文章标题：如何避免掉入民主政治的陷阱？
文章作者：颜国伟
发表日期：2011年5月27日
发表媒体：《联合早报•言论》
假如你是一家上市公司的董事会主席，股东大会你只获得60%股东的支持，你会怎么做？
一、去了解这60%的股东为什么这么支持你？
二、尽力向另外40%的股东收集他们不支持你的原因，然后全力解决所有的问题？
从这个角度看这次新加坡大选所产生的舆论，可以看到焦点都在第二个选择。所有舆论几乎全都集中于报道与分析，为什么执政党失去选民的支持，以及政府该如何改变作风，多听取民意等等。诚然，这样的检讨是有其现实的必要性的，有如孟子所言：“得天下有道，得其民，斯得天下矣。得其民有道，得其心，斯得民矣。得其心有道，所欲与之聚之，所恶勿施尔也”。
然而，从选举结果到思考问题的根源在哪里，以便找出解决之道，长远看来，很难避免不出现庄子所言的“道术将为天下裂”，最终走向一个分化，甚至分裂的局面。因为有问题必然就有对立，有辩难，有反驳，有攻乎异己，有强调己意。随着全球局势的急剧变动，旧的问题还没解决，新的问题已经出现，而且每个人都可以根据自己的经历、感受、动机的不同，通过网上社交媒体抒发己见，加强影响力。任何政府要在施政上做到令大家都觉得受到照顾，受到尊重，根本是不可能的事。
让我们回顾一下1959年自治邦时代的一些要点。除了棘手的民生问题之外，当时的社会还存在着极具煽动性的语言、种族、宗教问题。当时的选民选党不选人，热烈拥护人民行动党上台执政，不是因为行动党就现实问题捞取了政治资本，而是因为行动党提出了一个凝聚民心的理念——建设一个公正平等的民主社会，是这个理想召唤了人心。从这段历史，我们得出的结论是，唯有打动民心的理想，才能凝聚人心，单向的问题导向思维，只会制造分化与分裂，很难不掉入民主政治的陷阱，出现在政党轮替的竞争中，夹杂现实利益与利害的破坏性作用。
五十年的建国路，行动党功不可没地使新加坡在经济发展上成为第一世界国家，但是经济发展并无法令国人感到快乐。盖洛普从2005年至2009年就全球155个国家的快乐指数调查结果显示，新加坡排行第81位，反映这几年新加坡虽然在全球经济衰退的时局之中取得骄人的经济成果，国人皆有增长花红可分，但整体上新加坡人还是不快乐。这次的选举可以解读成国人通过选票来反映自己的不快乐。
美国明尼苏达大学教授凯特琳（Katherine Vohs）的大量研究发现，一个重视金钱的人，行为会更加自我中心，更具斗争性。从种种社会现象来看，我们的表现似乎如此，所以我们都不快乐。
当代著名的心理学家荣格（Carl Jung）说过，人之所以不快乐，是因为缺乏信念。他也指出，人生最大和最重要的问题，在某种意义上来说是根本无法解决的，只能够被超越。如果个人能够把视野打开，具有更高更广阔的关怀，现实中那些无法解决的问题，将显得不那么迫切。日本人今年面对超强的大地震、核泄漏所带来的种种生命攸关的考验时，能够临危不乱，守望相助，印证了荣格于上世纪二十年代的真知灼见。
因此，我认为新加坡政治的分水岭不仅仅是反对党攻破了集选区的堡垒，也不只是资深政治领袖的退位，更在于要求我们一起来反思，面对未来，我们的共同理想是什么？过去，我们的社会能够安于以经济建设作为人心凝聚的号角，但趋势越来越明显，寡头的经济发展无法安顿躁动不安的人心。如何让国人在维持生计或致富之外，有更高更宽广意义的快乐，才能提升民主政治的素质，避免掉入民主政治的陷阱。
是时候掀开人文建设的新篇章，向日本学习。这是一项艰巨而长远的工程，它是良性的政治安全网，对国人乃至对有志于政治的人士都好。如果等到陷入民主政治的泥潭之后才来行动，恐怕良机已失，为时已晚。
本文作者在私人企业界从事人力开发工作
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Moral behind story of the four wives
文章标题：Moral behind story of the four wives
文章作者：Geoff Tan
发表日期：2011年5月23日
发表媒体：《我报》My Paper
I AM well aware that Singapore does not encourage bigamy but, nonetheless, there is a lesson to learn from this story about a rich merchant with four wives.
The man loved his fourth wife the most and gave her only the best. He also loved his third wife, and was always showing her off to his friends.
His second wife was the confidante whom he turned to when he had problems. And his first wife was loyal to him and helped him to maintain his wealth and business, and took care of the household. However, the merchant hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill and was told that he would soon die. He thought of his life of luxury and told himself: “Now, I have four wives. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”
He asked the fourth wife: “I’ve loved you most and given you the finest clothing. Now that I’m dying, would you follow me and keep me company?”
She replied: “No way!” Then she walked away. That hurt him terribly.
The man asked his third wife the same thing, but she replied: “Life is so good here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank.
He asked the second wife: “I’ve always turned to you for help, and you’ve always helped me. When I die, would you follow me and keep me company?” She replied: “At most, I can only send you to your grave.” The merchant was devastated.
Then, his first wife spoke: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you wherever you go.” She was skinny, and seemed almost as if she was suffering from malnutrition. In tears, the merchant said: “I should have taken better care of you when I could!”
What is the moral of this story? Well, let’s consider that we each have four “wives” in our lives. The fourth “wife” is our body. No matter how much time and effort we take to make it look good, it will leave us when we die.
Our third “wife” would be our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, others will take them from us. The second “wife” is our family and friends. Even if they are alive, the furthest they can stay with us is up to the grave.
The first “wife” is, in fact, our soul, the part that will be with us when we die. It is ironic that our soul is often neglected in our pursuit of material goals.
And when we eventually realise how important this first “wife” is, many of us will regret how we have neglected it for most of our lives, and wish we had paid more attention to it.
I’m sure you know now which “wife” you should look after most!
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
文章作者：Geoff Tan
发表日期：2011年5月23日
发表媒体：《我报》My Paper
I AM well aware that Singapore does not encourage bigamy but, nonetheless, there is a lesson to learn from this story about a rich merchant with four wives.
The man loved his fourth wife the most and gave her only the best. He also loved his third wife, and was always showing her off to his friends.
His second wife was the confidante whom he turned to when he had problems. And his first wife was loyal to him and helped him to maintain his wealth and business, and took care of the household. However, the merchant hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill and was told that he would soon die. He thought of his life of luxury and told himself: “Now, I have four wives. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”
He asked the fourth wife: “I’ve loved you most and given you the finest clothing. Now that I’m dying, would you follow me and keep me company?”
She replied: “No way!” Then she walked away. That hurt him terribly.
The man asked his third wife the same thing, but she replied: “Life is so good here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank.
He asked the second wife: “I’ve always turned to you for help, and you’ve always helped me. When I die, would you follow me and keep me company?” She replied: “At most, I can only send you to your grave.” The merchant was devastated.
Then, his first wife spoke: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you wherever you go.” She was skinny, and seemed almost as if she was suffering from malnutrition. In tears, the merchant said: “I should have taken better care of you when I could!”
What is the moral of this story? Well, let’s consider that we each have four “wives” in our lives. The fourth “wife” is our body. No matter how much time and effort we take to make it look good, it will leave us when we die.
Our third “wife” would be our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, others will take them from us. The second “wife” is our family and friends. Even if they are alive, the furthest they can stay with us is up to the grave.
The first “wife” is, in fact, our soul, the part that will be with us when we die. It is ironic that our soul is often neglected in our pursuit of material goals.
And when we eventually realise how important this first “wife” is, many of us will regret how we have neglected it for most of our lives, and wish we had paid more attention to it.
I’m sure you know now which “wife” you should look after most!
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
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