It’s a hard, hard decision

thinking about polling day fills my heart with a sort of dread..

I care about my country, more than I’d sometimes like to admit. & as I look around and hear the various views and speeches being thrown about – well, it is with regret that I say that the ruling party has obviously not prepared well.

Was it too complacent?

I’m confused and unhappy that they haven’t spoken up more and stood up more for themselves. Is it not worth the effort?

I’m disappointed and angry that they all complacently let PM Lee solely bear the responsibility of an apology to the nation. Did the rest feel that an apology was beneath them?

& why do they think that they can continue with their tactless, rude and dismissive remarks?

As these thoughts turn in my head, I think about the opposition.

Certainly, they do have skills in stirring up the emotions of the people. But how concrete are their policies? Then again, it’s not like they have enough experience to properly formulate these policies – though (fortunately), a fair share of the opposition this time round are ex-civil servants (e.g. Tan Jee Say)

Netizens are comparing Tin Pei Ling endlessly with opposition Nicole Seah. On one hand, it can’t be helped, while on the other, I think it is an inevitable consequence because this election isn’t about voting veteran politicians into the political scene. It’s about voting the next generation of politicians into our Parliament – and these two young ladies represent that.

Some complain that the opposition is “too lowly qualified” to be our ministers and representatives in Parliament. And well, it’s true that in every leader, his/her people wish to see a reflection of themselves, a much better one. As a society that obsesses with educational qualifications, it’s sometimes very easy to forget that wisdom doesn’t solely come from academics. Think about the people you’ve known, you’ve met. Are the smartest ones always necessarily the ones who make the best decisions? I’ve met and worked with people from all walks of life and realized that leadership qualities and EQ/ the ability to understand and work with the group … doesn’t come from school. It comes from experience and a natural instinct to do so.

There’s a reason why the private sector promotes and rewards based on performance, not on your paper qualifications. It’s the best way to achieve the greatest efficiency and results. For a government that prides itself on meritocracy, I wonder if this policy just ends at one’s university education, instead of continuing as one performs in the work force.

So tonight, I’ll be reading up on each and every candidate in both parties before I make my decision. I hope you do too.

P.S. For those who lament and fear that not voting for George Yeo means he will no longer be a minister, I’d like to reference to Mah Bow Tan. He lost Hougang to WP and he’s now the MP for Tampines. Besides, GY’s too good for the PAP to lose.