After having read Dr. Ronald Meinardus' column on liberalism, I have come to reflect on my shallow understanding of politics. What are the left's agenda? What is the right's agenda? Does Asia's right have anything in common with America's and Europe's right? Is liberalism the most correct way for government? What is nationality?
Without having made a pilgrimage to visit purportedly the world's freest country (America), I am unable to relate to the seminars and debates where people truly participate in intellectual and analytical debate. Furthermore, being in Singapore, it is not relevant whether one has read and discussed Homer than to have read LKY's memoirs or Engineering 101.
Therefore, it is my conclusion that liberalism's greatest enemies must be apathy and scientific nilhism, consequently the lack of intelligent discourse.
It is no point discussing ideas of philosophy and politics when the people either do not even understand the very basic principles of human nature, political power and political obedience.
I feel that you cannot have a liberal democracy without a people equipped with the tools of literacy and some form of education in the basic principles of philosophy and politics.
Most importantly, the belief that intellectual discourse pertaining to philosophy and politics are not simply rants against whatever social-political structure is in place at the moment but a reflection of trying to come up with better ideas for good governance.
