[lbo-talk] Democracy in Singapore

Bill Bartlett billbartlett at dodo.com.au
Mon Nov 28 20:24:51 PST 2005


At 5:07 PM -0800 28/11/05, Mike Ballard wrote:


>A bit of tongue in cheek, Bill. Bourgeois democracies are as varied as
>Marxist-Leninist dictatorships in the ways "rule of the people" is practiced.
>For example Singapore:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Singapore

I'm turning into a grumpy old bastard, subtle humour tends to go right over my head. Singapore is effectively a one-party state. Although it does permit other (approved) parties, they aren't even allowed to criticise the government. Let alone attain any significant representation in the parliament. The government controls the media, the judiciary is compliant and the people are subject to draconian and often perverse laws.

Effectively a brutal fascist dictatorship. Sham elections notwithstanding. I suppose you have to look for the humourous side though. Saddam's Iraq was invaded and occupied by the US for less, maybe Bush should have been a bit less ambitious and started with Singapore?

Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas



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