Acting Under Orders

This is an interesting article. (However, I think you go a little bit overboard with the criticism and also the comparison implied in the first paragraph is not a fair one.) I have never been inside Singapore (except for the airport) but everything I have heard has been positive. The last time it made headlines here in the US was with the caning incident of those graffiti maker students. It’s my understanding that the Japanese are also similar (in the sense that there is a great emphasis on being and remaining a part of the homogeneous whole). I do agree that individual creativity can get stifled in setups like the one you describe. I suppose the bottom-line is people get what they deserve (and want).

[Of course Singapore operates efficiently, no dissenters are tolerated. They are weeded out and punished.]
In some ways, one is reminded of India during the 1975-1977 “emergency” rule – probably one of the rarest times in history that trains ran punctually. Of course, the people got rid of that regime at the first opportunity.

Wade

The old Singapore, when it was a little more dirty, a little poorer, a little messier, it was an enjoyable Singapore to visit. It was more human, natural and easy.

Then, somewhere along the line, they became completely commercial and mechanical - with $ 70 billion exports, they started to take themselves a bit too seriosly. And lost the human touch.

Their official policy became ``Singapore is expensive, so be it. We only want rich tourists``. The city state Regulations became like the Regulations of a hospital.

I tried to pick up conversation with the Taxi Driver and asked his name. He replied ``You do not need to know my name``.

Not trying to make a generalization but the Singapore Chinese are mechanical, commercially driven and rude. There is a big contrast between them and the Chinese who live on the mainland in the countryside like the Shinjan province.

I agree with you.

nhk

You need to get back at those taxi drivers.

One asked me how I liked Singapore. I told him it was crean and gleen, la.

It also depends on the taxu driver you get. An Indian taxi driver told me that NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) stands for ``Never Trust Union Chief``!

There is a whole lot of resentment but at election time, the citizens -- except in a few constituencies -- decide to go with the devil they know called the People`s Action Party.

THis gora banda must have got lash for lazy filthy redneck behaviour.

why such anger......did u receive lashes for littering....he he