Transparency versus Trust

Realization comes here and there.


When interacting with another entity/organization/government/etc

• When there is absolute trust, there is an absolute lack of need for any sort of transparency;
  

• When there is absolute lack of trust, there is an absolute need for transparency.

simplified

trust/transparency inverse relationship
==============
0% trust = 100% transparency
100% trust = 0% transparency

Most entities in the world operate somewhere along this continuum.

And when governments lose the trust of their people, the more the people will clamour for greater transparency.

Now if the question is flipped - if the people currently trust the government, wouldn't a call for greater transparency lead to a loss of trust from the people?

Is it a mutual dependency relationship, or a singular dependency relationship? eg, when trust is lost, transparency is needed, but if more transparency is needed, trust is not lost?

paradox of life.

all i know is the ministers look overpaid for what they do; seemingly way way higher than what the recent Straits Times salary survey showed as the mean (only $12,000?).

if we paid everyone according to the 'assets' they take care of,
shouldn't those cleaners who ensure that the shiny buildings are kept clean and safe should therefore be pretty well paid too?

Ministerial pay in Singapore is truly the "golden handcuffs" approach to ensure compliance with someone's reality.


E.o.M.

English? Engrish? or 3ngr15h?

This banner has been hanging along the CTE expressway for more than a year.

The text is fuzzy, but one of them dates it to 2007.

The question is -

who rocks? RAWKZ?
and they are teaching ENGRISH????



'tis sad. Any attempt by an older generation to connect with younger generations must necessarily look foolish and stupid, if not idiotic.

But as a guardian of language and educational institution of the young, to spell it as such is....... unforgivable?

sad.


E.o.M.

when is enough enough?

In response to a comment by an ANON on yawningbread's article on the latest shot to CSJ and sibling.

Not that I believe that all of CSJ's fighting tactics are the best, but since in a war, there can be no winning tactic until after the war is over, I guess this is also my official support declaration for the 'rights that is fighting for.

Where this will bring me next, who knows. Life is getting sociologically unbearable here for those who value thought over mindless obeisance.

When will the ideological war errupt, if there are no reporters willing or able to report it?
oh wait. the Internet. The last great free thought hope.




===============
to Anon: 05 June, 2008 23:35


You believed that "our political system has grown complacent & out-of-touch after nearly 40 years in power."

However, our political system has never been real ever since coherent opposition parties were crushed into near non-existence by iron rule and other tools of government misapplied.

Neither has our political system ever attempted to mature in any sensible way - whether 2 party rule, or coalition rule, or whatever forms it could have taken.

Constitutional change requirements on parliamentary majorities are a joke when one party has virtual control of the constitution, and has the legal right to change it as and when the party sees fit.
(as an addendum to this thought - when can an attack on a political party's ideology ever be constituted as an attack on government, or is that a fallacious question?)

As for the rest of what is happening to Singapore that most Singaporeans seem to be simmering hotly about, I doubt there can be any positive change towards a state for Singaporeans first.

When foreign talent are more attractive to employers than locals (eg: NS obligations etc), we can see what happens to us - HOTEL Singapore, where the majority of the staff are NOT Singaporeans.

As to leaving, I have already decided that one day, my ticket will be validated. And that is the sadness, for I will leave not for the sake of a better life, for I forever will remain born a Singaporean, but for the sake of a freer life.


E.o.M.




===============