InnocentMind SG What makes a country democractic and makes it an initial minor dictatorship. PLease post your general views.
robertteh SG If we go by the international opinions, Singapore is far from democratic. It has been generally known as benign or benevolent dictatorship. Where do we go from here? We are now at a cross road having to re-position the past economic model to one that has to compete with fiercer competitions from China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, an improving Japan and rejuvenating Europe. It would be common sense and simple logic that if all our talents so far cannot lead us to the next level of competitiveness, we will then have to mobilize our 4 millions citizens and our younger populations to give of their best through mass participation and practical knowledge application. Many ordinary people have practical knowledge and given the right motivation in work places they will contibute beneficially. What are the constraints? Too much controls, regulations and top-down management due to over-emphasis of the past on leaders or a few scholar talents under confucianist philosophy for political purpose. Persistent top-down control system will continue to stifle creativity, entrepreneurship and mass participation. The practical solution is to open up and liberlize and motivate all citizens to compete in knowledge application. Knowledge application will not happen until works are planned so as to involve all to be more participative. Some moderation of elitism are taking place and are welcome but it is not clear whether this will be sustained. Much more have to be done to eliminate the overwhelming impact of top management practices still affecting all.
apollo861 SG its a republic, i think. democratic? ha. i have yet to see any actual voting on ISSUES. than on "who will be our next benign leader" and even then we don't have much of a choice.
sgdiehard SG A republic based on a democratic system, run by a benevolent dictatorship with a twist of monarchial governance.
Blueray SG What's disturbing is that while we may have a democratic system, yet our democratically elected government has a monopoly of power which controls every facet of life to the point of rooting out any hint of dissent. All this is done in accordance with the law and of course the govt makes those laws. Like YaoRockets said, we are a dictatorship masqueraded as a democracy.
Nelstar SG This is a joke. Singapore is not a dictatorship because a dictatorship means ONE party, all opposition squashed by the law. That means any other form of party or organisation is not welcomed. Thus, it means no voting at all. It means if you oppose you die. Think before you say.
oldbreadstinks SG ahaha sorry but i didn't get your point i was just thinking that it still seems like LKY's still in charge
RuffRider SG Singapore is definitely not a democratic society. We don’t even have freedom of speech. That must be true, cos we all mascarade in this forum to speak our minds. The government changes the constitution as it pleases, thru voting of course, just not ours. Usually, if the governemtn wants to change the constitution of the country, it usually has to put forth a referendum to all the people. Not in Singapore’s case. Things happen and we only get to know about it when we get screwed for non-compliance.
goh meng seng SG Dear Nelstar, It is technically wrong to say that dictartorship means only one party and all opposition squashed. In China, few people know that there actually exist a couple of "democratic" political parties, formed prior to Communist Party took power back in 1949. They were left to exist and even given seats in the people's representation congress. Goh Meng Seng
pikamaster SG from wikipedia: ...more accurate to describe it as authoritharian capitalist. the pikamaster
