Thursday, April 03, 2008
Saw something in the Straits Times today. Thinking back on what it was about made me indignant now. It was about the reshuffling of the cabinet and featuring our PM talking about the brain/talent drain. He used fictionary statistics to show how our students with all 'A's going overseas to study and not returning to fulfill their potential in Singapore. So what are the rest of us then ? Is the other 95% of the population condemned to be just led then ?

I dont think he was being elitist purposely but even if it's a pragmatic insight, i still dont buy it. Lets say i think logically. It is true that we need people with the ideas and brains to develop our society. It is assumedly true that all that the scholars have studied on paper can be translated into wonderful results in reality as well. But is it enough ? Look at the current political scene. Who amongst them can live up to the leadership vacuum left by the old guards ? What leadership ? What credibility ? What mandate to lead ?

The funny thing is that these so called talents are selected through one interview - after the release of 'A' levels results. To be fair, it's not that it can only be through the As that one succeed in the government. But we must concede that they are given substantially more chances and opportunities. It is only fair they are rewarded with scholarships for their hard work (?) but to secure governmental positions through that ? To already have a stable ladder up the ministries ? That is not only unfair, but also making our talent pool stagnant.

Given our rise in stature, we become more elitist. It is in our nature to want the best of everything. But then again, what are the so-called elistes 'elite' at ? That is a pertinent question seeing the amount of time, money and faith we invest in them.

alson, taju kage bunshin no jutsu. randomly blasting reiatsu again. arggh.
by ~me~ at 9:29 PM ©

---