I don't think he should be credited with that much. When I first started learning about Singapore's history and politics, I was under the impression he was the driving force. But ultimately, Singapore stands out in South East Asia (ignoring Japan) because the British used it as a 'centre' of operations. Hong Kong was the public face up until the handover but Singapore quietly stood out against - and significantly, in front of - Indonesia and Malaysia.
Yew basically benefitted from the fact that the UK were prepared to leave the ruling to him as long as British interests remained in the country. You can't deny that despite the drive for a Singaporean identity, it still has close ties to the UK that you don't really see in the rest of the region, Malaysia possibly excepted.
Singapore has developed rapidly and there's been a long term aim but honestly, you wouldn't have got there just with hard work. The British, and recent American, ties put you head and shoulders above everyone else.
I like Singapore, it's a great model and ideal. The thing is, it also scares me. There are so many dark undertones and the Singaporean underworld is potentially more dangerous than most in the world, because it's so deep.
I'm waiting for you guys to move on from cultural tolerance and onto acceptance. If that doesn't happen, I don't know how long things will continue without either complete assimilation or, more likely, huge rifts between ethnicities. I remember just before I left in 2002, there was a lot of tension between the Singaporean Chinese and Malay, under the guise of Islamic schools and their performance.
Yew loved Thatcher and honestly there are certain undertones in his philosophy that scare me - you can say whatever you want as long as it's the "truth"? What the fuck? How do you define the truth legally?
Anyway, I like Singapore but don't like Yew. I know what he did but I don't think he should be credited for basically sucking cock for 30 years.
Well one thing which I must say you can definitely accredit to LKY is the lack of corruption. Or at least, corruption, if it exists, exists in a form that doesn't mar the government's achievements.
Look across the thin strip of water to Malaysia. Our old friend Anwar's just been accused of another round of buggery. My family was originally from Malaysia. We're never planning on going back, simply because the crime rates are astounding, and the politics are simply unworkable. Some examples: Our relatives have each been at least burglarised twice or thrice. But they still all consider themselves lucky, and honestly I can't blame them, because none of them have been victims of actual physical violence. Can you imagine feeling lucky you've only had stuff stolen from you but not hurt? What kind of feeling is that?
Another big issue. Petrol prices. They produce enough of the stuff to be one of the world's leading exporters. But prices have just doubled. What fucking madness is that? the government can't even give its constituents the benefit of a natural resource we have in bountiful amounts. Its a disgrace. And these were all brit colonies as well.
The above are just the tips of the ice bergs. Wanton government spending on public projects rife with ministers on the take, alleged crimes like murder partaken by those at the very top including the future PM, and it really gives us a sense of perspective.
I'll agree wholly with the dark undertones. But I guess its just the things you want from life. Most would be happy with a good education, a good job, a decent place to live in, and the rest of it. I guess I don't exactly lose sleep over my lack of ability to protest on the streets when I'm rich and well fed.
And no, there are no tensions racially. I don't have Malay friends or Indian friends or caucasian friends. I just have friends, period. If ever you needed a sign that whatever integration techniques LKY decided on worked, I think that fits the bill. (which interestingly enough brings us to a fascinating debate: Is the beeb/cnn/other news sources biased? We all laughed at the Chinese who went in outrage on the BBC site and claimed they and their government were being demonised. I recall we called them unfortunate brainwashed sods, too blinded by govt propaganda to see a good thing when we handed it to them. Could Singapore prove to just be a lesser example? Or does the BBC/other news sources really blow the issues out of proportion?)
Basically what happened is, some radicals, the type we've all poured scorn on in the past, started raking up the religious symbols in schools issue. The government basically said, if you lot don't shut it, you'll be sorry, because this is a stupid issue, stop mucking about, and if you keep it quiet, there's a better chance we can reach a conclusion. And eventually, they shut it. And the issue was solved. Not a bad method.
To be fair, I'd agree that if someone less capable than LKY inherits the system, I'd worry. I'd worry a lot, and a lot of those concerns would mirror yours. But since he pracitices 'nepotism', as his critics love to cry out, I'm quite happy with the way the country's going.
I mean come on. You could be the number one blow jobber on the market. But if that got you a country as decent as Singapore, well fuck me, that's one hell of a bj