Comments on: Benevolent authoritarism: is it possible? http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:15:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ayrus http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-15549 ayrus Thu, 24 May 2007 02:50:56 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-15549 Aaron, It’s probably widely accepted that power corrupts. > Perhaps a more appropriate term is power attracts the corruptible. Singapore is one of the least corrupt by international measures, but I always have some lingering doubts on whether there are cover-ups, especially when there’s such absolute control of the government by a political party. > Your doubt is spot on. Corruption as defined by Transparency International is inadeaquate. For more exposition on this, read the book 'Korupsi Kepresidenan' by George Junus Aditjondro. For LCC: Well, I guess govermental efficiency is the Yang while governmental accountability & transparency is the Yin… Seems like we are having too much Yang and not enough Yin at the moment… >Can I offer two more appropriate terms: public accountability and contestability instead of governmental accountability and tranparency? Transparency is the prerequisite for the two former criteria to be met. Aaron,

It’s probably widely accepted that power corrupts.

> Perhaps a more appropriate term is power attracts the corruptible.

Singapore is one of the least corrupt by international measures, but I always have some lingering doubts on whether there are cover-ups, especially when there’s such absolute control of the government by a political party.

> Your doubt is spot on. Corruption as defined by Transparency International is inadeaquate. For more exposition on this, read the book ‘Korupsi Kepresidenan’ by George Junus Aditjondro.

For LCC:

Well, I guess govermental efficiency is the Yang while governmental accountability & transparency is the Yin… Seems like we are having too much Yang and not enough Yin at the moment…

>Can I offer two more appropriate terms: public accountability and contestability instead of governmental accountability and tranparency? Transparency is the prerequisite for the two former criteria to be met.

]]> By: Blast from the Past « Winter Is Coming http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-15380 Blast from the Past « Winter Is Coming Wed, 09 May 2007 12:58:36 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-15380 [...] from the Past The discussion on Aaron’s blog http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html has gotten this one’s brain juice churning. Being a history buff has always made me link [...] [...] from the Past The discussion on Aaron’s blog http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html has gotten this one’s brain juice churning. Being a history buff has always made me link [...]

]]> By: 悲しい http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-14518 悲しい Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:47:51 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-14518 When 4 legs good, 2 legs bad changes to 4 legs good 2 legs better, I wonder how many singaporeans will notice... When 4 legs good, 2 legs bad changes to 4 legs good 2 legs better, I wonder how many singaporeans will notice…

]]> By: KiWeTO http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13972 KiWeTO Sun, 08 Apr 2007 04:24:42 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13972 Its not a democracy. Its leagalism at its best. <a href="http:\http://aserialnumberonmyvote.blogspot.com/2006/08/identifying-ideological-construct-used.html" rel="nofollow">http://aserialnumberonmyvote.blogspot.com/2006/08/identifying-ideological-construct-used.html</A> The only true root interest of the state is to ensure the continued survival of the state in its existing form. A model that leads to ossification, and ultimately irrelevancy. Unfortunately, because up till now, the rest of the region hasn't been able to build a city that shines brighter than SG, SG continues to attract the better talent in the region. Predicated on this premise, SG will survive. The question then is - will the rest of the region's cities get their act truly together and outshine SG? E.o.M. Its not a democracy. Its leagalism at its best.

http://aserialnumberonmyvote.blogspot.com/2006/08/identifying-ideological-construct-used.html

The only true root interest of the state is to ensure the continued survival of the state in its existing form.

A model that leads to ossification, and ultimately irrelevancy.

Unfortunately, because up till now, the rest of the region hasn’t been able to build a city that shines brighter than SG, SG continues to attract the better talent in the region.
Predicated on this premise, SG will survive. The question then is – will the rest of the region’s cities get their act truly together and outshine SG?
E.o.M.

]]> By: disgusted http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13913 disgusted Sat, 07 Apr 2007 16:38:34 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13913 You say the ministers are not corrupt. Well, I say they have corrupted the system by dismantling all the checks and balances. Who knows what discounts other than property purchases at VIP previews they are getting (LKY says property discounts are ok & GCT agrees). Who knows what other private privileges (eg club memberships, discount cards, free upgrading) they are getting under the table. Aren't these as ok as property discounts since all the other rich and famous get them too? You say the ministers are not corrupt. Well, I say they have corrupted the system by dismantling all the checks and balances. Who knows what discounts other than property purchases at VIP previews they are getting (LKY says property discounts are ok & GCT agrees). Who knows what other private privileges (eg club memberships, discount cards, free upgrading) they are getting under the table. Aren’t these as ok as property discounts since all the other rich and famous get them too?

]]> By: transparency http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13905 transparency Sat, 07 Apr 2007 15:15:54 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13905 check tis out: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sg_Review/message/2311 and http://www.edbsociety.org.sg/content_list.asp?contentid=35&contenttypeid=2 ________________________ david SINGAPORE // Apr 6, 2007 at 2:37 am Believe it or not, the gov/PAP has already been corrupted. It is corrupted when it start believing the only right way is its ways and the only choice we have is its choice, and the decision we have is their decision, and election voting is their engineered event. The moment they start qualifying whatever decision they make irrespective of Singaporean’s feeling under the pretext of “for the good of Singapore”, we know very well the system is corrupted because it has high probability of been misused and abused without check and balance like what Aaron mention. check tis out:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sg_Review/message/2311

and

http://www.edbsociety.org.sg/content_list.asp?contentid=35&contenttypeid=2

________________________
david SINGAPORE // Apr 6, 2007 at 2:37 am

Believe it or not, the gov/PAP has already been corrupted. It is corrupted when it start believing the only right way is its ways and the only choice we have is its choice, and the decision we have is their decision, and election voting is their engineered event. The moment they start qualifying whatever decision they make irrespective of Singaporean’s feeling under the pretext of “for the good of Singapore”, we know very well the system is corrupted because it has high probability of been misused and abused without check and balance like what Aaron mention.

]]> By: Francis http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13896 Francis Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:14:05 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13896 Aaron, I wasn't at all suggesting that Singapore can parallel the Vatican. Just pointing out one example of benevolent authoritarianism. For one thing, the Vatican is governed by an idealogy which it uses as a guiding post. Just like various countries have ideals embedded in things like a basic constitution. Singapore, while we do have a constitution, seem to be run at a practical level more by survival pragmatisim, which is vague and is fraught with pitfalls. Aaron,
I wasn’t at all suggesting that Singapore can parallel the Vatican. Just pointing out one example of benevolent authoritarianism. For one thing, the Vatican is governed by an idealogy which it uses as a guiding post. Just like various countries have ideals embedded in things like a basic constitution. Singapore, while we do have a constitution, seem to be run at a practical level more by survival pragmatisim, which is vague and is fraught with pitfalls.

]]> By: Ned Stark http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13857 Ned Stark Sat, 07 Apr 2007 05:37:14 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13857 Francis, according to wikipedia, the Vatican is an elective absolute monarchy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vatican Francis,

according to wikipedia, the Vatican is an elective absolute monarchy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vatican

]]> By: Aaron Ng http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13852 Aaron Ng Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:25:22 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13852 Francis, Fair enough. The authoritarianism part is settled. But, I would argue that there's a impetus for the Vatican to be benevolent because its legitimacy is derived from a theology that preaches benevolence. How far can Singapore remain a benevolent state without anchoring itself in something such as theology? Francis,

Fair enough. The authoritarianism part is settled. But, I would argue that there’s a impetus for the Vatican to be benevolent because its legitimacy is derived from a theology that preaches benevolence. How far can Singapore remain a benevolent state without anchoring itself in something such as theology?

]]> By: Francis http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html/comment-page-1#comment-13812 Francis Fri, 06 Apr 2007 22:31:38 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/benevolent-authoritarism-is-it-possible.html#comment-13812 Aaron. A monarchy is authoritarian in its strictest definition, but has the characteristic of the head receiving such authority via inheritence. The Papalcy clearly is not a monarchy because Popes are not related and are elected by Bishops in the Catholic Church. I believe the right description of the Vatican is benevolent autocracy. Autocracies and monarchies are both authoritarian in nature, just that the former is not necessarily tied by bloodline or deigned inheritence. This defines the nature of governance. Aaron.

A monarchy is authoritarian in its strictest definition, but has the characteristic of the head receiving such authority via inheritence. The Papalcy clearly is not a monarchy because Popes are not related and are elected by Bishops in the Catholic Church.

I believe the right description of the Vatican is benevolent autocracy. Autocracies and monarchies are both authoritarian in nature, just that the former is not necessarily tied by bloodline or deigned inheritence. This defines the nature of governance.

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