From 4 legs Good to 2 Legs Better

In George Orwell's novel Animal Farm, after the animals overthrew their human oppressors, the pigs who took over the role of running the farm eventually took over the characteristics of their former human masters as well.

And so it is in the realm of human affairs and history has borne this out again and again. It is almost like a self-fulfilling curse, a perverse form of Maslow's theory if you like. The ideological basis that spurred the movements that won independence from colonial masters soon fade away and the people find themselves yet again under the yoke of oppression, only this time from their own kind.

Singapore unfortunately, is no exception. The first generation of leaders fired by the ideals of self determination and control of our own destiny, identified themselves with the people and achieved independence. It was us (the leadership AND people) against them.

In the course of time, this link was broken, almost sub-consciously. This shift in stance from the inclusive us (the leadership and people) to a more corporatist we, the leadership (business owner) and you the people (customer) was so subtle that no one actually noticed it. The 'ape' that walked on all fours had finally evolved into the human walking on two feet. The inclusive political leadership had evolved into a confrontational one.

And this is the evolution of statehood that we find ourselves in today and all the troubles that we face flow from it. The change in stance may have been subtle, but the consequences are anything but. The pioneering leaders may have been prepared to risk everything just for victory, the leaders of today (if you can find them) have very different ideals.

The Mao suit must not only be fur-lined (on the inside), it needs to come with a chauffeur driven limousine. Surprisingly, this isn't the problem. In a meritocratic society, people accept the realities of rewards commensurate with ability and responsibility, even if grudgingly.

The problem is the confrontational link between the leadership and the people. It need not be this way. The stance needs to be re-oriented back to the inclusive us (leadership and people). The present leadership does not appear to even realise this, much less being able to fix it.

Even Mr Lee Kuan Yew, without the counsel of his former colleagues may not be able to fix this, but try he should. Failing which, he may well suffer the fate of President Suharto, living long enough to see all that he and his colleagues have toiled (successfully I might add) fall to pieces.