What makes a nation great?

[Confuseous]

Some people say that Singapore is a great nation, and when pressed for justification, talk about how clean, efficient and safe Singapore is, about the world-class airport and harbour, about the lack of corruption, etc. And in the aftermath of the financial crises in Europe and US, they also point out how Singapore now has much better finances than western countries.

They are mistaken.

Being able to walk safely at 2 am is not the distinguishing point of a great nation. If it was, north korea could become a great nation.

Neither is it about having many -hubs or -polis. Or world-class this or world-class that. Or having the best airport in the world. Or the busiest harbour in the world.

It’s not even about the lack of corruption.

- http://politicalwritings.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/what-makes-a-great-nation/

 

[Ramseth]

Being able to walk safely at 2 am is not the distinguishing point of a great nation. If it was, north korea could become a great nation.

Being able to walk safely at 2 a.m. is not the distinguishing point of a great nation. It's the distinguishing point of a great man like me. I walk safely at 2 a.m. not only in Singapore, but from Thailand to Japan to USA to Canada etc. You cannot depend on a country or city to be safe. Otherwise you become reliant slave the system. You have to depend on yourself. Then you can walk the earth anywhere anytime as the earth is meant to man's oyster.

 

[Agoraphobic]

Great Britain is great because it gave rules and regulations for sports now played internationally, enjoyed by most if not all nations on this planet.

Cheers!

 

[red amoeba]

cultural & economic influence a large part.

military influence to back it all up.

 

[saratogas]

Rich history and the quality of it's people...

 

[hairylee]

How to be great when we had a leader who likes to meet the citizens Cul-de-Sac.
A leader who sued fellow citizens bankrupt and who needs the court to uphold his reputations.

 

[Cruxx]

A more pertinent question would be: what motivates you to strive for greatness?

 

[jacobsgoh]

No.1 rule
the pm comes into office thru the back window, with the help of his father.
No.2 rule
The pm must remain PM to his father.
The above are some of requirements for nation building[Leeapore style].

 

[johnny333]

Having the worlds highest paid public officials (sarcasm)

 

[Lord Imperious]

Externally a nation is great when other nations look up to it and try to learn from it. It must also have the ability to influence events. Internally a nation is great when the aspirations of its people are being met as well as their basic needs.