US President Obama in the video may have been addressing the circumstances on how disingenuous person like Donald Trump can become a viable candidate for the US presidential office.
However, what Obama is talking about can be easily observed in Singapore politics as well.
Instead of putting forward viable, alternative policy solutions/suggestions for the electorate to consider, many MP-wannabes chose instead to use tactics which are very similar to what Donald Trump is using - namely half-truths, out-right lies, implying conspiracies, casting innuendos, stroking populist dissatisfaction and anger to order to win votes.
Pic: Onward Singapore
Is Singapore prepared to see her political debate devolve as what is happening in the US, where persons of doubtful character can stand forward to be elected as part of the Govt?
Are Singaporeans ready to put their trust and faith in persons who consistently twist and lie in the face of factual information?
Some of Singapore's Loony Fringe MP-wannabes and political activists/bloggers
In the UK, we have seen how the Brexit politicians campaign for their cause to leave the EU by using misleading half-truths to woe the electorate.
And when these same 'Leave' politicians are confronted by their own media for their promises and claims made, they simply deny any responsibility for their words. The immediate impact of the Brexit vote was the overnight deterioration of the british economy which continues to this day.
Pic: CBC News
But Singaporeans only need to look around the immediate region to see examples of what can happen to a country in a very short time when the wrong people are elected to positions of power.
Philippines's extra-judicial killings of drug dealers without due process, is controversial to say the least.
Even in our own backyard, we can clearly see how the Worker's Party is just floundering in the Town Council accounting mess. Two election cycles have passed, and yet the Accounts still cannot be verified and cleared up once and for all.
Some will disagree and say that similar issues exist in PAP constituencies, just not highlighted by the local media.
But consider this - Even IF this was indeed a political ploy (and I am NOT saying it is) to put WP in a bad light, what does it tell you about WP when after more than 5 years now, the accounts still cannot hold up to impartial scrutiny by the independent Auditors?
Surely by now, WP would have caught up with the plot and taken immediate measures to resolve this in as short a period as possible? Is that what WP is doing? Why is it taken so long to resolve these accounting issues?
Singapore does not need an Opposition simply for the sake of opposing the Govt of the day.
What Singapore really needs, whether as part of the ruling party or the Opposition, are persons of integrity with a compassionate heart for serving Singapore to improve the lives of all Singaporeans, and not doubtful characters who are simply furthering their own political agenda and satisfying their selfish desire for power and revenge.
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