Deciding What Is Good Fir Society

Question 1

Differing needs & interests & Why it is challenging to decide

Answer 1

Eg:
- 2020. PMD were banned
- Ppl w/o PMDs benefitted , safer to walk along sidewalks
- GRAB food delivery ppl upset as they depended on PMDs for source of income
- PMD are an interest, not a basic need
-> Will have disagreements
——
WHY CHALLENGE?
- Diverse society -> Many diff needs & interests
- Govt must carefully identify diff needs & interests of society as a whole
- Need to ensure that the majority will benefit
-> govt responsibility to look after all citizens

Question 2

Managing Trade-offs & how it is challenging

Answer 2

Definition: Making decision between 2 or more things that **can’t be obtained at the same time **. So the best choice has to be made to benefit the majority
——
Eg:
- 2013. Announcement of Cross Island MRT line
- Planned to pass thru **Central Catchment Nature Reserve **
- Predicted to serve 600 000 ppl daily & over 1 million in the long run
—-
- BUT environmentalist upset
-> as line would go thru natural reserve & disrupt wildlife
- damaged fragile ecosystems in CCNR & Macritchie
——
AT THE SAME TIME
- Skirting around the nature reserves would mean extra $2 billions from ppl’s taxes
- & MRT is already a more environmentally friendly mode of transport compared to cars
——
- Govt research

Question 3

4 principles of governance

Answer 3

1 Staying relevant & anticipating change
2 good leadership
3
4 Practising meritocracy

Question 4

Anticipating Change and staying relevant

Answer 4

Eg:
- 2019 Former PM Lee Hsien Loong spoke @ National Day Rally impact of global warming in SG
——
- Govt take early & vital action
- 2020 Govt set aside $5 billion for The Coastal and Flood Protection Fund
- so SG can tackle more significant risks of rising sea levels
——
HENCE Imp ->
- Planning ahead allows govt to allocate enough resources to tackle serious issues that need long term solutions