Youth apathy. When I saw this topic, the first thing that came to my mind was the political activeness of the youths in both China and USA, a topic that we have been focusing for almost half of term 1. From the lessons, I came to realize that there are many factors which tend to affect the interests of the youth in politics.
I do not really know of how far I am interested in politics. However, I am definitely less apathetic than the Chinese youths today, who are totally uninterested in politics. However, if you consider not watching the rallies live and staying up late for the results of general elections as apathetic, then I am an apathetic youth indeed, and I believe that more than half of the youths in Singapore today are very much like me too.
Many for instance, would point their fingers at education for this situation. They would argue that education made the youths today believe less in politics, and have less faith in it. However, to be frank, education has taught me a lot about the political situation in Singapore, at least through it I know that Singapore’s political leaders need to be able to persist with policies which are for the greater good of the country even if it is greatly criticized by the public and many more. Through education, I got to learn more about politics and through it get engaged in politics where we need to conduct research and learn more about politics.
I believe that the most important factor which results in the youth apathy in Singapore is due to the political situation in Singapore herself, which is pretty much similar to the case for China. In China, the youths have no interest in politics as China is a communists country, where the people play no part in choosing who they want to serve them, as ultimately, even though it may seem that they are given the chance to vote, things are always done in the back scene with money, where the ultimate winner is the person who offers the highest price for the position. The ruling party also has a very big say in it as they can deny someone his position if they feel like it. Hence, the people see no need to participate in politics.
Similarly in Singapore, the People’s Action Party (PAP) has been in power since Singapore’s independence. Singapore is a democratic country, where the people are given a chance to vote for who they think should be in government. The people are forced to participate in the general elections and if they do not turn up for the voting, they will be unable to vote again in future elections and if they wish to vote gain, they will have to pay a fine of $50. To me, I personally feel that when you impose a rule, it is because you know that something bad is happening and you need to stop it. For example, late-comers in school will be punished because people tend to come late to school; robbery is a crime and will be punished for; drink driving is illegal and one will be jailed for it and so on. All these laws are put in place because all these tend to happen and hence there is a need to stop these things from happening. One does not simply pluck an apple for fun, he plucks it to eat it or sell it. Nothing is done for no reason. All these show us that there is this political apathy in Singapore and hence this law is passed to make people show up and vote.
Also like China, Singapore’s economy is also in a very stable state and the majority of the people are living a life of comfort. Hence, there is nothing that they desperately needs to see a change in hence unlike the youths in USA who are faced with high unemployment rates, the Singapore youth have not much to worry about as the government is doing a good job in ensuring that they have a bright future which contributes to the apathy of the youth in Singapore. The youths in Singapore are able to receive good education since young, where all are given an equal chance to primary schools, secondary schools and then to their pre-university studies. The government is doing a good job in crafting the lives of the youths and hence they see no need in changing the government which results in the apathy.
In conclusion, I do not think that I am an apathetic youth when it comes to politics as I do watch out for political news when general election comes.
