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A diverse society may not be able to agree on what is important for the community. Most societies can agree on basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. However, they might disagree on other aspects of what societies need, especially if it is diverse. Most importantly, as society has limited resources, it would be impossible to meet the needs and interests of everyone. For example, there were many disagreements when the Singapore government was deciding on whether to drill through the Central Catchment Reserve while building the Cross Island MRT line. Nature groups petitioned the government to construct the Cross Island line along the Reserve’s perimeter so as to protect the natural ecosystem of the reserve. However, many consumers and people living along the boundary wanted the rail to go through the reserve as it would make travel faster, and not impact on the properties along the perimeter of the nature reserve. Thus, it is not easy to decide what is good for society.

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Even if society agrees on what is essential, they might not concur on what is more critical. As different people have different needs, they have different priorities. These priorities depend on their age, gender, income level and individual preferences. The priority of a successful middle-class man with a family will be very different from the priority of an old lady who lives alone, and has very little income. For example, a survey found that people who earn below $5,000 per month have different priorities than others who make above $5,000. This disparity is because the person who earns below $5,000 per month might find private housing unaffordable and is more concerned with public housing policies. On the other hand, the more affluent person might stay in private accommodation and is not affected much by public housing policies. He is, instead, more concerned with public healthcare. Both believe that public housing and public healthcare are essential to society but rank their priorities differently. Thus, different people with different priorities make it hard to decide what is good for society.

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One challenge in deciding what is good for society is unequal sharing of costs. Whenever the government decides on a policy or provides benefits, not everyone gains equally. Sometimes, one part of society might have to lose out for the majority to benefit. This is because resources are finite, and the government has to weigh the tradeoffs of any policy it implements or help it provides. For example, when the Singapore government built the Thompson Line, some property owners along the proposed line had to sell their homes or shops to the government. Thus, they had to find new places to live or to do their business. In addition, those living above the proposed tunnels have to put up construction noise and pollution during construction. However, the rest of Singapore will enjoy the connectivity and convenience Thompson Line brings when it is completed. Hence, one challenge is that not everyone will benefit equally.

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Having good leadership is important for the good of society. Good leadership will steer the country in the right direction of economic prosperity and growth. Good leaders need to make decisions for people’s benefit, not based on their self-interest. As such, they need to be honest, capable and have good moral character. Good leaders need to make correct decisions, even if they might not be popular. Making wise choices leads to an increased sense of confidence towards the country, ensuring people can work together and prosper as a nation. With political and social stability, it will be attractive to investors, resulting in more investment in the country and promoting economic growth that meets the needs of the people, such as employment. For instance, under the capable leadership of our first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew and his team, Singapore grew into a developed country. Mr Lee was not afraid of making unpopular decisions, if he knew that it help Singapore further its goals. He also emphasised the need for the leaders of Singapore to be incorruptible and have good moral values. He emphasised the importance of selecting leaders and tested each person thoroughly before allowing them to hold position in the Singapore government. Therefore, having good leadership is important in working for the good of society.

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Anticipating change and staying relevant is essential for the good of society. By anticipating change and staying relevant, the government prepares for future challenges and leverages potential opportunities; they can develop policies to maximise potential opportunities and minimise challenges before it is too late. This principle is essential as the globalised world changes rapidly and countries face a lot of competition. Being able to navigate the rapidly changing world will help the country develop and prosper. For example, the building of Integrated Resorts (IR) in Singapore created tension because the economic benefits and social costs were difficult to resolve. The building of the IR would help solve the problem of the underperforming tourist industry. Thus, Singapore would stay relevant, bringing in economic benefits like jobs and higher tourist spending. On the other hand, having the IR might bring about problems, like gambling addiction. The government anticipated this and placed an entry fee for Singapore citizens to enter the casinos. It also set up the National Council of Problem Gambling to help educate the public on gambling. This has helped to minimise the problem of gambling. Therefore, anticipating change and staying relevant is vital in working for the good of society.

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Providing a stake for everyone is essential in working for the good of society. Providing a stake for everyone means that everyone feels a sense of belonging to the country. The government could provide a platform for people to voice their views. As a result, the government hears and values their opinions in certain decisions, allowing for discussions as people take ownership over the country’s future. The people would also own a part of the country, thus establishing ownership. As a result, people are more willing to contribute to the country’s progress and work with the government to decide how to develop the country. For example, the Public Housing Scheme and the Central Provident Fund strengthen the sense of belonging of citizens through homeownership, enabling all Singaporeans to own a home regardless of their financial status. Because Singaporeans own a home in Singapore, they would be rooted in the country and be more willing to work for the good of Singapore. Therefore, providing stake for everyone is essential in working for the good of society.

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Meritocracy is essential in working for the good of society. Singapore practices meritocracy. It is a system that distributes opportunities to enable future successes. This system rewards people according to their effort rather than race, religion, or socio-economic background. By practising meritocracy, citizens are motivated to work hard. As a result, talents are recognised and duly rewarded. Thus, people will be more motivated to contribute to society, and Singapore can achieve economic and social progress. For example, the Ministry of Education awards students who perform well in their studies and CCA to help them excel further in their education. The Edusave Scholarship and Merit Bursary schemes reward the top 10% and 25% of school students, respectively. This encourages Singaporean students to work hard as they know that they would gain the rewards for performing well. This system is practised widely throughout Singapore society, and encourages people to work to their best, and contribute to society. Therefore, practising meritocracy is essential in working for the good of society.

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Due to the klimited resources available, a decision making process is required to ensure that more people will be able to benefit from these decisions.
One example is in 2014, the government has to make a decision to acquire land previously used for other purposes to bulild a Thompson-East coast line. The new line is expected to serve about half a million commuters daily initially and a million commuters after a few years. However, the trade-off of this decision caused a decrease in land space that can be used for other purposes such as industrial or recreational usage. Hence, the government has to understand the trade-offs or sacrifices that a decision have and make their decision.

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Representative in governments are elected by ciutizens and havbe the political legitimacy to make decisions on behalf of citizens when there are conflicting interests and demands.
When there are conflicting demands, governments are needed to make decisions on what is needed for the country and society. They make laws, implementing them and interpreting and applying them provided by the constitution, and to carry out these functions.