You would be hard-pressed to find anyone (who has lived and worked in Singapore) declare Singapore’s democratically-elected republican government to be oppressive. Their laws are strict, but they are promulgated and enforced by an elected polity, in accordance with the will of the people there.
To say that Singaporean society is not virtuous and to make absurd claims that they lack personal virtue is to declare lies in the face of opposing evidence, and for a person declaring so, their own virtues become suspect.
America had strict laws too, even stricter before than it is so now. Have Americans become more virtuous?
For further insight on how numerous archaic laws are in America, take a look at this site:
http://www.lawguru.com/weird/part01.html
Strange, wouldn’t it be, that a virtuous society would need to be hamstrung by so many nonsensical laws, so long ago? This collection almost competes with the bulk of the OT laws, in terms of meaninglessness.
I disagree with everything you just stated. You missed my whole premise. Freedom. There has been no country in the history of the world as free as Americans since the founding of this nation. The idea that there is no tyranny in a majority vote is EXTREMELY naive. Democracies are tyrannical by nature—mob rule actually, and always lead to tyranny. It is known by every political philosopher. BTW, it is not who votes who runs things—it is who counts the votes.
Government in the US is now Post-Constitutional. Most laws are unconstitutional which are in existence now (Mark Levine). It is true since the Progressives—when very oppressive, socialistic laws went into place denying the private property and regulating schools at State level, then the DOE—such a violation of parental freedom. The indoctrination system is unconstitutional and evil (john stuart mill).
Virtuous people want “freedom” not only for themselves, but their children. They don’t want strangers raising and indoctrinating their children. They do their duty and raise and nurture their own progeny. They want to be responsible for their families and not have government interference. Justice, and courage are also part of Virtue as is charity.
This country excelled in charity because of Christianity—the Universities, hospitals, schools. Charity excelled in America unlike any country in the history of the world-—a sign of Virtue.
Charity only comes from NO force....governments can never do “charity”. It’s very interference destroys the whole concept of charity. America is still the most charitable nation, even though we are fighting an oppressive government and losing our virtue-—because governments when they make “dependents” destroy the very foundation of “Virtue”.
Singaporeans seem to me to be like most Asian countries-—very subservient and into group think—group morality-—group ‘salvation”. No such thing. Individualism is the basis of Americanism—which is essential for the concept of Virtue to even exist. You can never have morality or Virtue with the Marxist concept: The mean is justified by the ends. That is Anti-Christian.
Thomas Hobbs idea, The Leviathan, is the Singapore idea. There is no real freedom. Government intrusive laws are needed to keep order. That proves there is no virtue-—the indignity that people allow oppressive government to control their life is a lack of courage and wisdom and love for their children’s future—three virtues. Fear of government is not a virtue—it is Fear of God which gives people the courage to buck tyranny. Without God, there is no virtue (Nietzsche).
Virtue comes from individualism and God—the idea that every single human being has dignity and worth and is the child of God. Collectives (socialism/marxism) treats human beings as means to an end. They are expendable. The ideology which is basically Singaporean-—can never be “virtuous” under that system.
True—American children are being programmed to be atheist/pagan/Satanists/Marxists in our unconstitutional public school system NOW and for the last 50 years——BUT, as the Tea Party proves—there are still millions of old-fashioned (moral, virtuous) people who are willing to fight for their fundamental rights to own guns, to educate their own children, and get back to Rule of Law (Just Law) which allows religious freedom.
Courage—noted in America—because of Natural Rights from God. Our nation was built with Laws which incorporated the Judeo/Christian God—our jurisprudence was based on Christian Common Law and The Laws of Nature.
Can’t get more logical or virtuous than that. A product of the Age of Reason combined with Christian Ethics. It is as Perfect as you can get. No other country has been as virtuous as this country—as charitable,—as free—as prosperous, etc., etc., etc.
Multiculturalism which states that all cultures are “equal” is a Cultural Marxist idea and it is a Big Lie—like all Marxists ideology. History proves some cultures have been much more successful in numerous areas.