Quora Answer: To What Extent Does the Success of Singapore Undermine the Democracy Index?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “To what extent does the success of Singapore undermine the democracy index?”

The assumes that the so-called democracy index has credibility.  It is an opinion piece that is made to look like research through the process of arbitrary calculations.  Random, anonymous “experts” are asked to rate a series of questions drawn up.  There is no methodology, no basis of measurement, no accountability.  Essentially, it is meaningless.

Consider this: in a democracy, people get the right to vote for their representatives in government.  There are a variety of systems, from proportional representation, to first-past-the-post, to hybrid systems.  There are non-elected representatives, political appointees, and governments headed by a prime minister, or by a strong executive branch.  Does that mean one is freer than the other?  Governments have varying lengths of terms.  Does a shorter term, and therefore, more elections withing a specific period mean more democracy?  Some states have a federal and local election, in addition to municipal elections.  Does that mean large, federal systems have more democracy than city states?

Now, consider issues such as press freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, state religions, and limits or preferences for ethnic groups, religions, and gender in specific areas due to discrimination or affirmative action.  Does this mean all of us must hold the same opinion of these “experts” to get a good score?

Putting all that aside, success is national development is distinct from democracy.  Democracies work when the majority of the electorate have discernment, or there is weightage to the people who actually understand the policies.  It is quite capable for people to vote against their own interests.  In fact, that happens often in democracies.  People are moved by emotion and sentiment, not facts and logic.

Singapore is successful because it is a product of social engineering on a massive scale.  When we became independent, Lee Kuan Yew sold us a vision, and promised us progress, but we had to make sacrifices.  That worked because it is our culture to put the collective over the individual.  As a nation, we pulled together, and built this nation.  We may have issues with specific policies of the PAP, and some of the discredited opinions of Lee Kuan Yew, such as eugenics.  By and large, however, they got more right than wrong, and that is one of the reasons why they continued to win elections.

As Singapore goes to the polls, we are thinking of the future, and trying to decide who is best to lead us there.  None of us will deny, regardless of our political inclination, that by and large, the PAP have delivered.  Singapore is where it is, because one man sold us a vision, and dragged us kicking and screaming to its fulfillment.