[Vision2020] Dale Courtney's Column on Singapore is Deliciously Ironic

[Nicholas Gier]

For some reason I can't get this to post on the DNews website, so I'll put
it here.

I find it deliciously ironic that after excoriating social democratic
Sweden as a “savage monster” (DNews, March 18) that Courtney is now
praising social democratic Singapore for its superb of handling of COVID-19
pandemic.

In 1976 Singapore’s ruling party was kicked out of the Socialist
International because it suppressed dissent and jailed opposition party
leaders. The government has now spared no means to enforce measures that
most Euro-Americans, especially libertarians such as Courtney, would not
tolerate. They have produced results, just as measures in China and South
Korea, with must less oppression in the latter.

In 1976 Singapore’s ruling party was kicked out of the Socialist
International because it suppressed dissent and jailed opposition party
leaders. The government has now spared no means to enforce measures that
most Euro-Americans, especially libertarians such as Courtney, would not
tolerate. They have produced results, just as measures in China and South
Korea, with must less oppression in the latter.

The Nordics of course are still in the Socialist International and they
also, currently under Social Democratic leadership in Denmark and Sweden,
rank high on the same scales as Hong Kong and Singapore. The World Economic
Forum (of Davos fame) has consistently rated Sweden and Denmark as the most
business friendly. Forbes business magazine notes Sweden flourished “with
investment per capita in Stockholm second only to Silicon Valley.”

Courtney should have looked more closely at the link he provided on
economic freedom. The following countries were developed and ruled
frequently by Social Democrats or Laborites: New Zealand (3rd place),
Australia (4th), Switzerland (5th), United Kingdom (7th), Denmark (8th),
the Netherlands (14), and the U.S. in 17th place! Courtney is absolutely
incorrect to say that these countries have abolished their welfare states
(March 18 column). My response attached below.


Just like the Nordic countries, Singapore has a robust private sector, and
it has social and health services comparable to the Nordics. While basic
taxation is low (marginal rates at 20%), there is a compulsory deduction of
20 percent (with employers matching at 15.5 percent) for the Central
Provident Fund. These are essentially compulsory savings accounts that
Singaporeans can use for paying for higher education, health care, buying a
home, and retirement. Not a libertarian scheme by far.


A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they
shall never sit in.

-Greek proverb

“Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity.
Immaturity is the inability to use one’s understanding without guidance
from another. This immaturity is self- imposed when its cause lies not in
lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without
guidance from another. Sapere Aude! ‘Have courage to use your own
understand-ing!—that is the motto of enlightenment.

--Immanuel Kant
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