Worrying about the Elite in their Ivory Towers

After a hiatus due to finals, I'm back. With 3 more finals in 2 days. (This is a break)

I recently had a very interesting MSN chat with a Singaporean friend here at Cal. We talk about a variety of controversial issues, some of which we didn't see eye to eye with, but there was one issue which we did. And frankly, I'm glad he saw it too.

Look at the scholars around you. Look at the people around you. Don't you find that people all mix in the same circles? People from top schools always end up meeting people from top schools. Its when we find out that our friend A also knows B, our other friend, that we realize how small our social circle is.

Its worrying though. These "elite" are usually the ones who get government scholarships (quite a large number too). SO they are the ones who will be groomed to be the leaders of Singapore, the ones to make public policy work for the people. But then we have to step back and ask " WHO are the 'people'?" Most of Singapore consists of people who are from backgrounds that are very different from the "elite". The kids go to polytechnics and ITE, the average singaporean lives in a 3-4 BR flat, travels to Malaysia for holiday etc, nv been further than Malaysia/Australia.This is of course a generalization but I"m just trying to bring my point across. Most of Singapore goes to meighborhood schools. And the REST oF Singaporean chinese speak chinese on a regular basis, not English.

But guess whos going to make policy that will change and influence these people's lives? The "elite", who have experienced very little of this because their social circle is usually limited. How many "elite" have friends from neighborhood schools who are in gangs, or ended up in ITE. Or are glad they managed to get into a poly? How can "elite" make policy when they don't know nuts about the people they make policy for? Don't forget the ex Health Minister who actually said that if women could spend $50 on a haircut, they should be able to spend $50 on a mammogram and there was no need for the govt to pay for it. Case in point.