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by sundaymorningstaple » Fri, 09 Dec 2011 9:09 am
Kim,
The way I see it is the PAP already knows the ground swell against FTs for the past couple of years. What they underestimated was the viralness of the groundswell. Had the GE NOT lost Aljunied and also sustained considerable losses in almost all other GRCs, they would have probably kept on their merry way, albeit tightening up on some of the FT permits being given. But the backlash was also against not only FTs but PRs as well, but for the wrong reasons. e.g., blaming them for rising housing costs. The electorate are not the most brilliant voters on the block and because it was the first time that all constituencies were challenged, the PAP didn't have enough "likeable" MPs to overshadow the negatives being spouted by the opposition who all, for the most part constantly harped on FT & housing more than anything else. New voters, normally are not all that clued in and are more tempted by rhetoric than facts. This caused an upset for the PAP. Now, they are fighting for their lives as the next election will surely see them lose power if they aren't seen to be don't something about both of the major complaints.
The fact that it's going to hurt the country is secondary at this point as, frankly, without the PAP in power, the country is doomed as there has never been a coalition government in Asia that ever worked for the good of the country, but more for the good of the individual coalition groups. If they can keep the country intact and somehow appease AND educate the electorate during this same period, then, with a lowering of increase of GDP, less raises, less productivity, the people may well see the error of their ways. One can only hope. You cannot have country with only chiefs and not braves, unless you import the braves, because the chiefs will not work in the braves stead as they are too proud.
The PAP is having to walk a tightrope for the next 4 years. I don't envy their jobs at all at this point.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers