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Singapore does not stick their noses into the business of other countries.
Singapore does not maintain hundreds of military bases all over the world.
Singapore does not buy friends with foreign mikitary aid.
Singapore has no war on drugs. They simply execute.
Singapore is the 5 or 6th most expensive city/ country.
They also have no minimum wage or general welfare.
Singapore government ensures affordability of healthcare with strong price controls and subsidies. 80% of the people use public healthcare, ranked #1 in efficiency compared to the U.S. ranking of # 46. All are required to save a percentage of their income for healthcare and employers typically provide supplementary policies for their employees.
The government has made weight control a top priority and there is an increasingly stigma associated with being overweight.
Last edited by middle-aged mom; 03-06-2015 at 07:29 AM..
The United States is no longer in the top 10 of the most Economically Free Countries .
We are now 12th in the world in Economic Freedom. Any one believe that we will ever reverse the trend or will we keep moving down the list? Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom
The free market viewpoint defines economic liberty as the freedom to produce, trade and consume any goods and services acquired without the use of force, fraud or theft.
As state intervention grew elsewhere, especially after the second world war, Hong Kong remained free of controls on prices, wages and imports, of regulation of business and employment. This is why Hong Kong is number 1 free market in the world, doesn't mean the region has the strongest economy. Not even close.
Some level of regulations of economy doesn't make a country LESS free. You don't want fraud or theft part of the free market, but regulation is not necessary bad. Keep a healthy balance is the key.
The United States is no longer in the top 10 of the most Economically Free Countries .
We are now 12th in the world in Economic Freedom. Any one believe that we will ever reverse the trend or will we keep moving down the list? Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom
What does it matter? our unemployment rate is 5.5%. Obama saved us!
Oh yeah, the "we are not number 1 so we are failures" argument . OP, I wonder if you noticed that we actually moved toward more economic freedom.
Which I'd really like to know how, since all of the regulations still exist. Could it be others simply moved further away from freedom than we did?
I'd like to know what happened to cause us to move towards "more" economic freedom.. Can you cite me an example of some things passed which allowed this to take place.
Both those countries have universal healthcare and free/low cost college tuition. The minimum wage for Australia is 16 an hour.
Any attempts to implement that in the good ol USA would be considered a pinko commie socialist agenda to destroy this country.
Seems to me the study overlooks healthcare.
Singapore spends 3% of its GDP on healthcare whereas the U.S. spends about 18%.
The Singapore Government owns and operates 85% of hospitals. They control the policies, costs and fees for service. They maintain MD compiled Comparitive- Effectiveness protocols. Such protocols were a part of the original ACA legislation and were deemed " death panels" by conservatives and was eliminated.
There is a disconnect between cost and fees with Sinapore Government filling the gap with subsidies. Singapore mandates everyone maintain a healthcare savings plan. Most corporate employers provide supplimental insurance as a benefit.
The Singapore Government addresses the root cause and puts tremendous emphasis on a healthy diet and exercise and the population is no where as near vulnerable to Diabetes, Heart Disease and some Cancers. In contrast, 70% of US adults are overweight/ obese. In contrast, Michelle Obama is damned for encouraging nutritious eating, weight control and exercise.
Most of the hospitals/ medical centers in Hong Kong are public and the government picks up the tab for the majority. Private insurance enables people to chose providers and hospitals and shorter wait times. Again, tremendeous emphasis is placed on personal responsibility for weight control and healthy lifestyles.
New Zealand, another top tier economic freedom country owns/ operates most hospitals. The government picks up the tab for hospitalization and major medical treatment across the board.
Last edited by middle-aged mom; 03-06-2015 at 10:10 AM..
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Oh yeah, the "we are not number 1 so we are failures" argument . OP, I wonder if you noticed that we actually moved toward more economic freedom. 
