[2143]

> most politicians, let alone leaders, didn't know what "exponential" meant over the pandemic.

Maybe they did and chose to ignore it. Lots of countries (including but not limited to the USA) have people with high credentials at the helm. Or they have advisors with high credentials close by.

> I think it's quite remarkable to have a Maths-CS

Math never gets old.

> a (small) nation

They may be small, but they definitely punch above their weight :)

[whimsicalism]

The qualifications of most people in politics are not nearly as good in the US.

In the US, the private sector eats the public sector and leaves very few high quality candidates behind.

[srazzaque]

I believe that's precisely why the SG government choose to pay extremely well. They gain candidates with great credentials that otherwise will have gone to the private sector.

Also, having well compensated staff makes the ranks less susceptible to corruption and bribery.

[Ferrotin]

They also have hiring standards. The U.S. Government threw that out in the 70’s.

[atdrummond]

It would be illegal in the US to have the kind of hiring standards that would be effective.