Are you tired of democracy and all its pesky challenges? Look no further than benevolent autocrats! According to Curtis Milhaupt of Stanford Law School, these dictators have it easy when it comes to plugging their countries into the global economy. Why, you ask? Because elites in a democracy tend to resist changes that could cut into their bottom lines, even if it’s good for the country. Those pesky politicians are just too busy fighting off their political foes to make grand economic plans. But autocrats? They’ve got all the tools to get things done. It’s good to be the king!

Of course, not all dictators are created equal – some are benevolent while others are not. And let’s face it, finding a benevolent dictator is about as easy as finding a unicorn prancing through a field of rainbows. And even if you do find one, there’s no guarantee they’ll stay that way or that their successor will be any good at all. But that’s a small price to pay for all the benefits, right? Right?

One such example of a benevolent autocracy is Singapore, led by the late Lee Kuan Yew. According to him, democracy is overrated – all people really want are homes, medicine, jobs, and schools. And boy did he deliver! He took business-friendly policies from the West and socialist-leaning ones from autocracies to create a utopia. Public housing for all! Predictable courts! Low taxes! Zero tolerance for corruption! An embrace of meritocracy! It’s like a dream come true.

And if you’ve ever visited Singapore, you know it’s the real deal. It’s clean, safe, and orderly – basically the complete opposite of most U.S. cities. Forget chicken in every pot – they’ve got a sports car in every parking space. It’s like living in a fairy tale! And the ruling party has stayed in power since, well, forever. But hey, they hold elections, and isn’t that enough?

But now Singapore is at a crossroads. The country is being run by Lee Kuan Yew’s eldest son, who is clearly riding on his father’s coattails. Elections are coming up, and the ruling party has never looked more vulnerable. Could it be that the people are tiring of benevolent autocracy? Say it ain’t so!

In conclusion, benevolent autocrats – what’s not to love? As long as you’re willing to overlook the fact that they’re pretty much impossible to find and that their successors might be terrible, everything will be just fine. Who needs democracy anyway? It’s so overrated.