Grubs up - in Singapore.

[Bricktop]

I do understand that some prefer order. For most in those 2 countries, they  know nothing of being free to think beyond just intellectually  .. it's simply "what is"  .. or normal to them .. No decisions to make and big brother takes care of everything and / or has rules for everything



For me I choose to be surrounded by "people"  ... independent people .. or no one .... and not surrounded by and packed in with what I saw as human robots  in Sing and  China



Several trips to both were strictly because of business conventions and business dealings ... and were as short as we could possibly make them



Agreed that our system is not working well at this point in time and seems to already be set up to never work.

It is worthwhile considering what OUR situation looks like to more authoritarian nations?



Our political tumult, in almost all democracies, is embarrassing. THEY notice that our free and democratically elected politicians seem to act outside the interest of the average citizen. They see corruption at the highest level. They see homelessness despite great wealth. They see rules change as governments change, and judge us unreliable.



Democracy has hit the wall of reality. The illusion that because we vote, we are "free" is falling away. They may know nothing of being free...but if you think YOU do, you're not thinking rationally. Your money is stolen from you for expenses you do not support. Your speech is being restricted on a daily basis. The political class is elitist. Your courts serve the villains, and your media serve their owners.



You are far from free. You may be able to speak your mind...at the moment...more critically than in other countries, but the reality is no-one listens, so they don't care what you say.



The difference between us and them is we get to choose our dictators.

[Anonymous]

It is worthwhile considering what OUR situation looks like to more authoritarian nations?



Our political tumult, in almost all democracies, is embarrassing. THEY notice that our free and democratically elected politicians seem to act outside the interest of the average citizen. They see corruption at the highest level. They see homelessness despite great wealth. They see rules change as governments change, and judge us unreliable.



Democracy has hit the wall of reality. The illusion that because we vote, we are "free" is falling away. They may know nothing of being free...but if you think YOU do, you're not thinking rationally. Your money is stolen from you for expenses you do not support. Your speech is being restricted on a daily basis. The political class is elitist. Your courts serve the villains, and your media serve their owners.



You are far from free. You may be able to speak your mind...at the moment...more critically than in other countries, but the reality is no-one listens, so they don't care what you say.



The difference between us and them is we get to choose our dictators.

Voting now impedes real freedom. Like the Seoul brother said, democracy as we know it was not designed for the information age.

[Bricktop]

Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

[Anonymous]

Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

Modern democracy is such a farce. About two dozen prog billionaires using their social media platforms guiding our thoughts and controlling our politicians. It's worse than China.

[Bricktop]

[Anonymous]

Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

Politicians and public figures are terrified of being labelled on social media.

[Anonymous]

Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

Politicians and public figures are terrified of being labelled on social media.

It seems that way.