FAP Stole SDP's Idea on National Conversation

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[TD="class: msgtxt"] http://yoursdp.org/news/2012-08-24-5314

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Before PM had the idea of a national conversation...

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[TD="class: eDetails, colspan: 2"]Added on: Friday Today
Total comments<!--</s>-->: 1

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[TD="class: eMessage"] Singapore Democrats

Singapore, the Prime Minister tells us, is going to have a National Conversation. This was promoted by Mr Goh Chok Tong and Education Minister Heng Swee Keat who said that he would "touch on the National Conversation on the future of Singapore" in his coming National Day Rally speech.

But way before before anyone in the cabinet stumbled on the idea of the country having a talk about the direction and future of Singapore, Dr Chee Soon Juan had advocated it several months back.

In his acceptance speech at the Prize for Freedom Award given by the Liberal International in 2011, Dr Chee said:

[SDP is] not opposed to wealth but wealth inequality. We must demonstrate how the widening income gap harms the common good. More than just indignation, we need to offer a platform of why we see egalitarianism as a moral and more effective way of organising economic society.

To do this we need a national conversation, we need to have a politics of moral engagement. We see the inequity, we see the injustice. We see the misery caused by greed and domination. Now we must ensure that an alternative be heard and recognised, one that ultimately replaces the status quo.​

This quote is found on page 288 of his latest book Democratically Speaking (available here ), which reproduces the speech in its entirety.

But do you think this call will be part of the National Conversation even though Dr Chee came up with the idea before any of the PAP ministers?

In fact, SPH reporters were present at the ceremony but the state media chose to blackout news about the event and Dr Chee's speech. Now that the PAP is calling for the same thing, the media goes wild with the news.

This is the tragedy of the Singaporean society. Everything is conducted under the PAP's terms. Even as we face uncertain times and current policies are pushing the country in the wrong direction, the Government is planning to quell the discontent and disarm its critics by calling for a dialogue with the people - under its direction and framing of the issues.

In reality, it will do everything to exclude those it disagrees with even though those it disagrees with have important contributions and better ideas to make.

In the end, this is just going to be another PR exercise albeit a massive and politically seductive one.


Watch video : Book Launch of Democratically Speaking
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[scroobal]

This is why Chee gets himself entagled with the unnecessary. The term "National Conversation" has been a political soundbyte popularised by the British for the last 5 years. Its no different to say that we are going to have a dialogue, people engagement etc. The ignorant will buy that its a term and idea which he and the SDP has IP over. The educated will think that he is again being disingenuous and the PAP will label him a cheat.

SDP seriously need to avoid any confrontation and start by engaging the people. Its pointless talking about what he said to a foreign audience. Nobody seriously gives a fuck.

This is fast becoming another 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards. Sheesh. Just look and listen to VW - he never talks about he does or says overseas but he takes alot of examples from good countries and forces the PAP to explain why we can't have it here.

Chee has to understand that he is no Gandhi, Mandela or even Desmond Tutu. All of them engaged their people first. Honestly his speeches overseas are within the confines of NGOs and many of them use donations to fly and dine in style - best described as Champaign Socialists ( no I did not invent the term nor claim IP over)

 

[zhihau]

1. return the folks their CPF monies when they reach their retirement age of 55.
2. scrap the compulsory annuity, else give citizens their rights to op out of it.
3. bring HDB public housing prices down to affordable levels

 

[halsey02]

1. return the folks their CPF monies when they reach their retirement age of 55.
2. scrap the compulsory annuity, else give citizens their rights to op out of it.
3. bring HDB public housing prices down to affordable levels

No, respect that, the money belongs to the people, who work , long & hard for it, and not theirs to keep & when to give. Stop pretending to BE a 'nanny' or 'mummy' to hold on the longest possibility to our hard earned savings.

Return public housing to the basics, to the days, when Public Housing was started, to HOUSE the population... as in HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE!