"If you can select a population and they're educated and they're properly brought up, then you don't have to use too much of the stick because they would already have been trained. It's like with dogs." Lee Kuan Yew Senior Minister 1999
With all due respect to the late SM Lee Kuan Yew, I differ with him on his view of making "dog trainers" out of leaders. Donald Trump's leadership is exactly that of a dog-trainer... the invariable Pavlovian stimulus-and-response kind. Then, note the number of "blind" and "brain-dead" followers he produces. Plus, that style of leadership is often pointed towards the leader's own self. Do as the leader bids you to do, and the focus is always in his direction. No, the best form of leadership is one of enlightenment giving a vision and reason beyond self to the followers for the desire to follow. Often, a good leader points to a goal beyond self, sets the example, encourages, and edifies his followers to do the same. Note the 3Es - example, encouragement, and edification. Such leadership covers a longer distance, usually leading the followers to higher goals. And it doesn't mean that the disciples' journey cannot be broken up into manageable parts. Better leadership means better followers - and not "dog-like" followers.
Here are some reasons i feel contribute to the lack of kindness. - Weak actions against scammers, this cause people to be less trusting of one another and assumes others to have some kind of ulterior motives - Weak employee protections, this makes people to be very protective of their resources and creates a work environment that's highly contractual - Weak consumer protections, this creates a defensive mindset that businesses are out to squeeze everything out of you Such things prime people to be very protective against others and unwilling to share resources. This causes a lot of victim blaming and gaslighting, such that it is "you" who didn't becareful, didn't read the fine print, didn't save enough, didn't have the right skills.
At the end of the day, ‘kindness’ has to be much more than the little things Singaporeans do on a daily basis (eg. returning your trays) - those could be “polite” gestures but not necessarily “kind” in its truest form until Singaporeans understand the basis for their actions. Kindness has to permeate in upper ranks of policy as well, from the way we behave in parliamentary sessions to how we treat the marginalised (including criminals). If kindness is truly a principle and not just a superficial type of action ‘for show’, it should permeate to every aspect of policy and one could argue should be one of the espoused “principles” undergirding every policy.
You have done an excellent job at the helm. God’s Sovereignty directed the chairman of SKM to bring you on and it is a reminder to us that all things work for good to those who love HIM. Looking forward, the incoming PM is a product of the ministry of Bedok Methodist Church. His parents are good friends. My prayers daily are for Singapore my birth country. 🙏❤️
If you look at the popolution composition in SG. We are a very complex society. More than half of SG are not Singaporean. I believe the stick is still necessary, in fact more law needed given the money laundering case. But, we can be kinder in implementation for instant we should not punish tourists if they are caught first time not returning tray at hawker centre.
My thought is….If we are too gentle with tourists, might they continue to not comply like tourists in Bali? Same laws should apply to tourists that are applied to locals.
I have observed that Singaporeans are kind however the kindness is sometimes overshadowed by arrogance since they have become wealthier. I notice Singaporean tourists abroad and how opinionated they can be about how other countries should be run and how quick they are to pick the flaws of Foreigners like they are expert politicians. It’s hilarious. I’m curios to know if others have witnessed this too. I have observed this for the last 10 years. It makes me laugh and I am not trying to criticise here. It’s just an observation that it’s not a very attractive behaviour.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Why does the Executioner execute when ordered? Will he say, it's his job? Kindness can also be washed. Kindness washing just like green washing and white washing. Don't mean money washing though😅 So, it's easy to show there is kindness or anything. But altruism could be another different story
Coolie to chic culture does not need the stick . Kindness begets kindness from day one. The party has never practised kindness from day one. Singaporeans have become mean spirited because the party from day one has always been mean spirited in their policy making from day one. Kindness is rare in Singapore. Smugness is not kindness . Civil servants not abolishing the capital punishment will regret their lack of courage and creativity down the generational line.
Dr Wan is so right !!
The stick is no issue if we know how to think or behave. It can be there and not used. Rather have it there.
"If you can select a population and they're educated and they're properly brought up, then you don't have to use too much of the stick because they would already have been trained. It's like with dogs."
Lee Kuan Yew
Senior Minister
1999
With all due respect to the late SM Lee Kuan Yew, I differ with him on his view of making "dog trainers" out of leaders. Donald Trump's leadership is exactly that of a dog-trainer... the invariable Pavlovian stimulus-and-response kind. Then, note the number of "blind" and "brain-dead" followers he produces. Plus, that style of leadership is often pointed towards the leader's own self. Do as the leader bids you to do, and the focus is always in his direction. No, the best form of leadership is one of enlightenment giving a vision and reason beyond self to the followers for the desire to follow. Often, a good leader points to a goal beyond self, sets the example, encourages, and edifies his followers to do the same. Note the 3Es - example, encouragement, and edification. Such leadership covers a longer distance, usually leading the followers to higher goals. And it doesn't mean that the disciples' journey cannot be broken up into manageable parts. Better leadership means better followers - and not "dog-like" followers.
Here are some reasons i feel contribute to the lack of kindness.
- Weak actions against scammers, this cause people to be less trusting of one another and assumes others to have some kind of ulterior motives
- Weak employee protections, this makes people to be very protective of their resources and creates a work environment that's highly contractual
- Weak consumer protections, this creates a defensive mindset that businesses are out to squeeze everything out of you
Such things prime people to be very protective against others and unwilling to share resources. This causes a lot of victim blaming and gaslighting, such that it is "you" who didn't becareful, didn't read the fine print, didn't save enough, didn't have the right skills.
At the end of the day, ‘kindness’ has to be much more than the little things Singaporeans do on a daily basis (eg. returning your trays) - those could be “polite” gestures but not necessarily “kind” in its truest form until Singaporeans understand the basis for their actions. Kindness has to permeate in upper ranks of policy as well, from the way we behave in parliamentary sessions to how we treat the marginalised (including criminals). If kindness is truly a principle and not just a superficial type of action ‘for show’, it should permeate to every aspect of policy and one could argue should be one of the espoused “principles” undergirding every policy.
You have done an excellent job at the helm.
God’s Sovereignty directed the chairman of SKM to bring you on and it is a reminder to us that all things work for good to those who love HIM.
Looking forward, the incoming PM is a product of the ministry of Bedok Methodist Church. His parents are good friends.
My prayers daily are for Singapore my birth country. 🙏❤️
If you look at the popolution composition in SG. We are a very complex society. More than half of SG are not Singaporean. I believe the stick is still necessary, in fact more law needed given the money laundering case. But, we can be kinder in implementation for instant we should not punish tourists if they are caught first time not returning tray at hawker centre.
My thought is….If we are too gentle with tourists, might they continue to not comply like tourists in Bali? Same laws should apply to tourists that are applied to locals.
Is it "kind" to keep Singaporeans in the dark? Was LKY kind to Singaporeans?
He was the reason singaporeans are safe and spoilt and educated today…. And have a roof over their heads.
Great job Dr. Wan!
I have observed that Singaporeans are kind however the kindness is sometimes overshadowed by arrogance since they have become wealthier. I notice Singaporean tourists abroad and how opinionated they can be about how other countries should be run and how quick they are to pick the flaws of Foreigners like they are expert politicians. It’s hilarious. I’m curios to know if others have witnessed this too. I have observed this for the last 10 years. It makes me laugh and I am not trying to criticise here. It’s just an observation that it’s not a very attractive behaviour.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Why does the Executioner execute when ordered? Will he say, it's his job?
Kindness can also be washed. Kindness washing just like green washing and white washing. Don't mean money washing though😅
So, it's easy to show there is kindness or anything. But altruism could be another different story
Coolie to chic culture does not need the stick . Kindness begets kindness from day one. The party has never practised kindness from day one. Singaporeans have become mean spirited because the party from day one has always been mean spirited in their policy making from day one. Kindness is rare in Singapore. Smugness is not kindness . Civil servants not abolishing the capital punishment will regret their lack of courage and creativity down the generational line.