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Typically, most liberals point to Scandanavia as an ideal state. Often times the GOP is criticized for wanting to take the country back to the "dark ages." Rather, a country like Singapore is where the GOP wants to take the country. It's socially conservative and has one of the freest markets in the world. It has no minimum wage and its officially policy is no welfare state, although there is a very basic safety net.
The unemployment rate never got above 4% even during the financial crisis. It's comprised of multiple cultures, ethnic groups, races with English as the official unifying language. It's economically prosperous, has extremely low crime, and drug smuggling carries the death penalty.
Some cons are limited press and speech freedoms, homosexuality is criminalized, and high income inequality.
I'm not saying that I personally agree with their conservative social views, but when people say the GOP wants to take the country back, I think it's more accurate that they want to take the country forward, but in a different way. Singapore is a good example of a social conservative/economically libertarian success story.
Singapore has four official languages(Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil), it's illegal to criticize any religion including Islam(Muslims make up 15% of the population), very liberal abortion laws, and very, very strict gun laws(very hard to get a license to own one and you'll be caned and imprisoned for owning one without one).
Sounds like paradise for your average American conservative.
Singapore also has four official languages, it's illegal to criticize any religion including Islam(Muslims make up 15% of the population). and very, very strict gun laws(very hard to get a license to own one and you'll be caned and imprisoned for owning one without one).
I didn't say it totally represented everything the GOP believed, I was just saying it's a good example of a social conservative/economically libertarian state.
I mean, the Scandinavian countries have tax-funded national churches and a quasi school voucher program and you don't see the left clamoring to get that passed here...
Saudi Arabia - just replace Islam with Christianity and you have the GOP dream scenario.
Nah, I think Singapore is the best representation. Saudi Arabia paradoxically more in line with the left's values since they're always kowtowing to Islam.
Nah, I think Singapore is the best representation. Saudi Arabia paradoxically more in line with the left's values since they're always kowtowing to Islam.
It's almost pointless to address this, but this is actually the worst comparison anyone could make. The left pampers Islam because it's a minority religion. It's not because Islam is special. It's mainly because the right opposes it. If Saudi Arabia started protecting Christians and Jews, perhaps that would be a valid comparison, but since that's not happening...
And frankly, a Middle Eastern theocracy is more in line with the GOP. Extreme social hierarchy and forced religious teaching. They have God in their schools, that's for sure.
Typically, most liberals point to Scandanavia as an ideal state. Often times the GOP is criticized for wanting to take the country back to the "dark ages." Rather, a country like Singapore is where the GOP wants to take the country. It's socially conservative and has one of the freest markets in the world. It has no minimum wage and its officially policy is no welfare state, although there is a very basic safety net.
The unemployment rate never got above 4% even during the financial crisis. It's comprised of multiple cultures, ethnic groups, races with English as the official unifying language. It's economically prosperous, has extremely low crime, and drug smuggling carries the death penalty.
Some cons are limited press and speech freedoms, homosexuality is criminalized, and high income inequality.
I'm not saying that I personally agree with their conservative social views, but when people say the GOP wants to take the country back, I think it's more accurate that they want to take the country forward, but in a different way. Singapore is a good example of a social conservative/economically libertarian success story.
Cool. Let's hear one GOPer speaking in favor of a Singapore-style health care system - y'know, universal coverage, mandatory participation, government price control and massive subsidies. Any takers?
Or is it just the "no minimum wage" bit that seems attractive?
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VTHokieFan
Nah, I think Singapore is the best representation. Saudi Arabia paradoxically more in line with the left's values since they're always kowtowing to Islam.
Any nation kowtowing to any religion is just as bad.
Nah, I think Singapore is the best representation. Saudi Arabia paradoxically more in line with the left's values since they're always kowtowing to Islam.
Sheesh.
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