I will Fix You
"They'll fix you. They fix everyone."- Robocop, 1987.
As far as off-the-cuff speaches made by politicians go, the one delivered by Prime Minister Lee in a televised speach would make a viewer cringe. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore remarked that he would have to spend his time fixing opposition politicians if more of them were elected into parliament. In addition to having to "buy my supporters votes", you can imagine political cynics, conspiracy theorists and the very opposition the Government is trying to 'fix', giving themselves congratulatory I-told-you-so's.
One can only guess as to why Prime Minister Lee had used the word 'fix'. Is it a reflection of his mind set or a veiled threat that his government will do whatever necessary to keep Singapore on the right path with minimum interference?
Prime Minister Lee's intensions may be well intentioned and sincere. However having to convey that sincerity to the voting electorate requires some finese and tact. Choice of words can either endear a voter to you or destroy hard won credibility.
This situation is no different. If Prime Minister Lee had offered that having more opposition members in Parliament would only 'distract' the government from addressing long-term issues affecting Singapore, that would have been self explanatory regardless of what the electorate may think about the matter. And any voting member of the public with half a brain will be able to see the hard won results for themselves. There is no point stating the obvious.
It isn't enough just to lead by example. Leaders must convey their intensions without inneuendo. It isn't the job of political commentators to second-guess what politicians are supposed to have really said. There may be some outrage directed at Prime Minister Lee for his comment and his statement may be retracted with an apology. However this episode may cost his government some at the polls.
posted by Teutoburg @ 10:26 PM
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