Being a blogger vs being a politician

Now this is a topic that has cropped up quite a number of times from my readers (most recently here and before that here) - some of them have asked me why I haven't become involved in Singaporean politics since I take a keen interest in it on my blog, particularly in trying to bring political change to a system that I dislike immensely. This has usually led to a few interesting replies to the comments in some articles, but now I'd like to bring some of those thoughts together and present it in a blog post to deal with this topic.

Could I pass for a politician? Or am I too showbiz?

(Yeah thought I'd show you a picture of me in a suit for a change after all those diving videos of me in my swimming trunks.) I have never had any interest in being a politician - this started way back in secondary school when we were introduced to the concept of democracy. Prefects were democratically elected from a short list of candidates that were approved by the teachers. I remember how one guy whom I had never really spoken before coming to talk to me prior to the prefects' elections - clearly, he was after my vote but I was cynical. You have never spoken to me before, you are not my friend, so why should I vote for you?  It was a painful moment as I could sense how awkward it must have been as well. I would never ever want to be in his shoes - to have to beg to be liked by a complete stranger.

No, I have no intention to be involved in politics as a politician. I am however very interested in politics, that is why I blog about it a lot. In a democracy, politicians need to appeal to as many voters as possible in order to secure a victory at an election and this means that most politicians usually have to maintain a squeaky clean lifestyle, be seen as a responsible member of society and not have any skeletons in the closet. That's so not me. I want to be able to go out, do what the hell I like, shag whom the hell I want, say whatever I want on the internet, get naked on stage if I want to, offend whomever I want - that's the kind of freedom I value and it is simply not compatible with the demands of a politician running for public office. No thanks, I value not just my privacy but the freedom to do what the hell I like with my sex life and social life and not give a damn what others may think. Politicians don't have that luxury.

People who put themselves out there, trying to be popular do make a huge sacrifice in terms of what they are allowed to do. Let's take the example of K-pop superstar Psy, last year at the peak of his fame when Gangnam Style was such a huge global phenomena, Psy was forced to make a humble apology for having once sang a song with anti-American lyrics back in 2004. The song in question was 'Dear America' by Korean metal band N.Ex.T and Psy was a guest rapper on the track. Why did he make an apology 8 years later? Did he have a sudden change of heart about America? No, it was because until Gangnam Style, he was a complete unknown in America and nobody really cared what he had to say about American foreign policy or what America did in Iraq. He was free to speak his mind (or in Psy's case, rap his mind) on the issue - then suddenly, as he became popular in America, people start scrutinizing over ever last detail of what he has said and done in his life and attacking him for things that he has done 8 years ago?

I found this episode rather distasteful as Psy buckled under pressure and offered a grovelling apology. Why? Because he cared about his popularity and commercial interests in America as the first K-pop star to go mainstream in America. I would've loved for him to have said, "I meant what I said at the time, I don't agree with US foreign policy. My music may not be to everyone's taste but that was the way I had chosen to express myself at the time in reaction to events that were happening in 2004. You don't have to agree with what I say and my music is a political statement, I can express myself the same way anyone can express themselves." Nah, I wish he'd said that - but he didn't.

I think about the number of provocative things I have said and done over the years in the media, on the internet, on my blog and in person and I would hate to be in a position where I would have to be forced to apologize for something I did 8 years ago the way Psy did. If you choose to do something, then stand by your decision to have done it and don't back down. If you have done something wrong and really want to say sorry, then that apology has got to be a genuine expression of remorse, not something you're coerced into by people you're trying to be popular with, such as in the case of Psy and this apology over that 2004 song 'Dear America'.

Think about it. If that obscure song from 2004 (which was almost entirely in the Korean language, wasn't even a big hit in Korea, nobody heard it in America) hadn't been dragged up by CNN's iReport team, would Psy have apologized for it? He only apologized because he was exposed to have done something that would have damaged his popularity and public image, rather than because he was genuinely sorry. The whole episode revealed the price of fame - Psy no longer could do what he wanted if he wanted to be popular.

The thought of my actions being held to ransom by public opinion - now that's scary. That's a form of censorship that I never wanna subject myself to. I do care what my close friends and family think about me but why should I care what strangers think about what I want to say or do? Do you wish to let strangers whom you have never met dictate what you can say or are allowed to do? No way, I hear you say - but that is exactly what politicians subject themselves to. They are afraid of alienating or offending voters if they speak their minds and have to be so careful what they say or do.

I cast my mind back to one of my first encounter with elections - that was back in secondary school. There was an election in 1990 to be the lower secondary captain of the gymnastics club and I was told that I should put myself up as a candidate. I wasn't sure I wanted to do that - I knew what I wanted, I wanted to be the best gymnast on the team, but to be the captain? That meant having to be nice to everyone in order to get as many votes as possible. Fuck that. I wasn't prepared to be that nice. I wasn't interested in the popularity contest, I wanted to be the best gymnast on the team. The same thing happened in 1992 - I didn't even turn up for the elections for the gymnastics club and was the only team member without a post on the committee and no, it didn't bother me at all.

I applied the same argument when I decided against running to be a school prefect in secondary school and then as a councillor in JC. "You mean I'd have to follow all the school rules? And set an example for the others? And I'd have to be nice to everyone? And no more swearing? Fuck that. No thanks." That's just the kind of person I am - I have a small group of very good friends whom I am very close to, but I never bothered trying to be popular at school or university. I never saw the point - friends should always be measured in quality, not quantity.

Having this attitude doesn't mean that I am not interested in politics though - I am thoroughly fascinated by politics, that is why I talk about it so enthusiastically on my blog. Democracy is a process where everyone can take part: private citizens like myself can have our say, participate in the process and influence those who are supposed to be representing us in government. You do not have to be an MP in order to participate in this political discourse - as a blogger with a strong Singaporean readership (about 55% of my readers are from Singapore), my blog is a platform for me to encourage my readers to think about the issues that affect them, to form opinions about how they feel and I always encourage them to talk about it: with me, with their friends, with their government.

Likewise, it is a complete fallacy to think that once you become an MP, you can be some kind of revolutionary and start changing the political landscape. No, it does not work like that! MPs are there to represent the wishes of the citizens, MPs are not there to do what the hell they like. If you're a member of a political party, you're often constrained by what your party's policies are on the issue you are passionate about and you can't just do as you please. Even as an independent MP, you can only vote in parliament on certain laws which will require a majority to pass. If you want instant change, you need someone who will stage a military coup, dismiss the entire parliament and impose martial law where the dictator can make sweeping changes at the drop of a hat.

I remember how former NMP Siew Kum Hong tried so very hard during his one term as an NMP to try to get the government to change, but alas, the poor guy was like banging his bald head against the PAP brick wall. The guy was clearly a visionary who had the right ideas of how Singapore could be a more progressive, open society but what real change was he able to make within the context the existing system? Practically none, which was frustratin for both him and me - if only he could have his way, but he was but one MP amongst many. Sigh.

Former NMP Siew Kum Hong

I know where my strengths lie - I write well, I wouldn't be attracting this many readers otherwise if my writing skills weren't good.  I am putting my writing skills to good use here in trying to get people who may be politically apathetic to read about issues that may affect them using a combination of humour and good presentation. I have adopted a 'magazine' style approach to my blogging - I break my articles down with plenty of photos and videos to keep the pieces entertaining. Most of all, I enjoy writing immensely and if there are so many people out there who want to read what I have to say, I couldn't be more pleased. I love my readers so much, thank you LIFTers.

I probably could work in politics - I do have enough transferable skills such as marketing, PR and writing to work for politicians. The PAP or WP certainly could use someone with my kind of skills to fight fires each time they have a disaster on their hands - I could easily put a positive spin on any bad situation with the magic of PR and write the kind of statements that would appease the public because I'd know what they want to hear. In the UK, they call such politics PR gurus "spin doctors" and they make a lot of money. You rarely hear about them - but they are working hard behind the scenes everyday to manipulate the news. But no, instead, I am using those skills in the financial services industry where I am being paid handsomely by my employers to promote their services (a hedge funds consultancy).

I am working in marketing & PR for a hedge funds consultancy. 

That's what I am good at - I understand the sales & marketing process very well.  I can package up your shit in a way that will enable me to sell it back to you as the finest organic fertiliser and you will think you're getting a good price from me. I can package up the sleaziest politician or CEO and make him look like a hero to be admired to the public. What I cannot and will not do, however, is to subject myself to the same kind of bullshit and sell myself to the public as a politician. Fuck that. No way. Even I have morals and that crosses the line. Why? Because I actually enjoy being honest with people. If I don't like someone, I won't be nice to them and they will at least know how I feel and react accordingly. If I despise someone, oh you can be sure I will inform them of it.  That is a luxury a politician has to give up unfortunately, so no, I won't do it and I can't do it - it's just not a price worth paying, not for me at least.

Besides, in the case of Singapore, I am not totally convinced that Singapore is ripe for revolution yet as recent events have proven. Even under provocation, a disappointingly small number of Singaporeans reacted whilst the rest go shopping and remain politically apathetic. There needs to be a big enough proportion of people who want change in order for change to happen - if only a minority of people are willing to fight for change, then sorry you're in the minority and that's not how it works in a democracy. Evidently, the last election showed that Singapore is not ready for a revolution yet as 60.14% voted for the PAP. Good luck to those in the opposition who are fighting an uphill battle in this environment. We need to engage the 60.14% and bring them over from the dark side.

Nonetheless, I do enjoy the role I play being a social commentator. I am merely reacting to what I have observed in the news and in the absence of a free press in Singapore, bloggers like myself are filling a demand from Singaporeans who want to read a different kind of news that local journalists would never get past their editors. The fact that I have so many readers is exciting and I don't have an editor to please - so I can write what the hell I want in whichever manner I want, even if it means being extremely rude and vulgar when I am in an extremely bad mood or talking about issues like porn stars and sexuality. I suppose I do like being quite controversial and that suits me fine! There are enough boring blogs out there written by depressingly boring bloggers who are so afraid of offending people - I'm not one of them. I'd rather be brutally honest and piss off some people along the way, that's the way I have always blogged and after 3.7 million views, well I must be doing something right with the way I write!

So there you go - this is why I will never be a politician, I hope that answers your question. And please, there are many ways to bring positive changes to your society - it isn't just politicians who have the power to make those vital improvements to your society, many others can play their part and make a difference too. What do you think? Do you have political ambitions? Do you like the idea of being popularly elected in an election? Would you vote for a man as blunt and honest as me? Just imagine my MP's surgery, "stop feeling sorry for yourself you fucking loser. Stop blaming others for your mistakes, you fucked up your life, don't expect me to pick up the pieces for you - I'm your MP, not your fucking fairy godmother. Now get the fuck out of my office as I have other people to see. Fuck off, thank you."

Do leave a comment please and let me know what you think. Thank you very much for reading.