There is No Hope

For this country. We should all just get up and leave.

There are 2 reasons why I say this today. The first that really bugged me was the fact that we will have to pay to read The Straits Times online. Is there no end to profiteering? I remember the days when I was overseas and reading our local newspapers online was something I did every morning at breakfast. It kept me grounded to home; it was a bridge between an overseas Singaporean and the land of which he was borne. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have even bothered reading the papers. It wasn’t worth it.

Now they are going to be one of the few newspapers who charge their readers online. Their excuse is that they will beef up the current online offering, making as good as the print edition. No. No. Keep it as it is, its good enough, we don’t need the Life section, nor the “supplements” of Urban, Your Body and Digital Life. All overseas Singaporeans want is to read about who got robbed in Ang Mo Kio, for them to elicit a response of, “Wah, so near Ma-Ma’s place ah?”.

It’s a contradiction don’t you think? You encourage the new generation of citizens (and the old) to be Internet savvy, give them Tablet PCs in schools (which I think is a complete waste of tax-payers money at $3000 a piece) but you are going to charge for something as basic as this. Sure, they say its only $6 a month, but how are people with no credit cards going to pay? The Internet hungry new generation are just going to move on to read Reuters, APN or worse, The Star to get their information. Then the government is going to bitch about us having too many alternative views. Which brings me to my next gripe. (bear with me)

The Casino Debate.

It’s the hottest topic in our silly Island. And I for one have no idea why they still call it a debate. Why still have the television debates participated by people whose views don't matter? The decision’s been made hasn’t it? The Govt already has called for tenders (they received 19) and they have set out guidelines to prevent abuse (if your wife says cannot go, the bouncers will throw you out even if you got money). So why bother talking till the cows come home?

And today, our dear PM has said that the suggestion of a very enlightened MP to lift Party Whip is rubbish. Nor is there going to be a National Referendum. His reasons are that the matter is not of conscience or national security, and hence the above are not necessary. Not a matter of conscience? Then where was the Referendum when you passed a Bill to harvest our organs? And you say that the Party is divided equally on this issue. But if you don’t life the Party Whip, then everyone HAS to vote the way the Cabinet votes. And our dear PM heads the Cabinet, isn’t it a matter of voting for what he wants? Now you understand why that NUS Undergraduate (who is probably dead by now) called our dear Minister Mentor a despot?

Our dear PM goes on to add that Singaporeans have shown “active citizenry” in talking about the Casino (or integrated resort as they like to call it. Po-tay-to / Po-tah-to). But he is not going to take the additional step of allowing a National Referendum. Contradiction? I think so.

I have given up hope on this country really. And I think from now, I will take the position of many other Singaporeans – let the Gahmen do what they want, as long as it doesn’t affect me, I don’t care.

I tell you, the decision of the Casino will be made after the Elections this year. And surprise, surprise, it will be a “Yes”.