From Wannabe Lawyer...
07 April 2005, 10:48 pm
[rant]
A casino in Singapore would jeopardise the city-state’s “family values” reputation and place it at risk of becoming a money-laundering hub, the main opposition Workers' Party said…"The Workers' Party does not want the international community to identify Singapore as synonymous with casinos and gaming," it said.
'It is also not known how having a casino will affect Singapore's reputation as… a good place to ensure family values and bring up children.'
I'm just sick and tired of that old "family values" bugbear used to justify every reactionary impulse to control.
We're all sick and tired of the PAP using it to justify their bigoted ways, do we really need another bunch of people (and they call themselves opposition at that) to do the same thing?
If there's one thing I cannot stand more than a oppressive government, its a stupid opposition. And when I weigh the degree of oppressiveness of the PAP against the stupidity of the Worker's Party,the WP is clearly more stupid by a big margin.
Sorry guys, you just lost my vote.
[/rant]
TODAYonline - Singapore's opposition gives red light to casino plan.
6 comments:
steven:
I agree with you that it is hard. Unfortunately, arguments from morality cut both ways. If banning the casino can be argued from the grounds of ‘family values’, recognising equal rights for homosexuals will most definitely be suppressed on the same grounds.
In fact, 'family values' can more or less be used to suppress anything, from women's rights to interracial relationships to homosexual rights.
Notice that the WP is conspicuous in its silence on the issue of rights for homosexuals?
steven:
I agree with you completely. This position that they are taking really seems calculated for short-term political gain as opposed to long-term strategic thinking.
To me, and I believe to most young people of my generation, I see the WP as a party catering to the old fogies. To be honest, you really have to give the PAP credit for reaching out to the youth. You know well enough that even though I am very skeptical of their sincerity for reform, I certainly feel that they are doing so much better than the WP in terms of appealing to the young.
If the WP doesn’t change, the battle for the future would have already been won by the PAP. You never know, there may one day be a libertarian wing of the PAP.
"there may one day be a libertarian wing of the PAP" - isn't this good as what the younger generation wants and are fighting for?
"there’s one thing I cannot stand more than a oppressive government, its a stupid opposition. And when I weigh the degree of oppressiveness of the PAP against the stupidity of the Worker’s Party, the WP is clearly more stupid by a big margin"
Hmm....If the WP, being part of the Singaporeans, feels that the moral values outweigh economic benefits, i feel that they've the right to speak up and give their opinions. After all, the govt is now encouraging all of us to speak up! Then, they're not stupid as you think. "He who laughs first laughs last!!"
please don't misunderstand! I definitely defend the right of the WP to speak up. I staunchly defend the right to free speech.
Correspondingly, I also have a right to point out when they're being stupid. And that is precisely the reason why I defend free speech, for without free speech, how do you differentiate the wheat from the chaff?
that's right. but it's better to speak up now then to cry over the spilt milk later on. once the casino is built, a very heavy investment-in billions of dollars, and no g'tee economics will actually be improved but social problems for sure will be increased. and the cost of social problems may be too costly to pay for. on the other hand, govt will be too proud to say sorry. If the WP were to speak up now, at least, this will give and caution the govt to consider more seriously on this matter. Afterall, i believe we all want to live in a good and harmonious society. This is just my point of view, you may not agree with me.
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