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Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

nytimes.com

121–130 of 157 posts

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to look deeper into that. Economically Singapore has been well run, every other way is up for debate.

Every other way is up for debate? We have a good education system, and I would not trade our healthcare system for what you're likely used to; as a gay Singaporean, I have no curtailing of my social freedoms. I cannot marry or adopt legally yet, but that's the conversation that we're soon going to have (and which the "West" has only just recently gotten). The civil service is good. More can be done for the low income…

Well, as a gay Singaporean, I assume you are familiar with section 377A of the penal code that makes having sex or trying to pick up a date punishable by two years in prison? And that your parliament is basically unanimously in favor of retaining it, with overwhelming public support?

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#122
post #82

I haven't been in Singapore and have read very little on why Singapore is so successful. Three of Four Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea) are more democratic/free and equal in prosperity comparing with Singapore. IMHO, a great strategic port and super effective government are probably key reasons that power the its great achievements. I hope people don't consider quasi-dictatorship style of governing th…

I don't see how you can say Hong Kong is more democratic/free. It was a colony, now it's a SAR of PRC, which has been tightening its fingers. The people are certainly more free to protest (for the time being), but their politicians are hand-picked by Beijing. Not really better than Singapore where the administration sets up arbitrary barriers to opposition political activity, and announces elections on short notice while gerrymandering new districts to divide and conquer and pockets of opposition support.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#123
post #119
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there something intrinsically bad about executing illegal arms dealers?

Mandatory execution sees offenders only as their offence, rather than human beings, and denies offenders the opportunity to change for the better. It is cynical and pessimistic.

Treating offenders only as their offence is what most justice systems to to most criminals most of the time. Particularly in the USA, where incarceration is a for-profit business traded on the stock market.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to look deeper into that. Economically Singapore has been well run, every other way is up for debate.

Every other way is up for debate? We have a good education system, and I would not trade our healthcare system for what you're likely used to; as a gay Singaporean, I have no curtailing of my social freedoms. I cannot marry or adopt legally yet, but that's the conversation that we're soon going to have (and which the "West" has only just recently gotten). The civil service is good. More can be done for the low income…

Can't marry legally? Being gay is illegal, although obviously tolerated to a large extent, so that issue is far behind western countries.

You have to realize as a Singaporean you have been exposed to an enormous amount of propaganda (not that other countries aren't, but you are very close to the situation).

Among other things the democracy and elections are a sham as you must know. Opposing candidates can't have any media exposure until a couple of weeks before an election. If a neighborhood votes in an opposition candidate, they lose funding for public transportation etc in their area.

Also there is a lot of crime that goes unreported and unsolved, and you probably know this too. Chinese gangs/mafia violence, loan sharking, and the police spend half their year looking after brothels since they don't work full time throughout the year.

The healthcare system basic cost and access is hugely better than many western countries with clinics scattered into every neighborhood, but the quality is also not nearly on the same level. There are definitely some aspects of it I thought were very refreshing. The medicines prescribed can be ridiculous though.

The list could go on and on. Laws stack up against tenants and are made so landlords can take advantage of them. Agents are unnecessary middle men that could be replaced with simple phone apps but grift large amounts of money from the overall economy.

Basically Singapore is a double edged sword. The financials are managed well in general compared to many other countries. It is not the wonderland people make it out to be, and Singaporeans don't realize the propaganda they've been fed and all the freedoms they don't have. Singapore is so far above all the surrounding south east asian countries though it is easy to see why people get caught up in thinking they are the best at everything since locally the neighboring countries' governments are a joke.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#125

Singapore is in for some seriously interesting times. Lee Kuan Yew did a masterful job of getting Singapore up to speed after independence, but like so many leaders over-identified with their nation, he overstayed his welcome. The Lee family's tentacles are firmly entrenched in the politics and businesses of Singapore, and while I hope they will have the common sense to tolerate the inevitable rise of the opposition…

Oh good god. As a Singaporean (who has worked in the opposition politics no less) I am sick and tired of Chee Soon Juan the megalomaniac who can't get basic economics right, being treated as our saviour. He is not.

Opposition politics in Singapore? Welcome to hell.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I joined because I'm frankly a little amused by some of these comments. More totalitarian: how do you quantify that? I was born and brought up in Singapore and do business in all those countries (tech startup). That sentiment is alien (and not just because I'm Singaporean), it's because Malaysia for example is more totalitarian and is also on the way to becoming a failed state economically and socially. You seem to b…

What a surprise that you are Singaporean, lah.

Stand back people - expert coming through - this guy knows the local lingo.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#127
post #28
post #11

One of the greatest leaders of modern times. Singapore was a backwater country with no natural resources when he came to power. It's since evolved into one of the primary economic hubs in Asia, with a higher per-capita GDP than her former colonizers, Great Britain. To transform a country in such short a time is nothing short of remarkable.

I recently learnt that Kuan Yew fought desperately against the expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia. At the time, he didn't believe Singapore was viable as an independent state. "Every time we look back on this moment when we signed this agreement which severed Singapore from Malaysia, it will be a moment of anguish. For me it is a moment of anguish because all my life ... you see, the whole of my adult life ... I ha…

that is why he is great man. when you are abandoned against you believe is best for your country, he didn't give up and come up with even better solution.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to look deeper into that. Economically Singapore has been well run, every other way is up for debate.

Every other way is up for debate? We have a good education system, and I would not trade our healthcare system for what you're likely used to; as a gay Singaporean, I have no curtailing of my social freedoms. I cannot marry or adopt legally yet, but that's the conversation that we're soon going to have (and which the "West" has only just recently gotten). The civil service is good. More can be done for the low income…

Most people here are ideologically committed to western concepts of freedom. It doesn't matter how good the results are as long as things aren't done their way.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is kind of the equivalent of someone posting something from Breitbart or NYPost and saying "this is real news".

You don't like the source, lah? Take this one instead: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-06/what-retir...

please, don't use "lah" or any other form of Singlish. it's condescending and, worse, embarrassing for you when you get the syntax wrong, as in this case.

Re: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91

#130
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't like the source, lah? Take this one instead: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-06/what-retir...

please, don't use "lah" or any other form of Singlish. it's condescending and, worse, embarrassing for you when you get the syntax wrong, as in this case.

Speak good English lah! And dun worry about my syntax leh.
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