Very interesting essay! Thank you. I particularly enjoyed reading Lee's quotes. I don't know if I was more astonished to learn Ashkenazi Jews are far more accomplished than Sephardi Jews or that Singapore is such an unhappy place. I wonder what time of year Gallup conducted the survey?
I visited Singapore briefly back in the 80s - had a Sling at Raffles, of course - and noted the robotic urgency of shopaholics scurrying around. Everybody was sweating and shopping. I prefer Bangkok.
Commuted on NYC subways for school and work for 25 years. Being able to go for a walk at any hour to enjoy the cool evening air without fear of being slugged by a random "diverse person" would provide enough "positive emotions" for me. If cultural boredom is a problem, that's a high quality problem I'd like to have.
The two most successful countries in Europe lately are Monaco and Lichtenstein. Both still have powerful unelected monarchs. The Prince of Monaco is lazy and stupid, yet Monaco is a wealthy paradise. Compare to how screwed up the democracies are, that is if they really are democracies and there is no voter fraud,
Excellent article on the impact the Lee Kuan Yew had on Singapore. It shows an example of what a determined individual can accomplish when they strive towards a goal without flinching, and the results he achieved are proof.
Throughout my military career I was fortunate to visit Singapore on several occasions. The reputation of it being an authoritarian dystopia are severely overblown, as almost anyone who has been there can attest. Are the streets and neighborhoods extremely clean? Yes. Is there also a trash receptacle posted nearly every 20 feet? Yes as well. The metropolis displays all the indications of how a successful nation can prosper.
The greatest thing about Singapore is how it just WORKS.
The rule of law is upheld and the citizens understand their duties and the consequences of failing those said duties.
Interestingly, when the Nazis invaded Eastern Europe they did not oppress the Karaite Jews in Crimea, exempting 70,000 from persecution; they believed that a Jewish sect that adhered to the Torah but not the Talmud was not a threat: https://jewishcurrents.org/january-512-karaites-and-the-nazis
Very interesting essay! Thank you. I particularly enjoyed reading Lee's quotes. I don't know if I was more astonished to learn Ashkenazi Jews are far more accomplished than Sephardi Jews or that Singapore is such an unhappy place. I wonder what time of year Gallup conducted the survey?
I visited Singapore briefly back in the 80s - had a Sling at Raffles, of course - and noted the robotic urgency of shopaholics scurrying around. Everybody was sweating and shopping. I prefer Bangkok.
Commuted on NYC subways for school and work for 25 years. Being able to go for a walk at any hour to enjoy the cool evening air without fear of being slugged by a random "diverse person" would provide enough "positive emotions" for me. If cultural boredom is a problem, that's a high quality problem I'd like to have.
The two most successful countries in Europe lately are Monaco and Lichtenstein. Both still have powerful unelected monarchs. The Prince of Monaco is lazy and stupid, yet Monaco is a wealthy paradise. Compare to how screwed up the democracies are, that is if they really are democracies and there is no voter fraud,
democracy = oligarchy
Yes
Excellent article on the impact the Lee Kuan Yew had on Singapore. It shows an example of what a determined individual can accomplish when they strive towards a goal without flinching, and the results he achieved are proof.
Throughout my military career I was fortunate to visit Singapore on several occasions. The reputation of it being an authoritarian dystopia are severely overblown, as almost anyone who has been there can attest. Are the streets and neighborhoods extremely clean? Yes. Is there also a trash receptacle posted nearly every 20 feet? Yes as well. The metropolis displays all the indications of how a successful nation can prosper.
The greatest thing about Singapore is how it just WORKS.
The rule of law is upheld and the citizens understand their duties and the consequences of failing those said duties.
The benefits of benevolent dictatorship. Like every political system, it will fail one day for any number of reasons.
Very interesting essay.
''and to what extent it wants to choose materialism vs. spirituality''
the abrahamics are anti-spiritual... barring the oft persecuted mystic sects.
Jehovah is equated with the materialist Demiurge according to the gnostics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaldabaoth#Role_in_Gnosticism
Interestingly, when the Nazis invaded Eastern Europe they did not oppress the Karaite Jews in Crimea, exempting 70,000 from persecution; they believed that a Jewish sect that adhered to the Torah but not the Talmud was not a threat: https://jewishcurrents.org/january-512-karaites-and-the-nazis