Alas, a blog! Live life, like you give a damn!

Am intrigued about the proposals that are to be put forward by the establishment about some changes in how politics and government functions in Singapore. I think Chok Tong is clever in putting the "hints" out, but I think there are bigger issues behind the idea. I think it is crucial that there be consultation and review and if needed, a referendum, to ascertain if whatever proposal makes sense.

We have to do a few things off the bat.

a) Remove the whole idea of walkovers. It is an abomination of democracy. Even if there is only one person or a team (for the Group Representative Constituency or, more accurately, GeRrymandered Constitutuencies) or for the presendential elections, that person/team must garner at a minimu 30% of valid votes in favour. No vote, no seat. Plain and simple.

b) An independent Elections Commission. No more "Elections Department reporting to the Prime Minister's Office".

These two, or at least a) above, will go a long way in bringing this country to the heights of greatness it is capable of. #fb

I posted a very cynical comment but there is a bigger issue at play. There has never been any degree of transparency in the government, despite of what they keep saying. We need all of these:
a) Pass a Freedom of Information/Right To Information Act so that we can get to information on demand.
b) Transparency on how the Elections Department works - fully reviewable by citizens
c) Realtime webcasting of parliamentary proceedings - no editing, no spinning. Real and truthful.
d) Publically posted parliamentary attendance records - I am sure that it is somewhere, but it should be front and center.

There are very good ideas and techniques that the government can use and adopt from the open source world. President Obama is pushing for using open source both in adoption of technology in government and I am sure he will be looking at the proven principles of doing things collaboratively as shown in the FOSS movement.

I am deeply disappointed with the comments by Mr Liu Tuck Yew, a senior minister of state at the Singapore Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, who on February 4th, said among other things, "Contrary to what some may feel, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew, has said the internet is not an effective self-regulated regime. " Duh! And all this while the minister thought it was self regulating? He clearly needs more than a clue. He needs to attend the intenational computer driving license course. I know he will ace it.

He is quoted to say "Significant numbers were unkind. A small number was downright outrageous. It's disappointing." I think he needs to be reminded about his PAP colleague, Wee Siew Kim's elitist daughter's comments. Yet another instance of the pot calling the kettle black, eh?

Later today, Barack Hussein Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. As a Singaporean, all I can say is congratulations on this amazing journey. There are lots of hopes pinned on your shoulder, President Obama, but let that not hold you down in doing the Right Thing.

I am watching avvaz.org's coverage of the inauguration and I am hoping that the global swell of goodwill and positive vibes will help drive the world out of the mess we are in now. Everything this year is really in unknown, unchartered territory, but given the willingness and courage of all peoples on this planet, we can collectively fix the issues.

I am hopeful that you will reach out to the whole world to help solve the problems at hand and see that the goodness that there is in humanity.

I am also hopeful that my own country, Singapore, will see that there is goodness in everyone and that there should be equal opportunity to all to succeed - not just a select few.

In any case, today is the day for the USA to hold it's head up high and proud. I watch in awe!