Daily Lessons from Life 16 March 2013 - Government must work in a more open way and accept more untidiness: PM Lee

"Government must work in a more open way and accept more untidiness: PM Lee - Singapolitics
Saturday, Mar 16, 2013
 
Singapore's government has to work more openly even as it negotiates a transition to a different brand of politics which will be more untidy and unpredictable, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a recent interview with The Washington Post.

"It's a different generation, a different society, and the politics will be different," said Mr Lee in the interview published on Friday, US time.

"We have to work in a more open way. We have to accept more of the untidiness and the to-ing and fro-ing, which is part of normal politics," he added.

Mr Lee said Singapore is also managing another major change in its development as it slows down economic growth and tightens the foreign workforce - hotly debated topics of the recent Budget and Population White Paper.

"We are accepting a lower growth because we can't just expand our workforce without limit and constraint," he said, adding that Singaporeans feel the physical pressure of the foreign worker influx.

However, he cautioned: "I don't think everybody fully appreciates the consequences of slower growth, which are very serious. You need growth to have the resources to build the infrastructure, housing, to uphold the standard of living." "

MORE open is the key operative word. MORE and TRUE emphaty is the other in my opinion.

Lessons for me are:

1. real effective democracy will require the voters to be highly appreciative, educated and having a big picture in his or her mind. Having the attitude of 'not just what's in it for me' but 'what is good for the bigger population vs. what's in it for me'! Totally not instinctive. Hence, it has to be 'consciously thinking and acting on it' repeatedly till it becomes a standard pattern of thinking and behaving;

2. does Singapore has a shot at this 'my ideal democracy'? NOT likely in its current state. Many voters are TOO angry with the 'ills and inconvenience' of the last few years brought on by perceived 'mis-judgement' by the ruling government in bringing in too many foreigners without matching infrastructure development. The ruling government FAILED to properly assess the impact and the 'overly' negative responses from the people. Those who see themselves as 'true blood Singaproeans';

3. if 'slower growth is a danger' that MANY seem to have under-estimated as alleged or alluded to by the PM, he really have to make sure that those MANY better understand it properly as it will be the failing of the government IF something that is going to be significantly affecting the wellbeing of Singaproeans - present and FUTURE - without helping them understand it PROPERLY. There are many levers the government can pull and vast resources to throw at this task. e.g. educational system, through the business communities, the trade unions, the grassroot, the people, etc.

This is CRITICAL. I hope many more Singaporeans can be HELPED to see the danger that the PM see. IF NOT, we are in trouble or the PM is not good enough or the people are not 'educated' enough despite a world class educational system?