http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/05/12/ge2011-vs-ge2015/
[h=2]GE2011 vs GE2015[/h]
May 12th, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
Looking
around us, it would strongly seem that everyone is preparing for an upcoming
election in 2015. From ‘paper generals’ doing house visits to the almost-weekly
walkabouts by alternative political parties, it would seem that choice is
abundant and the vote of each member of the electorate becomes more crucial than
ever to politicians as seats become more hotly contested.
While anger was present in 2011, some swing voters
may have voted for the PAP because the alternate parties and/or candidates then
did not have any time to build rapport, as impressive as some of their resumes
may seem. Now, things have certainly changed with the opposition parties –
notably SingFirst and SDP – gaining more visibility through their shadow
policies.This is a good thing from a national perspective, given that voters now have
a newfound choice which they previously did not have in terms of policies and
personnel. The last time a prelude to this was given was during the 2011 General
Elections, where almost all electoral seats were contested except for Tanjong
Pagar due to some last minute technicalities.
A key distinction is that the factors which led to the ‘watershed’ election
then has grown as the policies which the PAP has proposed is now subjected to
more scrutiny to the point with the rise of alternative media. The Trans-Pacific
Partnership is now the latest buzzword, along with other incidents such as
foreigners using fake degrees and perception of the PAP’s seeming inaction.
Can anyone honestly say that their lives have improved since the last GE, or
have viewed upon the PAP more favourably? Mass immigration continues to be a hot
button issue for most of the electorate, while the cost of living has just shot
up higher especially with high rentals and COEs having a trickle-down impact on
business costs.
The combination of political choice, an angry electorate and unresolved (and
perhaps even increased) anger is a lethal one for any government. Surely,
September would be a very interesting time to
watch.
JL
*
The writer blogs at mythoughtsinafewparagraphs.net.
[h=2]GE2011 vs GE2015[/h]
May 12th, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
Looking
around us, it would strongly seem that everyone is preparing for an upcoming
election in 2015. From ‘paper generals’ doing house visits to the almost-weekly
walkabouts by alternative political parties, it would seem that choice is
abundant and the vote of each member of the electorate becomes more crucial than
ever to politicians as seats become more hotly contested.
While anger was present in 2011, some swing voters
may have voted for the PAP because the alternate parties and/or candidates then
did not have any time to build rapport, as impressive as some of their resumes
may seem. Now, things have certainly changed with the opposition parties –
notably SingFirst and SDP – gaining more visibility through their shadow
policies.
a newfound choice which they previously did not have in terms of policies and
personnel. The last time a prelude to this was given was during the 2011 General
Elections, where almost all electoral seats were contested except for Tanjong
Pagar due to some last minute technicalities.
A key distinction is that the factors which led to the ‘watershed’ election
then has grown as the policies which the PAP has proposed is now subjected to
more scrutiny to the point with the rise of alternative media. The Trans-Pacific
Partnership is now the latest buzzword, along with other incidents such as
foreigners using fake degrees and perception of the PAP’s seeming inaction.
Can anyone honestly say that their lives have improved since the last GE, or
have viewed upon the PAP more favourably? Mass immigration continues to be a hot
button issue for most of the electorate, while the cost of living has just shot
up higher especially with high rentals and COEs having a trickle-down impact on
business costs.
The combination of political choice, an angry electorate and unresolved (and
perhaps even increased) anger is a lethal one for any government. Surely,
September would be a very interesting time to
watch.
JL
*
The writer blogs at mythoughtsinafewparagraphs.net.
