51–60 of 104 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Let’s not pretend that China’s laws and norms are comparable to those of the US here, though. Yes, it’s reasonable to be skeptical of all states, but there’s definitely a difference of degree in state overreach.
Simply not true. For every (actual, not just FLG disinfo) overreach of Beijing you can find one for Washington You are more likely to be permanently incarcerated in America than China
This looks impressive, and something we (America) should copy. Man, I can't help wishing that if we had to have a dictator why couldn't it be someone (mostly) reasonable like Lee Kwan Yew.
Just over a week ago, Singapore executed by hanging an intellectually disabled Malaysian man (of Indian descent), Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam. His crime? He was caught trying to import heroin – I think it very likely the traffickers exploited his intellectual disability in order to talk him into becoming a drug mule. In this regard, Singapore is a rather extreme outlier among developed countries – few of which retain…
This looks impressive, and something we (America) should copy. Man, I can't help wishing that if we had to have a dictator why couldn't it be someone (mostly) reasonable like Lee Kwan Yew.
Just over a week ago, Singapore executed by hanging an intellectually disabled Malaysian man (of Indian descent), Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam. His crime? He was caught trying to import heroin – I think it very likely the traffickers exploited his intellectual disability in order to talk him into becoming a drug mule. In this regard, Singapore is a rather extreme outlier among developed countries – few of which retain…
My great uncle, at one point, was heroin addict who was trying to get his life together. After he came out of rehab, his old "friends" tracked him down to convince him to get back into the game. The first hit they gave him put his body into shock (he had been clean for weeks), and rather than call an ambulance they propped him up against a tree and left him to die.
I do agree that the most recent case was a bit different as the guy was clearly exploited, but is 1-2 executions a year really worse than tens of thousands of lives being destroyed by drugs?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just over a week ago, Singapore executed by hanging an intellectually disabled Malaysian man (of Indian descent), Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam. His crime? He was caught trying to import heroin – I think it very likely the traffickers exploited his intellectual disability in order to talk him into becoming a drug mule. In this regard, Singapore is a rather extreme outlier among developed countries – few of which retain…
I am also against the death penalty. But I am for consistency. It does not sound like a clear-cut case of injustice to me, and I am quite sensitive to injustice. Any compassion the state shows is a lie to cover for discretionary enforcement, which is a pernicious type of corruption. It truly sounds like a tragic case. If Mr. Dharmalingam was unable to understand the risks he was taking, then clearly he needed more gu…
He was Malaysian. The cops probably know who sent him and let the guys go in exchange for a shiny watch.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel dictators/autocrats come in two flavors. The first genuinely feel they know what is best for the country and how to best govern it. They might still enrich themselves and their cronies in the process of course. The second are primarily out to enrich themselves and their cronies. The country exists to support this selfish goal. Of course this is not black and white, but rather a spectrum but various historical…
And history repeatedly shows that even if you get a dictator of the first kind, it’s an unstable equilibrium of a system that eventually leads to a dictator of the second kind.
The only reason the PAP is still in power is because Singaporeans don't want to get rid of them.
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the road to hell is paved with good intentions let not forget SG is a sort of single party system with no real freedom of press.
And that’s a big part of why their country is wealthy and successful while their neighboring countries are disasters.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
And that’s a big part of why their country is wealthy and successful while their neighboring countries are disasters.
Korea and Japan rose from the ashes (Japan having lost WWII after their imperialist ambitions failed) in the same amount of time. Korea had a dictatorship or sorts but Japan didn't, but unless I'm mistaken, neither government was as autocratic (and still is) like the PAP is today.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Let’s not pretend that China’s laws and norms are comparable to those of the US here, though. Yes, it’s reasonable to be skeptical of all states, but there’s definitely a difference of degree in state overreach.
Simply not true. For every (actual, not just FLG disinfo) overreach of Beijing you can find one for Washington You are more likely to be permanently incarcerated in America than China
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The qualifications of most people in politics are not nearly as good in the US. In the US, the private sector eats the public sector and leaves very few high quality candidates behind.
I believe that's precisely why the SG government choose to pay extremely well. They gain candidates with great credentials that otherwise will have gone to the private sector. Also, having well compensated staff makes the ranks less susceptible to corruption and bribery.