&gt; So, you would prefer to live in a North Korea to the South?<p>1. That&#x27;s a false dichotomy -those are not the only options. The unstated implication (western-style democracy = success, communism = failure) is also wrong because there are many other orthogonal dimensions at play<p>2. Is South Korea a puppet state or a colony?<p>3. I think what you are <i>really</i> asking me is if I would rather be Fed or Free. There is no correct answer, but I would prefer both. How about you; would you rather be oppressed and flourishing or free and impoverished?