Prof Chua cuts to the GE2011 Chase

Re: Singapore PM makes rare apology as election campaign heats up

The Root Problem
If you are still confused about all the information flying around in the mainstream media, online, kopitiams, rallies... the famous Prof Chua Beng Huat (Sociologist, NUS) cuts to the chase and points out the root problem for you.

"For this election, the PAP basically screwed up on immigration policies really badly. That has created all kinds of downstream hardships for Singaporeans," said Chua Beng Huat, a sociologist at the National University of Singapore, citing the rise in home prices and competition for places in schools.

Yes, if you haven't already figured it out.
The influx of foreigners is the root problem.
Everything else are unintended consequences (e.g. rising cost of living, loss of jobs and education opportunities etc).
This is why Singaporeans FIRST is the single most critical policy to be had from GE2011. Too bad most do not bother to take a sec to get to know the situation.

It's just easier to suggest to and/or tell you directly that the main problem is 'cost of living', so that you have something easy and comfy enough to chew on for this election. The average voter cannot handle more than 1 iteration of causality, not to mention differentiate between problem and symptom, intended vs unintended consequences etc.

Deconstructing the Apology
If you notice, PM Lee did NOT apologise for the influx of foreigners issue. He specifically apologised for:

(i) Inability to meet demand for HDB flats and public transportation. 
These 2 issues are unintended consequences of allowing influx of foreigners, and not the root problem.

PM Lee neither stated that these rises in demand are in fact due to influx of foreigners, nor apologised for the root problem, i.e. influx of foreigners.

In other words, he is merely apologising for not dealing with the unintended consequences adequately.

(ii) Other non-foreigner-related slip-ups, i.e. flooding of Orchard Rd, Mas Selamat escape.

I would say it's a clever and timely apology to emotionally sway those sitting on the fence and unable to figure out what exactly has gone wrong.

Sigh... Such is the peculiarity of democracy.

GE2011 Outcome Made Simple
Prof Chua also makes it really simply for all to understand the outcome of GE2011.

There may be a drop in the percentage of votes for the PAP from the last election, but since people are elected on a first-past-the-post system, the number of seats may not be materially affected.


"In the overall picture, the PAP would still be in power," said Chua. "There would be a lot more debate, that's all."

I can imagine the look on his face when he said that. LOL!