Originally posted by idwar:
Americans are basically ignorant about world affairs.
Even their elites cannot understand the non-American mind.
They think everone in the world think like they do, loves democracy and freedom of speech, equality, non-discrimation, separation of Church and State etc
Well- they are wrong.
It's time someone told them that even dogs are different- an Alsation does not behave like a Pekinese.........sure they can mate.......but they are a world apart in the mental makeup.....so don't run the world the American way. you can only find success with wannabe states like Singapore......
I agree that democracy is not perfect as people running the system can hijack democracy to suit their own political ends.
Singapore started as a Westminister democracy but look at what happened to its democratic instituions e.g. election, freedoms of speech, doings of many things in the name of democracy (jacking up costs to pay high salaries to civil servants and ministers with only self-approval) etc.
If Singapore has succeeded only in the manner as it has pursued by taxing double on land (paid for by public fund and charged back to people at full market values) and triple taxing on vehicles (excise, COE, ERP) costing citizens averagely S$500,000 - S$800,000 all the working-class citizens will die of economic depravation. Is this kind of society where 90% of citizens are bonded or enslaved to their highest mortgage debt called a success in the true sense of success.
Well leaders have claimed using their controlled press and publicity machinery that they have succeeded. Not quite if there is a genuine election yet. Right now people cannot vote (only 42 % have voted) due to control of election participation under GRC and electoral boundary redrawing with all seats going to one-party to perpetuate one-party rule.
Democracy has given the advanced countries good lives with citizens actively checking on government leaders and implementation of policies including many Asian countries like Japan, Korea etc. Even Mahathir admitted that other than democracy there is no political system that will give proper check and balances. Theocracy is one that will be led by only a few as well who reads or knows the religious texts.
Unfortunately it is liable to abuse and tweaking to suit one-party or autocratic rule. If duly recognized and safeguards against current wrong doings and shortcomings introduced, demoracy should continue to do well for Singapore and the rest of the world.