The feeling of being wrong is terrible. It's worse when it brings about fear in others. No one can be 100% cock sure about everything, not even if you have an IQ of 180 or have so far possess a 100% track record. Is that possible? Even our well-esteemed Minister Mentor God stands corrected for statements made in his latest book - Hard Truths.
There is this analogy about how if one fell into an open sea and if there are possible sharks lurking around, one should stop moving and remain calm. The open seas akin to our political world and the oppositions are like sharks sensing fear in the water and once the blood is spilled, an entire army will follow. Confidence is everything even if we are wrong, just deny everything.
That explains why we never have statements like I am sorry I was wrong about floods which come only once in every 50 years or I apologise for losing billions of our taxpayers monies. But instead we have, I stand corrected or it was an honest mistake, let's move on.
There has to be a reasonable explanation into why some decisions are made and ended up badly. But should we then have to explain everything? Would it be hard to make any decisions at all; or would it end up worse once confidence in others have been shook? This appearance of being strong possibly came about when one has been living in an ivory tower or has been in power for far too long.
If we acknowledge the fact that noone is perfect and we all are allowed to make wrong decisions, it might be easier to swallow and let live. Some national policies or even a house purchase might fall short of perfect. One can never know of the timing, one can never be cock sure about everything. That is how fallible mere mortals are. We are not Gods, and even Gods make mistakes. There is why we have to acknowledge why it is necessary to have a 2-party rule. Democracy is necessary in our government, and even more so in our daily lives. Perhaps sometimes, we have been happily living in our own ivory tower by ourselves for far too long; sometimes we forget that someone of equal or even higher calibre exists and comes along. We have to learn to consult, to draw an optimal between too much or too little consulting so as to make reasonable quick decisions on important issues akin to government decisions being made on a national level in Singapore compared to let's say USA which has too many layers of approvals needed. Obama has to fight through the Senate, the Congress, the House of Representatives; Supreme Courts, Federal Courts etc... It might take years just to implement policies to tackle social reforms which is much needed now.
Democracy doesn’t only have to be about big things, it can be about small things too. And I acknowledge Team A doesn't know everything and I welcome Team B into my life..the beginning of a beautiful albeit a possible tumultuous journey. I stand corrected.
