Firstly, I am amazed to see how strongly the writers here correlate degree of democracy and measurement of first-world standards. There are democratic nations such as Thailand that are still considered 3rd-world economically. Hence, the over-emphasis on this definition greatly skews the real Singapore.

(1) Economically, Singapore is definitely first world; its GDP per capita is $30,871 as per IMF's report, that making it rank 21st worldwide. That is amazing for a young nation of 41 years of history.

(2) Singapore has first world facilities and infrastructure. Changi Int'l Airport is consistently ranked no.1, same goes for its public housing, public transport, education (esp in Maths and Science, even schools in Japan and China adopt its system), efficiency, transparency in financial and legal systems and the list goes on. Most foreigners that live in Singapore are amazed by the country's efficiency in these areas no doubt.

However, strictly speaking, Singapore is still not classified as 1st-world. Many reasons - wastage handling is not up to standard yet. Waste is disposed off without seiving out the different materials for recycling. The nation also does not have 100% literacy mainly because a majority of the older generation did not attend school (remember, it was a fishing village island just 100 years ago).

Lastly, Singaporeans are not "stupid" or "ignorant". They are fully aware of the government's approach. However, this is for the general good for a tiny nation city like them that do not have any natural resources to rely on and with hostile neighbours suurounding it, constantly impeding economic relations as a region. Singaporeans are filly aware of this and know it is a give-and-take situation. With strict laws on censorship and freedom of speech comes racial harmony and peace; death penalty for drug traffickers comes safety and confidence to investors. Where else can you find people going home at midnight without having to worry about gun-wielding drug abusers? In a world torn with religious disputes, Singapore has done a good job keeping Chinese, Indians and Malays living harmoniously.

Anyway, just to share with you - through my travelling experiences, I have met many people from 1st-world countries that realize how backward and ignorant they have been about Asia and the world. They also tell me how silly they have been believing everything that was reported by their own media. So tell me - Are Singaporeans the only "ignorant" ones then? Think again.

Learn more about this author, Cairns Faber.
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