America Could Learn From Singapore

[MoltenRock III]

As opposed to a [strike]troll[/strike] thread demeaning Singapore recently, I thought it was quite telling that just today in the New York Times this article appeared entitled; "Serious in Singapore", by Thomas Friedman.

Singapore probably has the freest market in the world; it doesn’t believe in import tariffs, minimum wages or unemployment insurance. But it believes regulators need to make sure markets work properly — because they can’t on their own — and it subsidizes homeownership and education to give everyone a foundation to become self-reliant. Singapore copied the German model that strives to put everyone who graduates from high school on a track for higher education, but only about 40 percent go to universities. Others are tracked to polytechnics or vocational institutes, so the vast majority graduate with the skills to get a job, whether it be as a plumber or a scientist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/opinion/30friedman.html?ref=global

While Singapore is far from perfect, as no country is, it has thrived because of this pragmatism in governing. As the article mentions home ownership is subsidized and 89% (the highest in the world) of Singaporeans own their own homes. Additionally, when using PPP (purchasing power parity) to compare GDP and income per capita the average Singaporean is 10% to 20% better off financially than the average American.

Singapore has an extremely low crime rate, and an extremely strict gun law. The government is extremely strict regarding drug running, arms dealing, and company owners/operators knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, with them facing the death penalty in a number of instances, and most certainly caning, and stiff fines and prison terms.

 

[MoltenRock III]

What I liked about the article is that much like Germany, the government supports the idea that not everyone should go to college, while still preparing them to make a living, something American schools I feel fall short on.

Not everyone is book smart enough, or have the desire to go to university. But just because a student may not want to doesn't mean he/she should face a lifetime of poverty and no economic opportunities.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

all cultures got soooooooooooooooooooo much unlearn

wish um well cause no other home ta go ta

 

[Lostlover]

Let me guess, Singapore has a low crime rate because of a high gun ownership rate?

 

[justapixel]

Let me guess, Singapore has a low crime rate because of a high gun ownership rate?

No, it is because they imprison everyone.

As it has been pointed out many times, they will even imprison you just because you are gay.

How someone can suggest that American should "learn" to imprison gays from Singapore disgusts me.

 

[MoltenRock III]

Let me guess, Singapore has a low crime rate because of a high gun ownership rate?

The only way to own a gun in Singapore is if you have a license for "sport shooting". And if my understanding is correct your gun MUST stay on the range and gun vault of the sportsman club you belong to. The only other way is if you are a peace office for hire (private security). However, if a private security person fires and kills another person who does not have a gun, they will face the death penalty themselves. The licensing and training is mandatory in Singapore to own a gun.

The average Asian who haven't traveled to the USA, by-in-large think every American walks around with a weapon on their person, is violent, and very dangerous to travel to. This attitude or preconceived idea permeates even into anime. Check out Miami Guns anime and it pretty much sums up the violence Asians see in America.

Is that fair? Not really, but not completely false either, ya know?

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

You can't have it both ways.

If you're going to be so overtly negative about the U.S. for its flaws, then you should expect people to call you on the way you're dismissive about the social climate in Singapore.

vast dif of USA it plot lands ans da origion of from make signapore so amazin vast

but when countrys before da events create stop one sec ans think

much 19th 20th ans 21 stcentury no got happen

one thing a common all cultures is how survive in um!

dat da acheievenemt take of go check 1 thousand 2 thousand go on a bit

one day humans spend more time lookin out ans not their internal organs they keep wanna rearrange ta fit da present what repeat in new clothes no matter female or male of 21st century what not no any shame or remorse or humility

but same old ways

if no can read it pop head out window ans see where bullets flyin past made from

 

[MoltenRock III]

You can't have it both ways.

If you're going to be so overtly negative about the U.S. for its flaws, then you should expect people to call you on the way you're dismissive about the social climate in Singapore.

The average Singaporean is getting wealthier, and wealthier. Freedoms are expanding. The economy is booming. And the education is in the top 5 or 10 by country.

The USA USED to be #1 in nearly all categories. The USA is MY country. I am a resident and guest of Singapore. I see Singapore doing "the right things" compared to the USA doing nothing, nadda, zip, zero. It kills me to see my home country (the USA) plummeting like a roller coaster into oblivion. My brothers and sisters along with all my nieces and nephews live in the USA (except for 1 brother living in China now) and I see nothing but reduced opportunities and living standards unless the US makes a huge 180 degree change.

I see the USA on the same trajectory as Britain as her empire collapsed. I don't want that for my country. Fortunately, I have other opportunities and carry more than just a USA passport / nationality.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

usa or singapore or any country all suffer same problem

ans 1 is this thred demo it

any way

wish alls well around world shakin their heads at da same never endin ways of civlization from MANS view of course

 

[hotatlboi]

As opposed to a [strike]troll[/strike] thread demeaning Singapore recently

You have this annoying habit of saying anyone you disagree with is a troll.

Here though, you took it a step further.

You called someone a troll not simply for expressing an opinion you disagreed with, but for communicating a fact. It is a fact that you can go to jail for being gay in Singapore.

I'm sorry if that fact is inconvenient for you, but it is a fact nonetheless. And I agree that since you are so over the top in your criticism of the US, your failure to acknowledge the flaws in Singapore is extremely hypocritical.

 

[bankside]

How does Singapore deal with people who can't work due to disability?
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incidentally, see how easy it is to stay on topic???

 

[chance1]

You can't have it both ways.

If you're going to be so overtly negative about the U.S. for its flaws, then you should expect people to call you on the way you're dismissive about the social climate in Singapore.

You have this annoying habit of saying anyone you disagree with is a troll.

Here though, you took it a step further.

You called someone a troll not simply for expressing an opinion you disagreed with, but for communicating a fact. It is a fact that you can go to jail for being gay in Singapore.

I'm sorry if that fact is inconvenient for you, but it is a fact nonetheless. And I agree that since you are so over the top in your criticism of the US, your failure to acknowledge the flaws in Singapore is extremely hypocritical.

True

And

True x 2

Good to see the truth being told and u being called on ur overt nastiness and over developed sense of self importance

 

[LGNTexas]

When I moved to Houston several decades ago, my neighbor was a young German chef working at one of our finer hotels He joined our poker games and joked that he was "too dumb" to attend the German gymnasium college prep high school, so was given a choice of tech schools. He said he didn't want to be a welder, machinist, mason, but liked to eat so chose four years of culinary training.

He became a favorite chef for some of Houston's wealthy preparing off the menu and flaming foods at their tables. A couple of these customers offered to set him up in his own restaurant and that one store became a small chain. He is now a millionaire "dumb kid" from Germany. We tend to push every kid in our schools to be doctors or lawyers and we don't need all of them anyway. Time to follow a European model.

 

[RobinGoodfellow]

Let me guess, Singapore has a low crime rate because of a high gun ownership rate?

Nope. It has a low crime rate because you can be sent to jail for anything, even spitting on the sidewalk. You have limited freedom of expression, and Heaven help you if you disagree with governmental policy. Not to mention they make the US look like pikers when it comes to punishing people for drugs. And if you are even the slightest bit different than the "average" citizen you end up paying for it in numerous ways.

I hate sounding like a patriot, but the US flaws are due to our freedoms rather than an abusive need to the same...

RG

 

[JB3]

Do us a favor MRIII : if you think Singapore is so great, stay there. Try being an openly gay man in Singapore, and let us know how long it lasts before you end up in prison. Your constant America-bashing is getting old, and your faux concern for your 'home' country isn't fooling anyone.

 

[Sausy]

When I moved to Houston several decades ago, my neighbor was a young German chef working at one of our finer hotels He joined our poker games and joked that he was "too dumb" to attend the German gymnasium college prep high school, so was given a choice of tech schools. He said he didn't want to be a welder, machinist, mason, but liked to eat so chose four years of culinary training.

He became a favorite chef for some of Houston's wealthy preparing off the menu and flaming foods at their tables. A couple of these customers offered to set him up in his own restaurant and that one store became a small chain. He is now a millionaire "dumb kid" from Germany. We tend to push every kid in our schools to be doctors or lawyers and we don't need all of them anyway. Time to follow a European model.

Maybe off topic in a direct manner but very compelling...I've heard some American conservatives and liberals actually saying the same thing.Not everyone is college material,many may not have the temperament and desire plus face it,colleges can be enormously expensive.Gaining technical skills needed in an ever changing economic climate makes far better sense for a good number of people who might feel pressured to get into college without the desire or academic skills.People can make a good life for themselves without a bachelor's degree....and I'm certain the cost differential of a good technical school vs a traditional four year college is very significant.

 

[Lostlover]

A mechanic, barber, policeman (or policeperson for the feminist) and plumber all make more than teachers. And they don't have thousands of dollars of debt like a teacher.

 

[MoltenRock III]

You have this annoying habit of saying anyone you disagree with is a troll.

Here though, you took it a step further.

You called someone a troll not simply for expressing an opinion you disagreed with, but for communicating a fact. It is a fact that you can go to jail for being gay in Singapore.

I'm sorry if that fact is inconvenient for you, but it is a fact nonetheless. And I agree that since you are so over the top in your criticism of the US, your failure to acknowledge the flaws in Singapore is extremely hypocritical.

No, it was not a "fact" it was a lie. The poster who made that thread has left. The very example he used was an utter lie.

You do not go to jail in Singapore for "being gay". Can you go to jail for having sex in public bathrooms? Yup. And that applies to both gay and straight. Yet even that is barely enforced. The same goes for men having sex with men in American bathrooms. You can go to prison/jail for such.

The silly penal code the former [strike]troll[/strike] poster used was 377, which was has been on the books since British rule. So you can thank Victorian mores for such nonsense. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Singapore in 2007 said "As recognition that homosexuals “are often responsible, invaluable, and highly respected contributing members of society”, the government would not "proactively enforce section 377A on them", effectively meaning that gays and straights face the same punishment if found engaging in sex in public places.

Unfortunately, so many Americans are blinded by their nationalism that they refuse to think they could learn a lesson from another country or region of the world. It's always excuse making. "But....but......but..... that country is only 1/2 the size/twice the size/too large/too new/too old/et al.... to compare".

My critique of the USA is not "bashing" but rather to wake people up to what's going on in the world. If you haven't traveled the world lately, or regularly, you have no idea what the hell is going on out there. At some point the issues in the USA must be dealt with, either proactively or reactively.... the only question is; which will it be?

 

[MoltenRock III]

Nope. It has a low crime rate because you can be sent to jail for anything, even spitting on the sidewalk. You have limited freedom of expression, and Heaven help you if you disagree with governmental policy. Not to mention they make the US look like pikers when it comes to punishing people for drugs. And if you are even the slightest bit different than the "average" citizen you end up paying for it in numerous ways.

I hate sounding like a patriot, but the US flaws are due to our freedoms rather than an abusive need to the same...

RG

How much time have you spent in Singapore? Did you live there for a few months / years?

 

[IllgetyouHackman]

Do us a favor MRIII : if you think Singapore is so great, stay there. Try being an openly gay man in Singapore, and let us know how long it lasts before you end up in prison. Your constant America-bashing is getting old, and your faux concern for your 'home' country isn't fooling anyone.

Oh damn someone beat me to it. I wish I could post the South Park clip. "If you don't like 'Merica you can git out!"