Many people think that the free market is wonderful. It allows people to work hard, accumulate wealth and improve their standard of living. This is only partly true.
The free market is also a place where the strong exploit the weak and smart, dishonest people get away by cheating the naive. For example, look at the complicated financial instruments introduced by dishonest people to make hundred of million dollars, which led to many ordinary people being financially destroyed. This is the bad aspect of the free market.
As we rebuild the future, we have to find an alternative to the free market. I like to introduce the concept of the "fair market", which has the positive aspects of the free market, but it inclujdes the restraints to prevent cheating and exploitation.
The fair market requires the elected leaders to discharge their responsibilility in looking after the interest of the ordinary people. The leaders cannot just sit by and leave matters to be decided by the "free market". These leaders with a clear vision of what is good for society. They have to embody the values of honesty, fairness, public service and courage.
We also need the people to understand that they have to be more self-less, rather than be selfish or self-centered. This is best explained in the following poem by Martin Niemoller.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Tan Kin Lian
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