Straw poll of young voters in a rainstorm

A letter written to The Straits Times by a member of a public, essentially saying that 4 out of 6 people in a straw poll would vote the PAP due to its ability to deliver the material needs to Singaporeans.
http://www.asiaone.com/st/st_20060417_385874.html

Couple of thoughts:

Firstly, this must be the worst straw poll/interview ever conducted that is newsworthy. According to the writer, a group of senior citizens, stuck in a rainstorm at P. Ubin proceeded to ask 6 young people who would they vote and why. While I shall not doubt the authenticity of the event, any thinking person would tell you that interviewing 6 people on their take on political issues - and esp. on who will they vote - is akin to almost saying nothing. Interesting why ST even chosed to carry the report...

More interestingly is the statement, "But for the time being, as far as the young are concerned, life is all about making a living and achieving the five Cs, and not about freedom, democracy or the need for an opposition". I'm not sure how many people would agree with that (to me, it says more about the author than the youngsters he spoke to), but if that is indeed the case - then our situation is indeed quite deplorable.

I would agree with MM Lee's take on the relevance of politics on bread-and-butter issues. Politics certainly includes these issues, but our elder statesperson is wrong to say that is all there is. When is life ever all about "men living on bread alone"?

Unfortunately, the opposition parties here - by their rhetoric - are simply playing into the same ball-game without actually challenging the assumptions that govern the PAP's rule. As Ellul pointed out (albeit in a slightly different context), both Communists and Liberals are actually arguing on the same side of the fence (in their advocacy of progress). My question: Based on whose standards?

As far as I see it, the modernist progress view that the older generation of Singaporeans are well-versed in is due for a shockwave. As the cost of sustaining material success becomes increasingly more difficult to pay ane people become more difficult to please, one's allegiance (to a political system) will be called into question.
This is not to say that the young will necessarily revolt against the system, but rather, social trends will increasingly affirm that the comfortable-life does not equate with the good-life. The "disenchantment with modernity" is likely to go on...