zhihau said:
if me would hazard a guess, the median age of the electorate in the east would be higher than the median age of the voters in the west. Jurong, CCK, Bukit Panjang are considered relatively new towns compared to those like matured estates like Bedok, Telok Kurau, Katong, Kallang, Aljunied. Pasir Ris is considered relatively new in this sense and Punggol & Sengkang are like brand new.
assuming the median age of the electorate of the east to be 50 years old: the older folks thou' had bear witness to the transformation of Singapore, they too have seen the dire straits that the common folks are in. for the males, those folks in their 50s and 40s are the ones feeling the full brunt of the impact caused by the FTs. those in their 30s gets caught in transition stage, some starting a family and finds it tough to get a flat; and 20s just started out in the society not too long ago, 不够熟。
for the female. without their NS obligations, bro JW5 and myself thought that some 7 in 10 females would have been voting for the PAP.
as of the west, assuming the median age to be 40 years old: the number of folks facing the brunt of the FTs would be less noticeable, as more of these folks are grateful that they've got a roof over their heads. so the support for the incumbent would hit higher range of 35%-40%. thus not that difficult to woo another 10% - 20% of the votes coming from the moderate voters.
Your thinking on the circumstances of different age groups merits strong consideration.
As for females, I, too, agree that they tend to vote for status quo, being more docile and passive by nature in addition to not having to do NS.
By the same token, new citizens, not having to do NS, will tend to lean towards the PAP. Oversea voters, normally older voters, who do not suffer the same adverse environment as in-country voters will also lean towards the ruling party. A notable example is our forum host who is really enjoying good life in his adopted country. So is one forummer in California.
No wonder, the ruling party is keen to encourage people to work aboard but at the same time bring in FTs who are not required to do NS.
Any suggestions as to how to counter such intrinsic disadvantages?
Younger voters are more savvy in the internet and the new media. That could be one battle field. It is easier attacking a bad policy then defending one. On the hand, it is difficult to extol a good policy. More OPPIB here?
For females, need to work on programmes to promote the family as they tend to put the family above everything else.
As for demographics, it is very difficult to change it. Any other ideas?
