Ha, we are already feeling the burden of this with the pool of maggot-minded haters of LKY on this forum. This is indeed a problem that needs to be solved.

Do we judge a society or a leader by his own measure of success or by another measure (Western i.e. Enlightenment ideals, Christian morals and ethics, Buddhist morals, Islamic morals, etc)? I believe the goals set by LKY for Singapore as a nation has been achieved to a large extent. This is an accomplishment of great respect and he should be credited for this.

My personal belief is that LKY did not take into account factors that were beyond his intellect and this has manifest itself with the current “birth-rate” issue which seems to threaten the existence of the Singaporean nation. A growth focused society will sacrifice having a larger family for the purpose of higher education and higher wages. Although this is the ideal when coming from the state that Singapore was in 1965, when taken to the other extreme it has drastic consequences.

I would also like to mention that the western/secular world also has the same problem with low-birthrates, low-marriage rates and the maintenance of its civilization. I am interested to see how highly nationalistic societies and growth driven societies will reconcile the fact that immigrants will be needed to sustain the nation and to further economic growth. In Western Europe this has led to right-wing anti-immigration movements which has tarnished the egalitarian principles that these societies based their moral worth on.

I am very interested to hear about LKY’s philosophical influences and his own philosophy, rather then his “as a matter of fact” manner of writing his experience in life.

With the invisible BIG hammar of Social media,the curtain is coming down fast.

Moving on to the present, everything or everyone has its life cycle. In today’s world LKY’s is at an end. His views and inclinations are no longer quite in the same vein as the average SIngaporean’s. The People have spoken (GE2011) and at least he has taken note and reacted positively.

He was a hard leader, but “dictator” I cannot see. Singaporean have voted in 6 members of the opposition, if he was that much of a pain, it could have been 44. Would the tanks have come out then? No.

Singapore is just a little red dot. We have no depth, the moment we have for eg. a race riot, investor confidence goes down, your economy goes to shit. You cannot rule Singapore like you would the US. Nobody remembers Rodney King, we are still harping about May 13. Another May 13 here and your credit ratings go to hell, foreign investments slows to a snail’s pace. We do not have minerals underground to substitute for a big dip in demand for our services. LKY’s way was necessary, (at least then).

Yes, the PAP has taken things a bit too far. GRC for minority representation? Seriously? CPF changes, ERP popping up all over the place, housing policies etc were matters put into effect without enough consultation with the Public. Much as I have been a supporter of the ruling party, I too felt they needed a shock and they got it.

I have lived overseas and travel exgtensively over the past 30 odd years. Singaporeans have a lot to be thankful for. The US is a great country, no doubt, but you may metals detactors in high school to keep guns out, huge unemployment, proverty levels are mindnumbing and the crime situation is ridiculous. Malaysia is pretty close to us in culture and geographic location, you get stopped for speeding and RM50 (lower for locals) settles the matter. Sounds great but that same policeman mind be the guy investigating the assault on your kids. Their politicians get paid less but are exponentially richer than ours. I don’t need to say how.

Let’s be constructive and push for changes that are needed today, enough with the name calling and childish rhetoric. We are what we are today because of LKY, BUT he is not the man to take us to tomorrow, let’s spend our time and energy concentrating on that.