This is an objective comment on Singapore.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/offbeat/2006/10/singapore_slings_censorship.html
"From outside, Singapore is a clean respected country with 4 millions happy singaporeans (and i am sure many are), it is probably one of the safest and the most disciplined country in Asia, good education, nice living conditons etc... but heaven on earth might have its own limitations. For having spent many years there, foreigners should know that this country doesn't allow free speech or free demonstration. You can't talk bad about the government (repressed by law) and it is a fact that political opposition merely exists (many opposition leaders went bankrupt out of the sudden after being sued by the government). The Senior Minister Lee (ex prime minister) was in power for nearly 50 years. His son is now ruling the country. The telecom company is controlled by another son, the most powerful investment gov company (Temasek Holdings that bought the USD 1.8B shares of Taksin in Thailand) is controlled by the wife, SMRT (taxi and transportation) is ruled by another relative and the most respected and feared law firm (very useful) is controlled by the Lee clan too. I am not judging but I reckon it is quite a unique situation for a democracy but quite common for an autocracy or a monarchy...
Having said that, many sngaporeans still love their country and admire their system and to some degree I understand their feeling.. as long as they have food and a house, why should they bother about the rest? I understand as well that to many westerners, starving in freedom is more important than eating gracefully in a golden cage.
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