On that National Conversation

Since the PM's National Day Rally speech, the country has been abuzz with talk about the national conversation. We got all sorts of voices clamouring for attention, and as expected, complaints from certain opposition parties about being excluded.

While I expect many issues to be discussed, I suspect that what I consider the really important issues facing the country will be left undisturbed.  Based on the noises so far, all the talk about an inclusive society and so forth centres around the issue of social welfare, with many Singaporeans asking for assistance and handouts of one form or another from the government.  While these issues are important, they are secondary, in my view.

What I think ought to be discussed, but won't will include things like the fundamental vulnerabilities facing the country, like the lack of food and energy security, as well as geopolitical issues like the South China Sea disputes.  To me, given the current and expected future global environment of the next 10-20 years, there will be a lot of external forces that will serious rock Singapore's 'boat', whether we like it or not.  The best thing to do is to have everyone understand these issues and prepare for them.  Unfortunately, the exercise will likely turn out to be like a squabble over who gets to eat more of the buffet while the ship is heading into stormy seas.

I am of the view that we need desperately to address the fundamental issues, as they will affect how Singaporeans see our own future prospects, and in turn, our willingness not to commit collective suicide by refusing to reproduce ourselves.

More on these in a future post.