Born in tears

[This was originally posted on Facebook on National Day, 2010.]

While other countries had to fight and struggle for their independence, Singapore had independence thrust unwanted upon her. Well sure, we wanted independence, but as part of a greater federation of states, for economic viability as well as strategic strength.

But we were cast out as an unwanted, rebellious child, barely weaned, with scarcely any resources, and an uncertain future.

Was it any wonder that our Prime Minister cried that first "National Day"?
We were not meant to succeed. We were not meant to even survive. We were meant to crawl back to the federation, hat in hand and ask humbly to be re-admitted on their terms- no more fighting for meritocracy as a principle of nationhood; and accepting the ethnic-based politics that is the reality and the handicap of the federation, even today.
But we did survive. And we thrived. It was as much the leadership, the people, and perhaps a few fortuitous events and timing that helped.

And the lesson of history for our 45-year young nation is that our survival and prosperity lies with trusting our leaders, and working with our government - pulling together and not pulling apart. Intuitively we understood that for a small nation, good government and leadership was a necessity for survival, and if the government was good enough, we could prosper.
Contrast that with the birth of a 225-year old nation - the United States of America. This nation was born in revolution, her independence wrested from the imperial British. Their beef with the government in London: taxation without representation.

Their birth coloured their political development and philosophy. The Republicans hold fast to these evident truths: government is a necessary evil at best; taxes are an infringement of one's right; and government spending is almost always inefficient meddling in the free, capitalist market, and we need to have the right to keep and bear arms in case the evil government tries to take it all away from us.
The citizens therefore casts a critical eye on the government, and question their every motive. Government positions and policies are questioned with a view to uncover insidious motives and conspiracies.
Trust no one. The X-Files probably did more to promote distrust of government and authority, maybe not at the overt level, but certainly enough to subvert trust in govt, to raise doubts and suspicions about government motivations and rationalisations. It's influence may be more subtle, leading us to question the prima facie, and consider cover-ups and alternative, malignant intent at worst, or negligent incompetence at best.
We see this baying for blood in the recent flash floods in Singapore, the escape of Mas Selamat, and the rising prices of housing with accusations of incompetence, negligence, and criminally poor planning.
The younger Singaporeans grew up not with the uncertainty of the 1960s and '70s, but the affluence of the 80s, and the imported cynicism and mistrust of the 90s. The financial crisis of 1997 in Asia, and 2008 on Wall Street adds credence to the theory that Govt is incompetent at best and negligent at worst.
However, the rapid rebound of the Singapore economy after the 2008 economic crisis is testament not just to the leadership, but also the people and the system of respect and trust built up over time. Singapore's economy is projected to grow 15% this year, the fastest in the world. This is probably possible only in Singapore with the structures, system, and relationships in place.
It is easy to see all this and take these for granted. To think that steady economic growth is a given, and independence is our god-given right, and freedom and prosperity is the status quo. We need to pinch ourselves once in a while to remind ourselves that this is not a dream, that it is all real, but that it is also subject to change.

It is easy to be swept up by the jingoism of "Democracy" and "Multi-party democracy" and see how vibrant the democratic process in the US is, and wish that perhaps we should have some of that. But look a little deeper and you realise that the democratic process in the US is often more inefficient, and more ridiculous, and even downright criminal in the neglect of basic decency and the abandonment of common sense.

[Edited. Paragraphs with dead links deleted.]

The reality is that the democratic process in the US is so pervasive that it has become the raison d'etre rather than a means of selecting government. It has been said that winning elections take so much time and planning that there is no time left to do the thing for which one was elected: to govern. And if we remember that the democratic process is simply a means of selecting/electing the best leaders, then we just have to look back to George W. Bush to wonder what went wrong with the system.

[2024 edit/amendment: In 2010, George W Bush was the worst example of Democracy Gone Wrong. Then 2016 and Donald Trump happened. And now a few days from the 2024 election, the US has an opportunity to show the world how badly Democracy can work once again. ]

So on this National Day, we can look back and see that we have come far. From worrying about survival to wondering if we could be more democratic. But over 45 years we have had good leaders and good government. That is rare in any country. If we change, let it be for the better, and not simply for the sake of change, or because it's cool, or that politics would be more interesting.

My birthday wish for Singapore: may your politics be boring, your leaders be pragmatic, and your society be stable. 

That's all we can really ask for.