Why can't you compete with a country like Singapore? Aside from very strict regulations on social taboos (being visibly naked through a window, chewing gum, dru

Why can't you compete with a country like Singapore? Aside from very strict regulations on social taboos (being visibly naked through a window, chewing gum, drugs [a superset of each major religious group's preferences]), Singapore functions quite well. They have less than 2% unemployment, they are highly developed, GDP per capita is only slightly lower than the United States, income inequality is fairly high, but absolute poverty is exceedingly rare and mobility is good. Of course, there are cultural differences which would probably get in the way of the U.S. reaching goals like this with such efficiency, but surely Singapore proves that it's possible.