41–50 of 157 posts
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Why? Many other countries come close to that ratio. Is there something intrinsically bad about that?
I think the bigger problem is that we manufacture many more guns than we can use, which is basically tacit support for the guns for drug trade.
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Their economic production is quite remarkable. Circa 2001 their GDP per capita was 1/3 lower than Japan, and about 1/5 lower than Hong Kong. They suffered a decade of stagnation from the early 1990s until 2003. They've been on a tear ever since, with GDP per capita now 45% higher than Japan and Hong Kong. Quite a jump in just 13 or 14 years. Likely within another few years they'll pass Malaysia in GDP, with Malaysia…
I think with China weakening, it can't continue. We are probably in for a second Asian Financial Crisis in the next few years. Also, Singapore is very much like Switzerland: they have to import many/most of their workers, except whereas Switzerland focuses on the high end, they focus on both (importing Chinese bus drivers and American programmers). Its a weird mix that isn't sustainable (also, they should stop using…
There are plenty more foreigners willing to emigrate to a prosperous and safe city state.
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I think with China weakening, it can't continue. We are probably in for a second Asian Financial Crisis in the next few years. Also, Singapore is very much like Switzerland: they have to import many/most of their workers, except whereas Switzerland focuses on the high end, they focus on both (importing Chinese bus drivers and American programmers). Its a weird mix that isn't sustainable (also, they should stop using…
How specifically is it not sustainable? There are plenty more foreigners willing to emigrate to a prosperous and safe city state.
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The 1:1 ratio of guns to people is shocking to the majority of the civilised world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP3HJVp3n9c
Why? Many other countries come close to that ratio. Is there something intrinsically bad about that?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Their economic production is quite remarkable. Circa 2001 their GDP per capita was 1/3 lower than Japan, and about 1/5 lower than Hong Kong. They suffered a decade of stagnation from the early 1990s until 2003. They've been on a tear ever since, with GDP per capita now 45% higher than Japan and Hong Kong. Quite a jump in just 13 or 14 years. Likely within another few years they'll pass Malaysia in GDP, with Malaysia…
I think with China weakening, it can't continue. We are probably in for a second Asian Financial Crisis in the next few years. Also, Singapore is very much like Switzerland: they have to import many/most of their workers, except whereas Switzerland focuses on the high end, they focus on both (importing Chinese bus drivers and American programmers). Its a weird mix that isn't sustainable (also, they should stop using…
Quite a few people I spoke to were from China and said they came to the country to study. As I understand they are provided full scholarships if they stay to work for X years after completing their studies.
You are right about lower class workers though - Singapore and Malaysia, like GCC countries, also import a lot of construction workers from India.
One of the greatest leaders of modern times. Singapore was a backwater country with no natural resources when he came to power. It's since evolved into one of the primary economic hubs in Asia, with a higher per-capita GDP than her former colonizers, Great Britain. To transform a country in such short a time is nothing short of remarkable.
You might want to look deeper into that. Economically Singapore has been well run, every other way is up for debate.
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Singapore will also execute anyone for simply possessing a firearm.
Your point being? The possession of firearm is illegal in the country.
When we arrived at the airport, my wife was detained because the silver earrings she was wearing were cast from a mold to look like empty bullet cartridges (with feathers and various doodads attached, nothing that had attracted any attention in any of a dozen high security settings). The bureaucrat who interrogated her claimed that whether she was in very serious trouble or not was entirely in his hands.
I'm no second amendment fanatic, but as an American, it was shocking to find myself in a position where some minor official could plausibly even claim to have so much power. The fact that Singaporean society is willing to make that kind of tradeoff for the sake of safety made me realize that it was not somewhere I could ever live.
The craziest part was that the Singaporeans and expats I met there did not even see it as a tradeoff. It was more like "these are the rules, if you follow them you will be so safe, whether the rules are right or just or good isn't a well-posed question". We were just having two different conversations.
Yes Singapore has it's own set of societal problems, but I'd rather have that than the numerous problems that is deeply entrenched in Philippine society nowadays.
Rest in peace Mr LKY. Your accomplishments are legendary.
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For what is worth, I'd rather be executed than to "live" in an American prison. The idea that solitary confinement occurs in a first world country is appalling and scary. Don't get me started on the things inmates and guards do to some people.
It takes a long time to execute people in the USA. Having an execution hanging over your head for 20 years probably makes prison much, much, much worse.
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The 1:1 ratio of guns to people is shocking to the majority of the civilised world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP3HJVp3n9c
Why? Many other countries come close to that ratio. Is there something intrinsically bad about that?
Yes, intrinsically bad. It's pretty clear to anyone who doesn't live in a gun "bubble". Number one cause of death by gun? Suicide. Watch that YouTube clip[2] in full; it summarises my opinion quite well. The second amendment makes sense in the era of muskets, but in the present day only serves to make everyday life less safe, and police officers more Ferguson-ey.
[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_guns_per_capita_by_co...
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-re...