Re:Singapore’s tech-utopia and surveillance state
by godelski on Thursday November 18, 2021 @01:51PM
(#29268997)
> I think that it is a slippery slope downwards criticizing different cultures and legal systems.
On the contrary, I think this is essential. As an American, I'll note that criticizing our government is a national past-time. One that even extends beyond our country and others join in. It's important to remember we live in a democracy (don't detract by saying we live in a democratically elected republic). We perform checks and balances on our government. The government is flexible. We can learn from the good and bad from other countries and ourselves (specifically what works in states run by different parties and economies). This is great.
We also need to criticize governments and societies that are violating human rights. This cannot be ignored just because they are not seen as culturally okay by someone else.
What I think is the problem is the comparison. The "America is the greatest at everything." But also the other countries that criticize America but then ignore their own similar issues, just shifting focus. We have to criticize ourselves, but use it as a means to move forward. It can't ever be "x is bad and that's the end of the conversation." It's about a "more perfect union" than "a perfect union" because we have to constantly be improving and adapting to the changes in the world. The danger is being static and thinking what worked before or what works somewhere else automatically works else{when,where}.
The whole problem is that now we just complain and the conversations lack nuance. I'm not sure if they ever had nuance, but I do know that it is important if we're to progress from where we are now.
On the contrary, I think this is essential. As an American, I'll note that criticizing our government is a national past-time. One that even extends beyond our country and others join in. It's important to remember we live in a democracy (don't detract by saying we live in a democratically elected republic). We perform checks and balances on our government. The government is flexible. We can learn from the good and bad from other countries and ourselves (specifically what works in states run by different parties and economies). This is great.
We also need to criticize governments and societies that are violating human rights. This cannot be ignored just because they are not seen as culturally okay by someone else.
What I think is the problem is the comparison. The "America is the greatest at everything." But also the other countries that criticize America but then ignore their own similar issues, just shifting focus. We have to criticize ourselves, but use it as a means to move forward. It can't ever be "x is bad and that's the end of the conversation." It's about a "more perfect union" than "a perfect union" because we have to constantly be improving and adapting to the changes in the world. The danger is being static and thinking what worked before or what works somewhere else automatically works else{when,where}.
The whole problem is that now we just complain and the conversations lack nuance. I'm not sure if they ever had nuance, but I do know that it is important if we're to progress from where we are now.