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Being an Indian (ie: coming from the largest democracy in the world), I have formed the opinion that democracy is a form of government where in theory everybody

Being an Indian (ie: coming from the largest democracy in the world), I have formed the opinion that democracy is a form of government where in theory everybody is happy most of the time but unfortunately what it instead does is keeps everybody equally unhappy, all the time. Now, whether this is necessarily a bad thing considering the alternatives is debatable but coming to your point, yeah, something like Singapore just cannot happen in a democracy although it is not due to the short-sightedness of the 'large group of people'. In a proper democracy the minority opinion (note, I said minority opinion, not minorities' opinion) no matter how flawed and unreasonable would still have to be considered. Again, this is not necessarily a bad thing, it just slows things down (in either direction !)

mike_hearn 11y ago
I don't see any particular reason why a democracy cannot have tech-savvy leaders. As often pointed out Angela Merkel was a chemist before becoming the German Chancellor. Margaret Thatcher was also a chemist, I believe. Germany is by all accounts very well run and is indeed a very tech-savvy and productive economy. I don't know anywhere else that has a computer scientist as a leader, but then again, I suspect that's because most people who have a passion for mathematics or computer science end up going into that field. Virtually nobody it seems decides to leave the CS world for politics. This guy did only because of the whole dynastic element - his father told him what he'd do in life, so he was never able to pursue his skills in this field. Sometimes I wonder if some of the political problems we often debate here on HN and elsewhere are our own fault. So few people enter politics from the tech and science industries, it should perhaps not surprise us much when technically illiterate leaders pass nonsensical laws .
- govindkabra 11y ago
  Not exactly a computer scientist, but I am hoping Sheryl Sandberg runs for the office of President in the next decade.

mike_hearn 11y ago

I don't see any particular reason why a democracy cannot have tech-savvy leaders. As often pointed out Angela Merkel was a chemist before becoming the German Chancellor. Margaret Thatcher was also a chemist, I believe. Germany is by all accounts very well run and is indeed a very tech-savvy and productive economy. I don't know anywhere else that has a computer scientist as a leader, but then again, I suspect that's because most people who have a passion for mathematics or computer science end up going into that field. Virtually nobody it seems decides to leave the CS world for politics. This guy did only because of the whole dynastic element - his father told him what he'd do in life, so he was never able to pursue his skills in this field. Sometimes I wonder if some of the political problems we often debate here on HN and elsewhere are our own fault. So few people enter politics from the tech and science industries, it should perhaps not surprise us much when technically illiterate leaders pass nonsensical laws .

govindkabra 11y ago
Not exactly a computer scientist, but I am hoping Sheryl Sandberg runs for the office of President in the next decade.