Empathy is the ability to imagine oneself in the position of another person, and so as to share and understand that person’s feelings.
The Singapore government, as personified has become a rich and privileged person having very little empathy with the people she claims to represent.
Empathy was the hot button in the recent Singapore elections in June this year. The argument was that the Singapore government has shifted to pursue economic performance over caring about the citizen's individual livelihood, happiness and state of feeling. In doing so, government policies that were implemented result in an increasing gap between the upper class (especially the Members of Parliament) and the lower class citizens because the government has not done enough to help the lower class citizens while they continue to engage the upper class citizens in propelling the economy forward. Singaporeans have also claimed that they experience unbearable public transport system due to excessive foreign talents leading to overcrowding and poor service from the transport provider for the masses. Housing has become ill affordable for the general masses due to the spiralling costs of housing development board flats and private houses alike.
While it is true that all the above bugbears come across as situations arising from the lack of empathy in the Singapore government, we cannot under estimate the government’s swift response to these claims, post elections. A committee has been set up since the election to review ministerial pay to make recommendations on way forward. Workers’ Central Provident Fund has been partially restored since Sept this year with the improved economy; while various Ministers have been tasked to review housing and public transport policies to fine-tune existing policies. The transport Minister himself has even personally taken the steps to experience the public transport rides to empathise with the general masses. Blog sites are more widely used to hear people’s voices and to respond to them instantaneously. This demonstrates the government’s resolve to bridge the “empathy” gap, which is in the right direction. The challenge faced however is finding a right balance to ensure that an empathetic government does not compromise economic viability of the country. As empathy calls for a government that make sacrifices for the people while the pursuit of capitalism asks for the people to make sacrifices for the country. A million dollar question is then how much empathy is enough for the people?
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I find your speech really interesting, as you question the government's capability to care for the lower-class citizens. I agree with you that the government had slowly started to neglect's citizens feelings and welfare. They had focus too much on economical development, in terms of building industries and reclaiming land etc. I really like your question in the end: how much empathy is enough for the people? Well, if I were to answer, I were to say that there's no such things as enough empathy for people. Empathy could not be calculated, and if we were to really show empathy and care for the others, we would not bother about whether we have empathy enough. Anyway, great job and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteFirstly it is good that you have raised the issue of that the Singapore government is not showing enough empathy towards not just the lower class, but also the higher class citizens. Maybe, Singapore government should focus more on the Singapore identity, and currently, they focus too much on improving the economy, improving facilities, make Singapore a world renoun country. Perhaps, the payment for the MPs are too high, and some think that they MPs are just in power to make money and money itself. You see the government Singapore runs on is very complex, what the government wants, it gets. It is also a good thing that you observe the public's responses to the issue. Anyways, good speech ya!
ReplyDeleteRyan Lau
I agree with your point that the government is starting to lose its empathy towards the 'lower-class citizens'. However I feel that it is inevitable that government's are unable to fully empathize with the situation of the poorer people, as they have to be paid a higher pay as they do more, and hence are unable to fully comprehend the people's predicament. Also the question on how much 'empathy is enough for the people?' is really good question, as if the welfare system may become the country's burden if it is over 'empathizing' with the people, or if it is not even used at all, and hence I feel that this question of where to draw this land is very interesting. All in all the script is excellent.
ReplyDeleteI do not really agree with you that the government is losing its empathy towards its "lower-class citizens". It is true that the Government might have been focusing too much on the Economic growth of Singapore, but think of it this way. If Singapore's economy becomes stagnant, or even if it grows (but too little) will the people complain? During the last recession, did the people complain? The answer is, Yes. Thus, i feel that it is the mindset of the people. We should see the bigger picture; there are always external factors to influence the making of the decisions; and they are not easy. For example, the rise in Prices in HDB Flats. We should not blame Mr. Mah Bow Tan for doing a bad job. The problem is, if the price of HDB Flats are decreased, although more people will be able to buy flats, those currently owning flats will be frustrated at the re-sell value. Also, this may lead to overcrowding and an increase in Human activity, having more people buying flats. This will definitely affect Singapore as a small island country. Also, foreign talent. Singaporeans often complain that Foreign talent take up spaces in Universities, Jobs, etc. While this may be true, we should see the bigger picture- This will lead to more economic development for Singapore in the future years. It may be true that the Government may be a little insincere (Numerous apologies and Policy Changing during GE Elections), however, i feel that they know what is best for Singapore, and definitely look at problems from all points of view.
ReplyDeleteAlex Peng 2P418