The simpler life...

My ears perked up when I heard that Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang are "concerned that the system has few checks and balances to prevent the abuse of government". It is one of my chief criticisms against the Singapore government and system of governance over the years. Recent happenings related to that include the politicization of town councils and the rule changes in the elected presidency. So I greedily devoured their 5-6 page statement. 

It was such a disappointing read. Lee Hsien Yang leaving Singapore was mentioned, but without additional information I do not think any observer will be able to make a fair judgment as to whether this incident backs up the claims. 

A characterization of Lee Kuan Yew's "values" was up next. My own opinion is that Lee Kuan Yew did many remarkable things for the country. However, I do not think that "checks and balances to prevent abuse of government" quite belong in his glittering legacy. If anything, many features of our governmental system leading to an over-powerful ruling party and prime minister can probably be traced back to him. (My biggest personal gripe will be GRC system.) 

The rest of the statement focused on the Oxley Road residence. The allegations that our prime minister used his political power to advance his personal agenda is concerning and hopefully will be investigated and resolved. But at the moment everything else that is written sound more like an overblown family dispute you see on tabloid news or Judge Judy. 

I suppose it's only human that we get more concerned about issues when they affect us personally and look the other way when everything is humming smoothly along. But when you only air your frustrations at such a juncture, your arguments will be regarded more like a allegation against a single individual than a criticism of the system at large. Peppering in tantalizing sound-bites like the lack of "checks and balances" and quotes of the "natural aristocracy" seems like a disingenuous attempt to garner more sympathizers who may be already against the system. Unless you are willing to divulge more facts and come up with better, more well reasoned arguments, please don't try to rope me into your petty family dispute.

(Words are not my strong suit and I don't think I did quite express what I was feeling in my post. I thought https://observer.news/people/lee-wei-ling-lee-hsien-yang-slams-lee-hsien-loong/ had a similar take (except for the aside on Li Shengwu) to the issue as I did, just worded vastly better).