Singapore is a marvelous place to live in.
If you are:
-A technocrat, STEM professional, or white collar
-Apolitical or aligned with the government
-Respectful and/or fearful of power
-Disinterested in everything outside bread and butter issues and immediate concerns.
/1
If you are:
-A technocrat, STEM professional, or white collar
-Apolitical or aligned with the government
-Respectful and/or fearful of power
-Disinterested in everything outside bread and butter issues and immediate concerns.
/1
Singapore promises peace, progress and prosperity to people of all backgrounds. In exchange, it asks only that you buy into the following values:
-Social stability
-Racial and religious harmony
-All-powerful government
-State, Party, Nation, People as one
-Work uber alles
/2
-Social stability
-Racial and religious harmony
-All-powerful government
-State, Party, Nation, People as one
-Work uber alles
/2
Citizens who prize stability, conformity, wealth, work, order, law, convenience, comfort and technology will love Singapore.
Rulers who love obedient and trusting people will love Singapore.
Every facet of life bends towards creating and reinforcing such people and values. /3
Rulers who love obedient and trusting people will love Singapore.
Every facet of life bends towards creating and reinforcing such people and values. /3
But what if you don't love these values?
If you grant culture and philosophy at least the same weight as employment and money?
If you prefer to look outside the box?
If you have no in-demand skills and barely make enough to get by?
There's no place for you. /4
If you grant culture and philosophy at least the same weight as employment and money?
If you prefer to look outside the box?
If you have no in-demand skills and barely make enough to get by?
There's no place for you. /4
Do you want to work 45 to 60 hours a week and burn holidays and weekends without overtime pay?
Do you want to give the State between 12.5 to 37% of your wages in forced savings?
Do you chase efficiency, prosperity and novelty; and discard tradition, beauty and humanity?
/5
Do you want to give the State between 12.5 to 37% of your wages in forced savings?
Do you chase efficiency, prosperity and novelty; and discard tradition, beauty and humanity?
/5
Do you approve of a press absolutely free to publish everything the government tells it to?
What about a state that punishes everyone who steps outside the boundaries with regulations, lawsuits, fines and prison?
Or police with the power to detain anyone without trial? /6
What about a state that punishes everyone who steps outside the boundaries with regulations, lawsuits, fines and prison?
Or police with the power to detain anyone without trial? /6
Singapore society is built for a specific kind of personality -- and only that kind of personality.
The answers to these questions will tell you how you will feel about Singapore.
As for myself, anyone who reads my books and timeline will quickly divine the answer. /7
The answers to these questions will tell you how you will feel about Singapore.
As for myself, anyone who reads my books and timeline will quickly divine the answer. /7
But I will say this:
One of the many informal nicknames I've heard for Singapore is Sin Gang Kor.
In Hokkien, this means 'New Suffering'.
/end
One of the many informal nicknames I've heard for Singapore is Sin Gang Kor.
In Hokkien, this means 'New Suffering'.
/end
