Yes the system is stacked against Opposition. Yes Pofma sucks. And so many other revolting things. But I worry about the public discourse on politics in Singapore. If politics went online in 2011 and 2015 and created echo chambers, 2020 might be the election it takes a hard left. The dominant online sentiment seems to be about being "woke". Like youths around the world, ours want a more progressive society. The PAP IB seems to be losing the battle and PAP should be worried.
Ivan Lim, even if a genuine dick, was shredded like Tin Pei Ling, who went on to be a competent MP. Accusations against other PAP candidates threatened to blow up. But Raeesah Khan, whose social posts were objectively wrong, received a different treatment. PAP white horses and generals, wrong. PAP candidates from humbler backgrounds, wrong. Jamus Lim went to top schools, stanned.
Yes the silent majority still remains a factor, but as more people are connected to the internet and the content flavour shifts, I do wonder about the effects. Yes politics is irrational, but I don't see significant robust policy debate. Even the media: mainstream media have toned down to stay relevant while alternative media have remained spiky. The political status quo in Singapore is horrible, but at what cost will change be?
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