Why China got rich and India didn't • Hacker News Board

Re: Why China got rich and India didn't

#81

Post by amai » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 7:19 PM UTC

ifwinterco wrote: post #61

This site is very US-centric so people don’t want to hear this, but “democracy” is not necessarily the best form of government for a nation. Obviously in the case of India and China there are other factors at play, but for me this is the elephant in the room

A benevolent dictatorship is probably more effective. However most dictatorships are not benevolent. And once you have voted for a benevolent dictator you can't get rid of him anymore if he stops being benevolent. So a dictatorship is always a trap in the long term.

Re: Why China got rich and India didn't

#82

Post by amai » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 7:26 PM UTC

tldr; China has more educated slaves.

Re: Why China got rich and India didn't

#83

Post by s1artibartfast » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 8:47 PM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #74

yoavm wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you elaborate? What's unique about the nations for which democracy isn't the best form of government? What's unique about their people? And is it still relevant to call the view that democracy _is_ the best form of government a "US-centric" idea, considering that the current US seems to not be concerned about (and sometimes even embrace) non-democratic powers, in-land and around the world? If anything, it sounds…

> What's unique about the nations for which democracy isn't the best form of government? What's unique about their people? It’s the other way around. Countries that are well suited to democracy are the exception. You need to have a state, rule of law, etc., before you have democracy. Then you need generations of people socialized in the ideas that allow democratic societies to function. For example, in many places in…

Bottom up self governance is also very foreign to modern americans, Which I do not think bodes well for the future of our democracy. How can the public be expected to be sober judges of policy and candidates, when they can barely manage their own time and attention.

Re: Why China got rich and India didn't

#84

Post by rayiner » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 10:50 PM UTC

s1artibartfast wrote: post #83

rayiner wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's unique about the nations for which democracy isn't the best form of government? What's unique about their people? It’s the other way around. Countries that are well suited to democracy are the exception. You need to have a state, rule of law, etc., before you have democracy. Then you need generations of people socialized in the ideas that allow democratic societies to function. For example, in many places in…

Bottom up self governance is also very foreign to modern americans, Which I do not think bodes well for the future of our democracy. How can the public be expected to be sober judges of policy and candidates, when they can barely manage their own time and attention.

You’re not wrong. Gen Z brings their parents to interviews. How can they self govern? I’m pessimistic—I think the the de tocqueville model of democracy may have been a local optimum that’s no longer viable given changed conditions.