Of party posters, and the drive needed to be in politics

The street lamps are now "decorated" with party posters of candidates. If you stretch your imagination, some juxtapositions seem to tell a story.

For instance, a street lamp beside the little roundabout at Hillview has both the PAP poster and the NSP poster fixed on it. But sandwiched between them on the pole is a traffic sign with the figure "50". So, is there an omen there: that it will be a close 50-50 fight for Chua Chu Kang GRC?

I took a bus ride today, and I saw that both parties seemed to have been quick on the draw in Chua Chu Kang GRC. Both parties' posters are out in force but thankfully not on every lamp post. Every so decorated lamp post has each contesting party's poster. Here's the intriguing part: without exception, the "top dog" position is occupied by the PAP and the "under-dog" position is taken by the NSP!

Actually, I'm not sure about the bragging rights here. The lower posters are closer to eye level, and hence it is easier to make out the candidates' faces and names.

There are also lamp post posters with just the parties' symbols. Again, the pecking order (or should it be the totem-pole order?) is invariably PAP on top, NSP below. Some are cheekily positioned such that the PAP's lightning bolt points directly at the NSP's eight-pointed star! Come to think of it, how come there is no opposition party that uses the lightning conductor as part of its symbol?

Meanwhile, over in next-door Jurong GRC (at least in the Bukit Batok precincts where my bus wend its way today), the PAP's posters are up on lamp posts, as are its party flags. But there are no NSP posters, even though the party is contesting the constituency and CCK and Jurong are cheek by jowl.

Likewise, in the Toh Tuck/Beauty World part of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, I saw PAP posters but not the SDP's, the other party contesting this GRC. I suppose the opposition parties' posters will be put up pretty soon, or else people might start to wonder if there will be unplanned walkovers.

Last snippet about party symbols here: What do the SPP, the SDA and Audi (yes, the German car maker) have in common? They all have four rings linked together (Olympic-style)!

On the subject of cars, today's ST has a picture of Mr Chiam See Tong in his now-famous Volkswagen Beetle, his unofficial battle horse. But he is in the front passenger seat! Party lieutenant Benjamin Pwee is the driver. Well, Mr Chiam did mention he is putting in place a succession process. Ability to drive a Beetle a must?

Finally, I had posted earlier comments on WP leader Low Thia Khiang's using the metaphor of a spare tyre to refer to the WP's role in Parliament and the response from the PAP's K. Shanmugam who used a different motoring analogy -- he suggested that LTK wanted to be a co-driver so as to wrest control of the steering wheel. I felt both were inapt analogies.

Now along comes PM Lee, with his driving analogy apropos Parliament:

"If we are permanently divided, and we're always two-thirds say yes, and one-third say nay, and we argue over every issue, then we become like America, or Japan, or Belgium.

"But that's exactly what we [I suppose the "we's" in this segment refer to the PAP] don't want; that's exactly what we fear when we listen to these slogans from the opposition... They say oh, let's have a little more (opposition)... Somebody else to step on the brake from time to time when you don't like what the driver is doing.

"I think that's a dangerous way to drive a car. Better find the best driver who is not only capable, but who really cares for where the car is going, and will take (it) forward safely. And if it doesn't work, throw him out [Mr Lee did not say if this action should be done while the car is still moving]. But if he's working, support him, and get to the destination together, safely."

Like I said, I find driving-related analogies unhelpful in describing politics. And anyway, many Singaporean drivers are a terrible lot, but that's another -- non-political -- matter.