- Reaction score
- 4,337
- Points
- 1,160
Media is reporting that Lee Kuan Yew has died at the age of 91.
He was a towering figure in Asia ~ he provided a socio-economic model of conservative democracy that will be the foundation for whatever success the Chinese Communists may have in this century.
Lee did not believe that Western liberal democracy was best suited for Asia ... he thought it could be made to work, could be adapted, but he thought there was a better model and he imposed it on Singapore.
The system protects the fundamental rights of everyone that John Locke and John Stuart Mill would recognize: life, liberty, property and conscience, and the system is firmly rooted in respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
Singapore has one of the most open and honest governments in the world (always in the top 10, usually in the top five in both categories) and one of the most efficient ... based on a small, highly professional, dedicated and honest civil service ... small because many so called "public services," while regulated, are provided by the private sector ... dedicated and honest because the civil servant are not drones, they are valued policy people and they are very well paid.
His counsel has been central to China since Deng Xiaoping; be sure that Xi Jinping will lead a large and very, very high powered delegation to his funeral. His influence will be felt long after we've forgotten all about Ronald Reagan, George W Bush, Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton.
He was a towering figure in Asia ~ he provided a socio-economic model of conservative democracy that will be the foundation for whatever success the Chinese Communists may have in this century.
Lee did not believe that Western liberal democracy was best suited for Asia ... he thought it could be made to work, could be adapted, but he thought there was a better model and he imposed it on Singapore.
The system protects the fundamental rights of everyone that John Locke and John Stuart Mill would recognize: life, liberty, property and conscience, and the system is firmly rooted in respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
Singapore has one of the most open and honest governments in the world (always in the top 10, usually in the top five in both categories) and one of the most efficient ... based on a small, highly professional, dedicated and honest civil service ... small because many so called "public services," while regulated, are provided by the private sector ... dedicated and honest because the civil servant are not drones, they are valued policy people and they are very well paid.
His counsel has been central to China since Deng Xiaoping; be sure that Xi Jinping will lead a large and very, very high powered delegation to his funeral. His influence will be felt long after we've forgotten all about Ronald Reagan, George W Bush, Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton.