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I doubt it. American cynicism pretty much makes it impossible. If you can't bring hope to the table, you put a double burden on someone else. Not sure why you

I doubt it. American cynicism pretty much makes it impossible. If you can't bring hope to the table, you put a double burden on someone else. Not sure why you think Singapore is not a democracy, though.

jmspring 14y ago
Call me a pessimist, but the lemming nature to following the reactionary rules of the TSA makes me believe the person you responded to is correct.
- saraid216 14y ago
  Well, yeah. It's exactly the lemming nature that is unwilling to try for something better. You're following it; I'm following it. The difference between us isn't that one's a cynic and one's not. The difference is that I know how much of a complete failure I am for not pushing back hard enough. You guys are my justification for saying, "Stop trying. It's not worth it." So thanks. I've been thinking I'll try out the whole happiness thing for a bit this year. See how that goes.
gasull 14y ago
> Not sure why you think Singapore is not a democracy, though. It's a an "hybrid regime", "partly free": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore#Government_and_politics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore#Government_and_polit... Maybe that's what the US is too already.
- saraid216 14y ago
  > Maybe that's what the US is too already. Well, yes. Given that the reason that Singapore scores poorly is due to low pluralism, low political participation, and a weak press. It's a democracy by the merits that most people prefer: legislators and executives are elected, there's a rule of law, etc. It's not a democracy in the same ways the US and virtually all non-Scandinavian countries aren't: too much authoritarianism, too little citizen participation, etc. The difference is in degree. http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf (I didn't bother checking if 2011 would work; I expect Wikipedia would have updated it if it were upgraded to a flawed democracy.) http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/singapore http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/singap... http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/singapore http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/singap...
  - sneak 14y ago
    Without a free press, elections are meaningless.
    - saraid216 14y ago
      That's not actually true.

jmspring 14y ago

Call me a pessimist, but the lemming nature to following the reactionary rules of the TSA makes me believe the person you responded to is correct.

saraid216 14y ago
Well, yeah. It's exactly the lemming nature that is unwilling to try for something better. You're following it; I'm following it. The difference between us isn't that one's a cynic and one's not. The difference is that I know how much of a complete failure I am for not pushing back hard enough. You guys are my justification for saying, "Stop trying. It's not worth it." So thanks. I've been thinking I'll try out the whole happiness thing for a bit this year. See how that goes.

gasull 14y ago

> Not sure why you think Singapore is not a democracy, though. It's a an "hybrid regime", "partly free": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore#Government_and_politics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore#Government_and_polit... Maybe that's what the US is too already.

saraid216 14y ago
> Maybe that's what the US is too already. Well, yes. Given that the reason that Singapore scores poorly is due to low pluralism, low political participation, and a weak press. It's a democracy by the merits that most people prefer: legislators and executives are elected, there's a rule of law, etc. It's not a democracy in the same ways the US and virtually all non-Scandinavian countries aren't: too much authoritarianism, too little citizen participation, etc. The difference is in degree. http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf (I didn't bother checking if 2011 would work; I expect Wikipedia would have updated it if it were upgraded to a flawed democracy.) http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/singapore http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/singap... http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/singapore http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/singap...
- sneak 14y ago
  Without a free press, elections are meaningless.
  - saraid216 14y ago
    That's not actually true.