A contrast in culture and values
Your intrepid correspondent is currently travelling on business and sitting in a hotel in Singapore. Looking out the window, is an apartment building. Perhaps 15 floors high.
Out side this apartment building, on maybe 10-15 percent of the windows is hanging a Singaporean flag.
When not travelling, I live in the Inner West of Sydney. In Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler specifically.
There are some, but not many tall apartment buildings in Grayndler land but I can categorically say that I have never seen an Australian flag hanging - except out side a council chambers. This includes, embarrassingly, not on my home either.
As a point of contrast however, I can note that there are plenty Palestinian flags hanging - even more than Aboriginal flags.
According to Google AI:
Singapore's economy grew by 4.3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025.
Similarly:
Australia's economic growth has been modest in recent quarters, with a 0.2% increase in the March quarter of 2025 and a 1.3% increase year-on-year
And I reckon that Singapore did not try to juice its economy with immigration and debt fuelled government spending.
Is there a correlation? I wonder.
The thing I've always admired about America is their patriotism. USA flags every where (maybe a few Palestinian flags at the universities) Thanking their ex service personnel for their service.
I guess it shows who's proud of their nation and who isn't?