With the General Elections looming near, it is important to understand what true democracy is all about. The most important ingredient of a democratic society is a co-operative society. It is a society in which everyone pools their resources for the common good.
On the other hand, capitalism is a threat to real democracy. It encourages the spirit of greed, self-centredness and consumerism. Capitalists tend to be corrupted and consumed by the love of money. Money is their idol and they labour under the misconception that money makes the world go round.
It has been said that nothing is certain but death and taxes. We may not be able to avoid death but death can teach us to number our days and to seek the meaning of life. We can learn to face death so that we will live well. And as we live well, we will die well. Likewise, we can seek to make better use of our taxes.
Taxes in a democratic society are to be used for the welfare of the community. This is very different from a feudal society in which taxes are collected to enrich the feudal lord. Hence taxes in a democratic society will be used to fund essential services such as defence, health and education. One dollar collected from one million people each will amount to $1,000,000 and this can used for essential services. However, $1,000,000 given out to one million people means that each person will receive only ONE paltry dollar!
In a co-operative society, our small change can be used to make a big change in our society. Budget surpluses can be better used to provide education for our children up to secondary level. This is NOT welfarism but an investment in our young. Likewise it is not welfarism to provide medical services for our elderly sick – it is our grateful response as well as responsibility in recognition of their contributions in the past.
Unless and until we change the mindsets of the people about the purpose of taxes, we will not be able to cultivate a caring and compassionate society. And to change the mindsets we need a change of heart – from narcissism to altruism.
To live meaningful and fruitful lives, our focus cannot be on ourselves but on others. A meritocratic society tends to encourage selfishness and motivate through greed. A better alternative is a creative society which seeks to develop the potential of every individual. Success will not be measured in terms of one’s salaries and material acquisitions but on how one has been a blessing to others.
We need selfless leaders to show the people the way to a life of love, joy and peace. We need such leaders to develop the fruits of love and compassion in a co-operative society. General elections are the time for the people to choose such leaders. Those seeking only to win elections, more often than not, do not have the interests of the people at heart. Candidates from whatever party who resort to “gutter politics” do not deserve to be elected. The people have the responsibility not to cast their votes for such candidates.
True leaders will not seek to “sell” themselves or promise goodies to the people. They offer themselves to serve the people and to present ideas and visions that will inspire people to be more caring and creative. If we want servant leaders we must be prepared to take the risk to elect new leaders who have presented themselves for service to the nation. Unless the people are prepared to move out of their comfort zone and take a risk to give new leaders a chance, how can such leaders prove themselves?
Elections are a time for leaders to be accountable to the people as well as a time for the people to send leaders reminders that power lies in the people and not in the elite. Our people must be prepared to exercise their power through the ballot box. Concern for the nation and not fear must dictate the way they vote. Leaders need to be held accountable and that is the purpose of elections.
Finally it is important to recognize that many of those who are standing for the opposition are not anti-Singapore but who have a passion for Singapore. In fact they have more to lose than those standing for the ruling party. A democratic government is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people – it is a government that comprises of both the ruling party and the opposition parties.
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