It is told, in what is probably an apocryphal tale, that Pompeii Magnus of the Triumvirate in a fit of rage exclaimed but “Sulla did it”. This was in reference to Sulla’s twice sacking of Rome as Pompeii, at this point, wished to see himself being the sole person ruling Rome. The response to that statement was “You are no Sulla”, a statement which was to mean that the times (the historical context) had changed and that Pompeii, no matter how much he wished it, could not command the total fear/respect of Rome in the manner which Sulla did that allowed him to take those actions.
There has been more chatter in recent days that Jamaica should follow in the footsteps of Singapore, this time the talk has come from high and influential circles and reached such a fever pitch that an opinion piece was run which flatly asked if Andrew Holness is the kind of person who has dictatorial tendencies and if we should empower him to become a benevolent dictator as Lee-Kwan Yew was in Singapore.
There are many problems with this train of thought (Jamaica being like Singapore) which never get dealt with and, as a result, I will go in depth as I explain why the idea of Jamaica becoming Singapore is a non-starter as well as explaining why it is that no matter how much our middle and upper class may want a benevolent dictator our people will not allow it and that no such person exists in our political class.
jamaicachange 