Now that elections are coming, and for me personally, the first time I can finally vote since reaching adulthood. I live in an area where, in past elections, the default mode was “walkover”.

For the first time in years, we finally have candidates from ruling party as well as opposition contesting this sacred area. That piqued my interest a little. Now, friends of mine know I generally am apathetic to 2 things – religion and politics. Why I don’t normally touch these 2 topics is because there is no way to win. You have your opinions and you will not be swayed by “proof”, or lack thereof, in these 2 topics. As a quick example on religion – you can’t prove the existence of God, nor can you disprove it. No one knows for sure, with concrete, measurable evidence, whether God exists or he does not exist.

In the same way in politics, or at least as far as Singapore goes. The ones in power usually say things like they have a track record, the opposition are untried and untested etc etc. TRUE, I agree! But, if you don’t get the opposition in, how will they have a track record? How can they be battle-tested?

Then there is this phrase, which has been used in the past but I never thought much about till now. That is “alternative government”. The ruling party has always challenged the opposition to do this, ie form an alternative government, to prove they are sincere and have the capability.

Now, without going to consult dictionaries and other references, what does “alternative government” mean to you, the general layman?

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