn of too, and so would the rest of my fellow countryman. Its funny that we get criticized as being politically apathetic when, sheesh, there isn’t exactly much facts for thought out there right now, is there?
I recall many years ago, I happened to walk past a political rally by an opposition. I can’t remember for sure the political party that was holding the rally, but it was one of those that just swiped at the gahmen just for the sake of swiping. I remember the speaker basically pooed pooed the nation’s progress from a backwater island to what it is now and said that if he were in power, he would have done at least the same, if not better.
I happened to think at that time, and even now, our achievements as a country is by no means small; nor was it easily attained. So naturally, I was disgusted by the speaker, and because of him, my opinion of his party was also far from favorable.
Fast forward to today, I’m glad that some of the opposition has matured and are no longer just taking potshots at the gahmen. On the contrary, I’m now kinda disappointed that they are the ones at the receiving end now. It just makes you wonder about the heights which they have fallen to incite such a reversal of roles doesn’t it?
Writing about this made me recall a conversation with a friend last year, and he was telling me about how we ‘need’ foreign talent to ‘push’ S’pore forward. I disagreed with him, because 40 years ago, we did not have these ‘foreign talent’. But we still made it thus far. So why should it be that 40 years on, when we’ve become more educated and skilled, we suddenly feel the need foreign talent? Is it a failure of the system, or is it a lack of self-confidence? He was not convinced of my stand and it made me realize if more S’poreans think this way, then sad to say, the answer to my question is â€both 
