[The masked socialist model of PAP]
By now, one would know what the ambition of the PAP is for the next 50 years - to win elections. As promised, I would share about what Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had shared on how the PAP can win elections for the next 50 years.

But first, he did mention that Singapore has some socialist traits - something which I had observed and wrote about when I was taking a module on Democracy. I had argued that as social factors around the world changes, the Singapore government wold adopt strategies and policies to suit the climate. Therefore, it would mean a marked shift from left to right and vice-versa. So when Dr Vivian had spoke about that, it struck a bell.

I would say it is not an outright socialist model but something along the lines of "masked socialism". At a party convention last Sunday, he reiterated that Singapore would not be like a welfare state - one which gives out incentives for anyone who applies. And that is why he says the model of having a social security net cannot work for obvious reasons. By saying that, he means that having a social security net would be equivalent to a welfare state. So while we do not have a social security net, we have the Workfare scheme. If you ask me, it is just the use of terms - Workfare is indeed a welfare scheme to help the lower income earners and there is no doubt about it.

Back to the main point of this post about winning elections.

The first question he answered was how to win elections. Perhaps he was referring to the rise of Obama mania - to win votes offer change. The second is a more pragmatic strategy - offer more. He did mention that such strategies can allow a party to win one to two elections. Maybe he was indirectly trying to tell the opposition something.

The way to win elections for the next 50 years is the PAP way (for a lack of a better term according to Dr Vivian). And how would the PAP do it? That is where the four goods that the PAP can deliver on - freedom, fairness, opportunity and security. Dr Vivian had asked those present to rank the four items. I am an individualist so no doubt about what I would choose - to each his own.

What made me think hard about was how we take things for granted. That is something all Singaporeans should learn not to do. And youths should not feel disillusioned - that what they say is not heard and not taken into consideration - because that would in turn lead to rebellion and maybe even extremism.