does the backyard matter?

read a commentary in ST this morning. Realised that I'm one of those ppl described in the article, who seem to feel more strongly about things that are happening far away than those in my own backyard.

why? maybe the issues that concern the world are more interesting than the humdrum topics that seem to dominate local affairs. Maybe it's a nagging doubt that, as an individual, I can really make much of a difference; since my voice hardly matters anyway, I might as well concern myself with the 'big' issues. Or maybe, since S'pore is so connected to the global community, being concerned about world affairs is an indirect way of being concerned about S'pore (ok, that was my inner spin-doctor talking).

"That there were more than 18,000 votes cast (for Bush or Kerry) on the two Singapore sites mentioned earlier shows there is a more than healthy interest in foreign goings-on that have an impact on Singapore.

The question is whether they are also willing and able to channel that interest, concern and energy towards matters at home and help make a difference in Singapore.

Or do they feel lethargic or detached when it comes to domestic affairs; or as some students put it at a recent forum, that a 'climate of fear' prevents them from doing so."

the problem, I guess, is that "the government (and/or the PAP) knows best" is still a deeply-entrenched mindset in S'pore. After all, both the civil service and the PAP go all out to attract and retain the most intelligent and capable ppl (that's partly why our ministers are paid so much right?). So the average poor dumb S'porean just has to take his cues from the ppl higher up. That's been the way things worked for decades.

the realisation is just dawning on S'poreans (other than oppostitiion politicians, coffeeshop uncles and cab drivers) that no one is infalliable, not even our World-Class Government. Maybe there's a place for us at the steering wheel after all, if we watch the toes we step on.

but that's the catch isn't it. There's still a sense of uncertainty about which toes we can step on. It's like a beggar being told to 'feel at home' in a rich man's house: there's never a sense of complete ease because he never knows if he's going to do something that costs him more than he can afford. That's what the "climate of fear" is about.

the writer goes on to say:

"It would be unfortunate if the Singaporeans among those who cast votes online are more willing to try and effect change elsewhere than they would in their own backyard.

There are more than enough avenues for them here. And this Government has made clear that its intention is to get more Singaporeans engaged in shaping the national agenda and the country's future.

Despite the sentiments some Singaporeans harbour towards the authorities and about whether they really listen and heed feedback, Singaporeans will have only themselves to blame for not making use of opportunities and channels they have at their disposal."

what he writes is true. But even though the government is changing, the climate it has fostered isn't going to just go away overnight. Maybe in ten or twenty years' time we might see a truly open society. Meanwhile, though, the pragmatist (or coward?) in me still prefers to think more about global affairs. My backyard can wait, when more interesting things are happening in the neighbourhood. Go Kerry go!