China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.
Interpretation
Multiparty politics can seem appealing, but the reality of governance is more complex and requires stability for economic health.
In this quote, Lee Kuan Yew critiques the simplicity with which people view multiparty politics, emphasizing that simply changing political parties does not guarantee effective governance. He argues that without a stable and competent government, economies can quickly deteriorate, leading to dire consequences within a few years.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion about the effectiveness of political systems in a classroom setting.
China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
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Anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckle-dusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no way you can govern a Chinese society.
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No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!
That a peasant may become king does not render the kingdom democratic.
The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife.
Pakistan's key leaders have succumbed to the assassin's bullet or bomb or the hangman's noose, and the country has seen four military coups since its birth in 1947. Yet the Pakistani polity has limped on.
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