Vivian was pretty critical of PAP before he joined it. PAP got a very good record of co-opting their critics! Lawyers are one of their favourite targets lol. So who knows what will happen in the future?
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The problem is seeing the limited picture from the public stands, and a bigger picture as an insider.

Despite my occassional criticism of the government, the fact remains that there is a large number of very intelligent and capable people running the show now.

The data processed in the formulation of policies are rarely ever fully shared with the public. There is this ‘need to know basis’ mentality in our government that is deeply ingrained.

>> For me, I just think that the costs outweigh the benefits, and that I can contribute to society in a different way, so politics is not for me.

I kind of think that being in a position of power to represent people is never an easy task. In Singapore, I often feel that people have unrealistic expectations of their representatives, be it PAP or Workers’ Party. PAP hence compensates with high salaries but being in Workers’ Party or other opposition parties become a thankless job (not voted in again and again yet expected to carry the sky and earth) and therefore the number of alternative candidates are shrinking and more walkovers occur.

Regards

Yes, what you say is so true. There is an economics blog which I frequent, its title is ‘Marginal Revolution‘. This title perfectly captures how the world works.

Revolutions occur with small, incremental changes at the margin, not through grand gestures. To that I add, these small incremental improvements are best made by individual, decentralised decision-making. People should know best what is good or bad for themselves, no?

As I have once said to you over email, one has to govern by necessity, never by ideology.

Some may just find it waste of time, not worthwhile, but some may find it worth every bit of efforts and the personal satisfcation level is higher.

When I say cost and benefit, I don’t just mean it in terms of money of course. I also include time sacrificed away from doing things that one likes, or loved ones, or sacrifices made in terms of privacy or personal freedoms. All these are costs too.

If you are talking solely on monetary return, then most people would join PAP instead.

I disagree with this though. I’m sure there are lots of people who join PAP and never see a single-cent gained. Why? Because they lack the ability to achieve high office (i.e. Minister level).

That being the case, being in public office is really no different from working for a big company, as you need the ability and results (usually) to get into a position where you are paid highly.

To me, this means that the requirement to “get money” in public office is no less stringent than the requirements in the private sector, AND furthermore also includes much sacrifice in many other personal areas as well.

Then the conclusion is not one of which political party is more monetarily beneficial. The conclusion is that one must be able to bear the costs of participating in electoral politics, regardless of which party, before deciding to do it.

I think no matter what your political belief is about, the aim must be beneficial to the people.

I think for lawyers, they are more inclined to be in politics basically because of their profession. For those who chose to join opposition politics, they have stronger sense of justice. It is the same for me, I fight for social moral justice and my personal belief is that we should squeeze more from the government, and should not allow them to have the mandate to squeeze us.

Of course, as Han has said, it is each individual’s valuation of cost and benefit. Some may just find it waste of time, not worthwhile, but some may find it worth every bit of efforts and the personal satisfcation level is higher. It is the spiritual level of satisfaction that is more attractive to me personally.

If you are talking solely on monetary return, then most people would join PAP instead.

Goh Meng Seng

Tang Liang Hong, JBJ, Francis Seow, just to name a few.

I doubt it lah… I think one needs to fit a certain profile before they invite you for tea, and I highly doubt I fit that profile at all.

Besides, I’m not willing to sacrifice the freedom I have as a private citizen.