masterwordsmith-unplugged

This is Part 3 of my Monay rant on the deplorable state of affairs in education.

Thanks to Encik Kassim who sent me the following post on The COW AND THE ICE CREAM which is possibly one of the best theories as to how change might not happen if voters do not think carefully about the bigger picture when they go to the polls. Apparently, this was sent to him by a teacher. I have edited it a bit...

Here goes...

"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching year 3 students.

The last Parliamentary election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.

I decided we would have an election for a class captain.

We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote. To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.

We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have. We got many nominations and from those, Mat and Salleh were picked to run for the top spot.

The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.

I thought Mat might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.

I had never seen Salleh's parents.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.

Mat went first.

He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.

Everyone applauded and he sat down.

Now is was Salleh's turn to speak.

His speech was concise.

He said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." 

He sat down.

The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."

He surely would say more. He did not have to.

A discussion followed.

How did he plan to pay for the ice cream?

He wasn't sure.

But no one pursued that question. They took him at his word. (which is exactly what is happening in our own backyard because many don't bother to think, question, analyze or to challenge.)

Would his parents buy it or would the class pay for it...He didn't know.

The class really didn't care.

All they were thinking about was ice cream...

Mat was forgotten. Salleh won by a landslide.

Every time leaders opened their mouth they offered ice cream and many Malaysian voters reacted like nine year old's.

They wanted ice cream.

The rest of the voters knew they were going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."

Leaders from BOTH sides have promised us different types of ice-cream except one side has access to more $$$ than the other. So if people do not think and vote only based on their responses to offers, what will happen to Malaysia?

Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone that they have not first taken away from someone else.

How many of us will be voting for the ice cream?


That my friend, is how labour got elected last time! I hope not many!

In the past, they comprised hose who wanted everything free or preferred to be free riders as and when it suited them.

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again

Anon

Part 1 of this series of rants about the impact of the deplorable state of affairs in education is AT THIS LINK.

Click here for PART 2: Laugh now, cry later. Serious!