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Friday, May 12, 2006
Singapore Is a First World Democracy
If you don't believe me, just look here. We are ranked, according to World Audit, at 83rd place under 'Democracy Rank'. That is three whole places above Communist rogue state North Korea, which is ranked at 86.
Posted at 02:03 pm by gaylegoh
 | | | Be_Happy
May 18, 2006 10:38 PM PDT
Well, if we look at the brighter side: At least we are better than Malaysia! We could have been worst off if we have not been kicked out of the Malaysian Federation! | |
| | | Dal
May 17, 2006 08:26 AM PDT
Dont believe everything you see on the net..:) Indonesia has more democracy then us? And South Africa where deaths in police custody as a result of excessive force remain a problem ranked 35 and 36 in democracy and press freedom. Hmmm. | |
| | | gayle
May 13, 2006 12:02 AM PDT
Miolnir: Americans voted in George W Bush largely because he made them feel safe from the threat of terrorism, phantom menace or no. A democratic vote placed him back into the government. That's the sad thing about the democratic system sometimes, of course. If 49% of the people are against the war and 51% for it, the 49% will just have to live with it. If 33.4% of the people are against something and 66.6% of them are for it, the 33.4% will just have to live with it too ;)
Edwin: Complete agreement regarding the independent media and independent judiciary; those are two of my foremost concerns about the Singaporean system at the moment. | |
| | | miolnir
May 12, 2006 11:40 PM PDT
hi.
just thought you might be interested in one syrian view
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=24358 | |
| | | miolnir
May 12, 2006 10:44 PM PDT
hi.
no. 14, united states
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/11/AR2006051100539.html
no. 33, israel
http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/docs/UN/OCHA/WBN154.pdf
seeing as internal democracy does not necessarily relate to a democratic foreign policy, would internal democracy or foreign policy be more important?
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| | | Alex
May 12, 2006 06:25 PM PDT
That's great news! THREE places above North Korea! And Press Freedom is at 102! Same as Bhutan and Angola! Who's Angola? | |
| | | Edwin
May 12, 2006 06:10 PM PDT
Dear Gayle, It is heartening to know that the generation is not as apathetic as i thought it would be. Liberal democracy is not something that a state just attains with development, it is an element that the leadership must believe in and want for their people.
Freedom House has also got another table just like yours, you can take a look at that as well. If you are truly interested in the fundamentals of democratization, take a look beyond the elitism and criticism flourishing around yourself think about why liberal democracy is not taking place in a nation like Singapore.
Institutions such as the civil bureaucracy, military, judiciary and the press have to be free and uninfluenced from any political decision. That is something easier said than done. If the current leadership do not take steps towards such a direction, numerous amounts of blogs will have little or no impact since they know that Singaporeans will not gather to openly protest unless they have nothing to lose, or nothing left to lose by doing so.
The battle for 'hearts and minds' have been won this time around by the opposition, but the ruling party has always won the 'mouths and stomachs' battle. What can be done about that?
The government has already opened up in terms of having a liberal society as compared to even as recently as 5 years ago. The consequence has been debates such as these taking place in the media and cyberspace. Like you, i wish that if a true democracy and not just an electoral democracy will take place in the near future.
We as Singaporeans are sick and tired of being the brunt of comments from the foreign media being oppressed and terrorised by our own government. Let's hope that civil society can fluorish online and truly bring about a national consciousness within our people.
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