Election ruminations (continued)

The Prime Minister's address and Q&A session with university students -- Gen Y voters -- yesterday (5 April) was of course given prominent coverage by the media.

I think no new perspectives were provided, save the revelation that the MM's position  is "unique" and that there will be no more MM posts in future (he made it clear he will not become one).

Still, PM Lee's arguments (a) that this election is about putting together the PAP's next A-Team (but headlined in Today as "Putting together S'pore's next A-Team") and (b) that a two-party system is untenable in Singapore because even putting together one A-Team , due to the small pool of suitable talent, is difficult enough, serve as food for thought. Speakng as his party's spokesman, he rejected the idea of voters "buying insurance" by voting in some opposition candidates and he asked for voters' full support for the PAP.

So, does it mean the PAP is looking for a clean sweep?

So far, I have not seen any reported reactions from opposition spokesmen but I am sure these will come in the next few days. I suppose many calculations come into play when a voter casts his ballot, but PM Lee's arguments here (and others covered in his address) should weigh heavy on the thinking voter.

I think the template being invoked is the "fear factor". From the PAP's perspective, the fear is that if ever a non-PAP party (or coalition) comes to power, it will be tempted to resort to populist policies that will ultimately finish off Singapore. On this basis, every election requires strong (and even full) support for the PAP, which will do its best to conduct its own internal checks and balances.

The flipside fear factor will be the opposition's "insurance" argument, and that ultimately, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Would all this be too abstract for most ordinary people on polling day?

Anyway, I will stay off election issues for a while. But I can't resist putting up here an old joke -- purported starring the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Asked if he believed in a two-party system, he reportedly said wickedly: "Of course! One on Friday night and one on Saturday night."