Burma Spitfires Merged thread. Put all new info in here please.

[*Buzzsaw*]

Salute

It is my opinion this whole system of labelling a political entity 'Communist', 'Fascist' or 'Capitalist' is a smokescreen.

What it really comes down to is whether the ordinary person in the society has a fair shake at getting his fair share and expressing his opinion as to how the powers that be can push him around.

Despite being ideologically at the opposite end of the political spectrum, there was in fact not a lot of difference between Stalinism and Nazism, primarily because the two people at the top were both cold blooded sociopaths who thought nothing of murdering millions.

In fact there are political systems from all spectrums which work pretty well. Singapore is basically a one party state with quite restricted freedoms and freedom of speech, but as a society it does work extremely well and most people who live there are pretty happy with their lot. For all the detractors of Cuba, the communist government does a pretty good job there too, the literacy, health system and median income are WAY above most comparable countries in Central America or the Caribbean. (before you let loose the hounds of hell on me, no I don't think it's an ideal situation, hopefully they institute some reforms)

And there are so called democracies which are not very functional. For example Columbia, which has a so-called democratic capitalist system in place and which gets favoured status from the US as a free trade partner, sees a huge murder rate, thousands 'disappeared' by paramilitary death squads, an epidemic of rapes and abuse of women, as well as corruption on a huge scale, with the judiciary and elected officials routinely owned and under the orders of drug cartels. Not a very positive situation.

I think if people got away from labels, and started to look at the facts on the ground, we would have a stronger likelihood of the world becoming a better place.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by *Buzzsaw*

Singapore is basically a one party state with quite restricted freedoms and freedom of speech, but as a society it does work extremely well and most people who live there are pretty happy with their lot.

lol.
My best friend is currently there - he hates the place.
No smoking
Beer $7 to go
A room in a flat share $1500(!)
Asian mentality when they work with Europeans.

He left in October, the Bank wanted him to stay for 3 years or so - the way things look like right now he will be back in April.

You probably only like the place if you're from China or North Korea.

Libya under Gaddafi wasn't such a bad place either. Free health-care, free universities, scholarships for studies abroad etc.

It's supposed to be about the Burmese Spits

There are none, at least no crated ones.