> Your idea of "well governed" seems to have an awful lot to do with lacking in things that ruffle feathers and make people uncomfortable. You mean things like

> Your idea of "well governed" seems to have an awful lot to do with lacking in things that ruffle feathers and make people uncomfortable. You mean things like crime, disease, decay, unsafe conditions, corruption, bureaucracy, and waste? Yeah, those ruffle my feathers, and I think eliminating those things and striving for their elimination is an element of good governance. > This is a fine example of a place that has thrown away the heterogeneity of life, the celebration of differences and quirks, in exchange for strictly enforced harmony. That's nonsense. There's nightclubs, art, technology, universities, fashion, discussion groups, live music, things to do, meetup groups... they're fairly relaxed about letting you in and out, and there's a fusion of Chinese, Southeast Asian, Western, and Japanese culture. Your post is just so entirely off the mark - "a place that has thrown away the heterogeneity of life" - that I have to ask before continuing to discuss: Have you actually been to Singapore?