Five More Years

Its official.  We were all wondering whether the PAP would beat or fall short of the magic 60.1% vote they won the last time.  In the event they shot the light out wining nearly 70% and regaining three seats lost last time, much to the surprise of the pundits.  It has been a bad year for pollsters.

How to explain the result?  The conventional wisdom was that the young want change.  After 50 years of the same government, you can understand that sentiment; but given the state of the world it appears the electorate opted for safety first.

The high margin is a vindication for the campaign and policies of Lee Hsien Loong.  Yes the shadow of his father still lingers and the fifty year anniversary celebrations helped to a certain extent.  One expert on Chinese tradition (my taxi driver) told me that the date of 11th September 2015 had been chosen because it was the last day Lee Kuan Yew’s spirit remained on earth.  Still this was the son’s victory, on his own for the first time; and he should take great pride in the result.  We can now look forward to five more years of stability and sensible administration in Singapore.  

Put aside the analysis, I think the following joke that was doing the rounds on election day provides all the explanation you need.  It is a variation of an old joke adopted for the local political scene.  

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost.  He reduced altitude and spotted a man below.  He descended a bit more and shouted,

"Excuse me, can you help me?  I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be from the People's Action Party," said the balloonist.

"I am," replied the man, "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The man below responded, "You must be a from the Workers' Party."

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know."

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is, you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."

Regardless of any connection to Chinese spirits, 9/11 was an interesting choice for a vote.  That night we watched Newsroom, the HBO series that seems modelled on feisty news reporter, Sam Donaldson.  This episode was about the death of Osama Bin Laden.  Seemed slightly creepy to watch a story about the death of the most notorious terrorist on the anniversary of that terrible tragedy.  Regardless Jeff Daniels is superb in the lead role : worth downloading even if its politics can get a bit pointed.  Fantastic cameo from Jane Fonda.  Pity Emily Mortimer only has one register : screeching.   The BBC must love this series.  Liberal media people are all heroes while Tea Party members are all mad.  No shades of grey here.  Just like the Singapore election on its 50th anniversary.