Could someone briefly explain about all political parties in Singapore? Thanks!

Politics in Singapore is basically divided between the PAP and the various opposition parties. IMO the only one worth paying attention to is the WP, the rest come and go.

Anyway, here's a brief and highly biased rundown on what I think:

PAP

The PAP is our current ruling party. They've been in charge of Singapore since independence, transformed it from third-world to first, blah blah blah and so on. This means that the PAP has become synonymous with the civil service and government, so they're very experienced in managing Singapore and are used to having near-absolute control: they want something done, it gets done.

This is both a good and bad thing. On one hand it leads to speed and efficiency - look at Obama and how he's had to struggle just to get things done despite being President; if the PAP wants something, it gets passed almost immediately. So they have the power to push things through and implement policies quickly, even ones that people won't like.

On the other hand this is only good if the PAP is truly acting in the best interests of the country. Most would argue they still are, but some issues that have been raised are:

  • The PAP's paternalistic atittude: they're used to being in charge, they think they know what's best for Singapore, and citizens just have to shut up and listen.
  • Tying in with the above point, a disconnect from the masses. The PAP is formed of the well-educated elite: successful people, top scholars from top schools, Singapore's best economists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc. How would they know what the average Singaporean feels?
  • (Over)-emphasis on economic growth. Singapore's economy has been a huge success and the PAP deserves the credit for this, but is a richer society the same as a a happier one? Keep in mind that many of their most unpopular policies exist due to economic reasons.
  • Wealth distribution. Rising quality of living also means rising costs of living, and while Singapore is growing richer as a whole income inequality is growing wider and wider. Doesn't help that the PAP is perceived as consisting of the top 1% strata of society..

WP

The Worker's Party is the only

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  • Our current ruling party. Has been ruling Singapore since independence, transformed it from third-world to first blah blah blah. The PAP has become THE civil service & government, so they're experienced have near-absolute control: they want something done, it gets done. This is both a good thing and a bad thing: on the good side you don't have to deal with multiple rounds of voting just to pass a bill like it is in the USA, but on the flip side this has also led to some complacency. They're used to being in charge and getting their way.
  • Huge focus on recruiting 'talent': top scholars from top schools, they have the best engineers, economists, doctors, etc. Well-educated and successful people, which unfortunately means that as a group they're kinda disconnected from the masses.
  • Huge focus on

Strengths:

  • Experienced. Has been ruling Singapore since independence, transformed it from third-world to first, blah blah blah
  • Most qualified: top scholars from top schools: engineers, economists, doctors, etc
  • The PAP has basically become THE public service and government, so they have absolute control: don't have to go through ridiculous systems like in the US where everything has to go through multiple rounds of voting and stuff like that
  • This is more of an opinion, but I think the PAP is overall well-meaning in that they want the best for Singapore

Weaknesses:

  • Complacency. They're used to being in charge and getting their way

- Disconnected from the masses: a side effect of being a group of largely educated and successful people with a huge focus on economic growth

WP:

Strengths:

  • They're not total idiots like the rest of the opposition parties. Generally have been pretty smart with recruiting and policies.

Weaknesses:

  • They still have some idiots that say stupid things.
/r/singapore Thread