[Satire] Meritocracy, Dynasties & The Curious Case of the Lee Clan

[Satire] Meritocracy, Dynasties & The Curious Case of the Lee Clan

Ah, meritocracy—that shining ideal where the best rise to the top, where effort meets reward, and where governance is impartial and fair. At least, that’s what the textbooks say.

Reality, on the other hand? It prefers dynasties.

Take Singapore, for example. A tiny island that sells itself as a land of clean governance, efficient public service, and… merit-based leadership. Yet, behind the shimmering skyscrapers and economic success stories lies a truth that’s whispered in hawker centres and boardrooms alike: Power congregates, and it congregates where you least expect… right behind the law.

Enter the 李 (Lǐ) Lee clan, Singapore’s most recognisable dynasty. A family whose surname echoes far beyond Singapore’s shores—whether in China, Korea, or etched into the textbooks of political science majors. And why not? Dynasties endure because they understand one thing: control the narrative, control the future.

While meritocracy waves the flag of fairness, the game behind closed doors is a different sport altogether. It’s one of alliances between the wealthy and the powerful, brokered behind the sleeves of laws, constitutions, and occasionally gala dinners. Conspiracies? Genocide? Too strong a word? Well, when past opponents and dissenters slowly disappear from the public eye—or are slowly worn down, seeking nothing more than closure—you start to wonder if this is all just coincidence. Even those who rank junior, yet bear the heritage of once-powerful clans like the 胡氏 (Hú shì), have to keep one eye open. After all, history is written by the victors. And some histories are erased before they can even be told.

Take the 胡氏 (Hú shì)—once known for dominating the realms of medicine, free press, and philanthropy. Now, they are like antique vases tucked away in a forgotten corner of a museum—admired by few, remembered by fewer. Some say meritocracy failed them. Others say the game was rigged from the start.

But let’s not get too gloomy. I’ve been having tremendous fun with some of the other Lees—you know, those who were ostracized by their own clan. One hurls whirlwinds in the local stock markets, another served the US Department of Justice, rubbing shoulders with Donald Trump and other power brokers. It’s like the family split into two: one side plotting, the other side plotting to survive.

Speaking of plots, I’ll be heading overseas soon to meet yet another Lee. We’ve got business to discuss, strategies to align, and perhaps history to rewrite… or at least have a laugh over dinner.

But if you don’t hear from me after April, and my posts vanish from May onwards, you can draw your own conclusions. I could very well find myself in a compromising position, career destroyed—just like it happened to others before me (as a 陈 (Chén) once warned). Maybe the Lees decided I was one Lee too many. Maybe they politely encouraged me to take a permanent sabbatical. After all, I’ve been managing my global businesses virtually for a decade, but now… they’ve somehow convinced me to travel.

If I disappear, send your regards. Or send a search party. But remember, if the Lee Clan really wanted me gone, I probably would’ve left the building a long time ago.

P.S: You could also be a ‘One Lee,’ too many, too.

Of course, not every Lee is part of the grand conspiracy. There’s still the secular “Physician Lee,” quietly going around healing people. After all, my own family has benefited from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques you won’t find in any Western medical journals.

Here’s an Easter egg—think of it like the end-credit scene in a movie.

Here’s a tip: I might be a ‘Foo’, but I’m no ‘Fool’. I’m a 胡 (Hú), of Hakka descent—not a 符 (Fú), Hainanese descent.

Funny how that works. Recently, there’s been quite the masquerade by a 符 (Fú, Foo) who’s drawn a rather convenient line between herself and the current ‘Optimus Prime’ Minister—who just so happens to be of Hainanese descent, too, though his family name is 黄 (Huáng, Wong). An impressive connection to flaunt at dinner parties… or when you need to remind people which faction you’re really batting for.

But hey, dynasties do love a good family tree—especially when they can redraw the branches.

Mystics of the East. Business of the East. Politics of the East? Maybe it’s just the Rise of the East.

We Chinese fight like nobody’s business—internally. But how we deal with the rest of the world? That’s a mystery. Are we still fighting, or have we made peace? It’s like Tao. The Way… elusive as ever.

Having read this, would you like to fight us?

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