4 ms·

There are a lot of valid concerns with regards to Singapore's excessive central planning, governmental and social disapproval of nonconformity, etc. But this pi

by austinz 12y ago

There are a lot of valid concerns with regards to Singapore's excessive central planning, governmental and social disapproval of nonconformity, etc. But this piece really does sound like the perspective of a disappointed poverty tourist. There is a huge difference between visiting filth and slums and red-light districts and desperate people struggling to get by, and having to live there all your life. Singapore did a lot of things wrong, but part of the reason it is so (unnervingly) clean and prosperous and ordered is because the government has made an effort (not completely successful, and again perhaps with not all the right methods) to provide the denizens of the country with places to live and ways to make a decent living.

stefantalpalaru 12y ago
> ways to make a decent living Many old people are still in the work force because they don't have the option to retire and keep on surviving: http://therealsingapore.com/content/why-are-frail-elderly-still-working-s%E2%80%99pore http://therealsingapore.com/content/why-are-frail-elderly-st...
anon8418 12y ago
All that is also possible because of stupidly cheap labor from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. Nearly every middle class household here has their own maid. They are not treated that well... Driving around Singapore you see trucks carrying loads of migrant workers everywhere you go. When you first arrive its heartbreaking to see, but of course one gets "used" to it over time. I suppose Singapore > Qatar.
- judk 12y ago
  This is similar to USA, but the slaves mostly stay in Asia and Latin Americs, and their work is imported to USA.
- MarkMc 12y ago
  But what caused the huge disparity in the cost of labour between Singapore and those other countries? In the case of Qatar the disparity is clearly due to oil. For Singapore I think the answer is simply better economic management.

by austinz 12y ago

stefantalpalaru 12y ago

> ways to make a decent living Many old people are still in the work force because they don't have the option to retire and keep on surviving: http://therealsingapore.com/content/why-are-frail-elderly-still-working-s%E2%80%99pore http://therealsingapore.com/content/why-are-frail-elderly-st...

anon8418 12y ago

All that is also possible because of stupidly cheap labor from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. Nearly every middle class household here has their own maid. They are not treated that well... Driving around Singapore you see trucks carrying loads of migrant workers everywhere you go. When you first arrive its heartbreaking to see, but of course one gets "used" to it over time. I suppose Singapore > Qatar.

judk 12y ago
This is similar to USA, but the slaves mostly stay in Asia and Latin Americs, and their work is imported to USA.
MarkMc 12y ago
But what caused the huge disparity in the cost of labour between Singapore and those other countries? In the case of Qatar the disparity is clearly due to oil. For Singapore I think the answer is simply better economic management.