The Conservative Soul: A call for small Government

 

I used to view the world in black and white: either X was good, or it was bad. Through this lens, the PAP was a responsible party interested in governing, while the Opposition were an extremist fringe.

But as I matured, I increasingly viewed this perspective as flawed. For all the good that the PAP was doing, the fruits of growth were, and still are, increasingly concentrated among the rich and powerful. And despite how much the PAP tried to sell Opposition ideas as extreme, one could not deny that they had a point: the entire playing field was skewed towards the ruling party.

Thus began a long trek towards the lonely political center. It was this context that allowed me to see that just as the PAP’s interests do not coincide with the nation, the current Opposition is too fragmented and incoherent to become a viable replacement anytime soon.

It is also this position that has led me to realise that there are issues that neither the PAP nor the Opposition actually intend to tackle. For it is not in their interest to curb the influence that Parliament has over the nation.

For through its extended rule, the PAP has strengthened the power of Parliament such that there are no effective checks and balances. The presidency in the current form is almost powerless, while the judiciary is severely hamstrung. The electorate only gets to voice its opinion during the rare election, and thats when said voter’s district is actually contested.

Much hay has been made about the need for political reform. But to date, there has been no serious proposal from the parties  that would actually change this state of affairs. Though the PAP and the Opposition seem as though they are on opposing ends of the political spectrum, in reality this is a false duality.

We need small government; a government that recognises that it can be wrong. One that intervenes only when it needs to. For government activism leads to unintended consequences. This was the case for the IRs, and this will not be the last case.

What I call for is a government that knows meritocracy is incomplete without equality of opportunity. Meritocracy on its own will only entrench power among those who make it to the top first. A conservative government will therefore ensure we move as a nation. This will involve higher taxes targeted at the rich, an idea the PAP refuses to consider.

What I call for is a government that actually recognises that it is a representative of the nation, not the nation itself. Major policy changes should be put forth to the public to decide, not steamrollered through Parliament.

What I call for is a government that respects the role of individuals in society. It should respect individual choices when they do not affect others, for no one else knows what is best for them. Such a government would treat all minorities equally, and decriminalise homosexuality.

That is the government that we should have, and that is government worth fighting for.