12-03-2013, 07:57 PM
i remembered reading something in LKY's "Tough Truths to Keep Singapore Going" a few years back, which was striking to me .
It's something like:
the G knows that it cannot win all votes, neither does it attempt to win ALL votes. What the G needs to do is to win ENOUGH votes, and the best way to do that is to win the votes of the upper half of the people - these used to be 3 room flatters and above, but perhaps now it is 4 rooms and above. The best way to get their votes is simply to enrich them - thus all the focus on making the rich richer, and the middle class upper class. What about the bottom half? Well, tough luck - the G make sure they are not that bad so as to cause social havoc but in reality, it is too bad folks. Thus all the effort to enhance asset prices, upgrade HDB, allow ECs, allow vehicles etc - get the people to feel rich and they vote for u!!! It's too simple!!!
It worked for >10 years, esp thru GCT days. unfortunately the ponzi scheme has finally ran its course, with Khaw mentioning that >90% of the people owning their own flats. What is funny now is that the middle class folks (read Punggol east profiles) are revolting as well - not because they are really that worst off - but because the way the ponzi scheme is running, their CHILDREN are going to get screwed.
just goes to show that policies can be well thought of and well crafted but all ponzi schemes must come to an end...and we were laughing at those who bought into the Geneva gold schemes!!
It's something like:
the G knows that it cannot win all votes, neither does it attempt to win ALL votes. What the G needs to do is to win ENOUGH votes, and the best way to do that is to win the votes of the upper half of the people - these used to be 3 room flatters and above, but perhaps now it is 4 rooms and above. The best way to get their votes is simply to enrich them - thus all the focus on making the rich richer, and the middle class upper class. What about the bottom half? Well, tough luck - the G make sure they are not that bad so as to cause social havoc but in reality, it is too bad folks. Thus all the effort to enhance asset prices, upgrade HDB, allow ECs, allow vehicles etc - get the people to feel rich and they vote for u!!! It's too simple!!!
It worked for >10 years, esp thru GCT days. unfortunately the ponzi scheme has finally ran its course, with Khaw mentioning that >90% of the people owning their own flats. What is funny now is that the middle class folks (read Punggol east profiles) are revolting as well - not because they are really that worst off - but because the way the ponzi scheme is running, their CHILDREN are going to get screwed.
just goes to show that policies can be well thought of and well crafted but all ponzi schemes must come to an end...and we were laughing at those who bought into the Geneva gold schemes!!