The oligarchs are stronger than ever CPT (NS) BRANDON Two significant events happened this year. Firstly, there was a purge in the cabinet. Though the hardcore oligarch loyalists WKS and MBT were kicked out (they had to be), the real purge took place against GY, LBH, RL, Zainul and GCT. This completes the work that was started in 2006, when Tan Soo Khoon, Tan Cheng Bock and Wang Kai Yuen were retired. Secondly, TCB narrowly failed in his bid to upset the elite oligarchy's apple cart to at least wrest one national institution from their grasp. He failed because the invisible hand that controls Singapore decided to create a four-cornered contest to give the illusion of democracy, but which actually served only to make TJS a lightning rod for opposition votes, thus denying TCB the chance to win. Every institution in Singapore is now under the control of Singapore's own version of the Illuminati. Government - LHL President - TT Temasek - Ho Ching GIC - LHL, LKY The cabinet is now staffed with more hardcore loyalists than ever, with the likes of Shanmugam being promoted to high office. Besides that, we also have Lawrence Wong (ex-PPS to LHL), Ong Ye Kung (ex-PPS to LHL, who thankfully lost), Khaw Boon Wan (ex-PPS to LKY), Gan Kim Yong (ex-PPS to whoever) and of course Tin Pei Ling (wife of LHL's current PPS). There is also Grace Fu, whose father James Fu was LKY's loyal press secretary, and Ong Teng Koon, whose father was LKY's infamous underground 'fixer'. Most notably there are no moderates or reformists left. Vivian has sold his soul to the dark side after finding that resistance was futile. Tharman, as good a man as he may be, is beholden to LHL for saving his arse. Ng Eng Hen has been described as being a mini-LKY. Teo Chee Hean also has blood ties with OCBC and by extension, our new President. It's all one big incestuous orgy. Anyone who is on the outer circle is just treading carefully because they know that one wrong step could ruin their career. The likes of Gan Kim Yong, Lim Hng Kiang, Lim Swee Say and S Iswaran are just studious and obedient bureaucrats who do as they're told. The likes of Chan Chun Sing, Inderjit Singh, Irene Ng, Cynthia Phua and Josephine Teo on the other hand are just zealots who think that by loudly parroting what their bosses are saying, it will endear them to the elite oligarchy and pave the way to higher office. Singapore needs more TCBs - people from the inside, but who are brave enough to stand up to whatever they perceive as wrong.. even if it means ruffling a few powerful feathers. The only hopes? I am thinking that the only people who even have the slightest chance of standing up for their conscience are George Yeo, Tan Chuan Jin and to a much smaller extent Lily Neo, Denise Phua and Heng Swee Keat (even though he was also ex-PPS to LKY) Thoughts? https://www.sammyboy.com/threads/the-oligarchs-are-stronger-than-ever.100388/