Politics & The General Election: An Interesting Perspective

With the General Elections assaulting our lives left right and centre, I thought it's about time I share an interesting angle about what we are seeing everyday in the papers, on tv and on the internet: political campaigns and rallying.

Just a disclaimer, the following read has not been conjured from my own head (though I wish it did considering how interesting and befitting the analogy is). Rather, it came from one of my friend's relative whom I have not personally met. I got this through a post on Facebook. Ah, the wonders of social media, but I digress. Now for the post.

It's a little lengthy but trust me, totally worth reading if you are into witty analogies. If you're not, I pity you.

While walking down the street one day an MP is tragically hit by a truck and
dies. The MP's soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter . "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the MP.

St. Peter says, "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the MP.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules", replies St.Peter.

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit heaven," St Peter says. So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and the 24 hours in heaven passes by and St Peter returns.

"Well, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now which will you choose for your eternity?" St Peter asks.

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers, "Well, I never would have thought it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be happier and better off ... in hell." So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The Devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the MP. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...

...today, you voted. "

What'd I tell ya? Lovely huh?

Now, this essay is by no means a representation of what I believe in with regards to politics and the upcoming General Elections. Heck, i'm not even old enough to be eligible to vote (which I'm secretly thankful for by the way). What really intrigues me is how potentially true this little story can be.

The hot topic for all but especially so for this GE is the whole opposition drama. PAP, in their bid to maintain their parliamentary supremacy, has been bombarding us (or at least attempting to)with rhetorics like (read in a deep voice with foreboding tone) "Do you want to vote in a government with a great track record or do you want to vote in a future of uncertainty".

What bothers me here is how arrogant PAP has become. Indeed, the track record that they are so proud of is valid in spite of the numerous glaring shortcomings in their governance. They flaunt it like a proud peacock would flaunt it's tail feathers, but just like how a peacock is oblivious to it's own arrogance, PAP seem to be so blindingly convicted that their statements can and will get them their crucial votes without sparing a thought about their own humble beginnings.

I acknowledge that PAP has indeed put in the effort to snatch the vote of the citizens away from the opposition despite several questionable and sly implementatoins (like how they redrew constituency boundaries according to voter profiles). I want a government with an alternative voice because it eradicates stagnancy, because having an opposition would instigate healthy competition between the two parties which in turn will result in better, more refined policies for the greater good of the citizens, which, in the first place, is the entire purpose of a government; to serve it's people.

Sadly, PAP does not want that. They are blinded by their own delusions of self-sufficiency. They believe that they don't need anyone else to help them improve. Well if that's the case, Singapore might as well live under a Monarchy right? An overconfident and complacent one at that.

Do they not remember how nervous Singapore was when PAP first came into power? I guess not, or at least they pretend not to because from what I see, hear and read, their overconfidence and complacency has consumed them to the point that they do not give the opposition a fragment of a chance to show that they too are capable of leading a nation despite their relative infancy.

Don't misunderstand me here. I am not lambasting PAP because I am anti them or whatever. These are just mere passing thoughts of a too-young-to-be-eligible-to-vote citizen (once again I reiterate my claim that I'm glad I'm not allowed to vote yet because it just involves too much thinking on my part).

To wrap this up, let me just say one more time that I'm glad I don't have to vote. I definitely need more time (5 years to be specific) to clear my head and decide which party I want to represent my voice, my welfare, my future. For those who are voting however, please vote wisely. Think carefully before making that X mark on the ballot. Don't vote for PAP just because they have that great track record that you want to perpetuate. Likewise, don't vote for the opposition just because you feel like we need an alternative.

Weigh up what they bring to the table. Make an informed decision. Vote with confidence, vote with wisdom.

On a sidenote, i think i'm addicted to using parenthesis as a tool to inject a little opinion into my prose. Weird.