Post Election Day Catch Ups

Caught up with 2 separate group of friends yesterday and the day before.

Interesting. They wanted more opposition members in Parliament from a certain party. They have certain specific individuals from the other opposition party they definitely wanted to win. There was a certain member of the ruling party they dislike so much they wish he lost. They felt a bit down by the results. One said he went to sleep early because he didn’t want to go to bed depressed. There was no euphoria with the PAP win. A few said they were depressed by the results.

What an interesting state of affairs. The PAP government has been in power since 1959, that’s 66 years. Continuously. A friend from India mentioned that even in India, the Congress Party, which was at the forefront of the fight for independence for decades, and was so entrenched into the fabric of India when India became independent in 1947, lost power after 46 years.

In the UK, governments change regularly every 10 years or so. US has a change of Presidents from the different parties all the time and even in Malaysia, the BN, which was so dominant since independence, lost power.

Would anything move the needle here? Is the reluctance to change because of our people, our system of government, our education system, or is it because the party is so good and it has delivered on its promises to the people and ensured economic prosperity and good basic services and therefore no one wants to change it?

Politics worldwide is heading in a different direction. Perhaps best illustrated by recent elections in Canada and Australia. The incumbent parties, from the opinion polls in January this year, were certain to lose power. They were given a less than a 3 % chance they will be re elected to power. So people clearly didn’t want them and didn’t like their policies. Trump comes in with his rhetoric and tariffs and suddenly there is a backlash against the right leaning parties in both these places. The left leaning incumbents won handsomely. So within 3 months a complete change in outcome. People’s views there changed because of a change in circumstances. Within a quick period of time. And they are prepared to act on it with their vote.

Are we a very different people or is the party so good that no one wants a change? But are there consequences to a lack of change…..?