[thablackbull]

> Now she is thinking of giving up the citizenship she worked so hard to get, and moving back to an authoritarian China where guns and drugs are strictly forbidden – at least her son would be safe.

> To quote a friend, "all 'authoritarian' states (really, all states) distribute their 'authoritarianism' unevenly. that you aren't experiencing any right now doesn't mean it isn't being done, it just means you're not part of the demographic being targeted."

Freedom is also not distributed evenly. The powerful can use freedom as a means to their ends all the while justifying everyone else's failures as their own choice since they had the 'freedom' to achieve the same for themselves. Just my 2 cents.

As a soon to be expat to Singapore, I am in agreement with the first quote. While I can understand the values and culture here, I am also not too fond of unfettered freedom where people think public infrastructure belongs to them rather than as a shared good that everyone has the responsibility to take care of. Furthermore, the immediate reaction to any government involvement as 'socialism/communism' to shut down a discussion is honestly quite tiring and annoying now.

[johnisgood]

> where people think public infrastructure belongs to them rather than as a shared good that everyone has the responsibility to take care of.

I do not understand how they are mutually exclusive. I personally believe I am responsible for what belongs to me, and I take care of my belongings. Is it really just me? I do not believe that. Plus, if they do not care about their belongings, what makes you think they will care about them if you claim that it is a "shared good", or how is this supposed to work?

[wayoutthere]

People have different definitions of “self interest”, hence the tragedy of the commons (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons). It’s basically the problem government exists to mediate.