Ian On The Red Dot

I have very strong opinions about issues. Especially issues about Singapore.

There is never a class gathering where our conversation doesn’t swerve, crash and burn into the topic of governance in Singapore. Sometimes it is because my friend drove the car into the wall, sometimes I supplied the alcohol to the driver, sometimes someone else threw a banana peel.

However it happens, it happens.

And at the end of every discussion, someone would say,

“You should be a politician.”

It is the ultimate indication that my friend(s), my classmate(s) disagree with me – usually not because they have an informed opinion but because well, that’s how things have always been, and they don’t see why things need to ever be different – and if I feel so strongly about change, I should be a politician to convince others (not them) that change should happen. I’m being shooed away because they don’t want to think about such matters.

Why?

Governance, my country, the way our lives are controlled, influenced and manipulated by the state are just too important things to be left to politicians.

These matters should be a cause of concern for every citizen.

Every citizen should have informed opinions based on analysis and understanding about these matters and not depend on opinions formed because some demagogue swayed their hearts or some thug beat their bodies into submission.

Convince me your path is right as I try to convince you to take this walk with me. Let’s not abdicate the carrying of the torch for this dark journey ahead.

How we want our country to be, how we want our lives to be lead, the legacy we want to bequeath our children should not (only?) be decided or led by politicians stuck in ivory towers.

It should be decided by citizens. Daily.

Because these are our lives, this is our country and they are our children.

I hope, for the day, when these discussions end with someone turning to me and saying,

“We should all be citizens.”