Middle ground voters in general vote on issues or mixture of both issues and personality of the candidates. They might not have a keen interests in politics as we do but that doesn't mean they are not aware of what going on.
Generally speaking, many swing voters want more oppositions but won't cast their ballot for any opposition who comes.
It also depends on the circumstances and what issues of the day that will affect their decisions. Like when the economy is doing well, it tend to work against pap as voters will have the room to think about things like having more check and balance.. When economy isn't doing well and there are lots of uncertainties ahead, all the demand for electoral reform can be put aside and focus will be on giving pap a strong mandate to solve the economic problems ahead. after all it concerns their bread and butter and I think this is what happen now.
Very good analysis brother 3_M
The next few years would be a Global Economic Crisis, and now it's all about bread and butter issues, about where is the money going to come from to feed my family, to sustain my mortgages, to sustain my expensive cars and all...
Stability, Safety, and Assurance of able to take care of own family comes as First Priority to everyone's mind.
Unknowingly to the masses, the incumbent Government is taking the easy way out to maintain Singapore GDP, simply by importing FTs...
Truly we don't need an economist to figure that if population growth is increased, GDP increases as well, simply because of the micro economies of demands are increased, when there are more FTs imported, due to increased of demands of almost anything you can think of... people need to eat, sleep, shit, bathe, fuck, entertainment, hobbies, communications, education, healthcare, and anything that I missed out... All these micro economies demands belong to the C in the GDP equation... and Consumption will surely help in the GDP equation.
From the short term, voting back the incumbent seems like a good deal, however, we shall see the next 5 years till GE2020 to see if today's decision was truly a prudent one.
I am truly disappointed with the results, as the opposition parties could really bring out issues to Parliament (Provided they hold 30 percent seats, where real issues could be discussed)
Now, it's just the beginning... with only 6 seats in this time, I hope WP can remain safe, and strong, entrench their position further, and build more GRC / SMC to understand their Manifestos. I hope Mr. Tan Jee Say could get some GRC / SMC at places where he could enter first. These 2 are reformers, and are quite solid in their Manifestos. WP is a proven branding, and Mr. Tan Jee Say is an experienced Politician who worked in the PMO office before.
It's about time Singapore reform it's economic ideals, we have already reached the peak of our progress... In order to progress further, TECHNO R&D-MANUFACTURING-EXPORTS is the way to go, as there is no way to Exports Services, we can only exports MADE-IN-SINGAPORE products to gain wealth for the people of Singapore...
My point here is that, Singaporeans are truly conservatives, and are afraid of changes... the analogy here is that 70 percent of us prefer to be the frog in the warm water, whilst someone else is boiling us to death...
The only way I can see Singapore move from a CPF Rich, Cash Poor Nation begins with the core reform of the Economic Structure, which only benefits the GIC, Temasek Holdings, but not the People Entirely.
Economic Reforms are always a Risk, and Risk is a must to take... If we don't take risks, there will never be gains...