Wow What A Difference Between ICANN San Francisco & Singapore: The United States Could Learn A Lot From Singapore
Singapore is one of those places I probably would never have visited if not to attend the ICANN meeting which just concluded this week.
I’m certainly glad I had the opportunity.
The last ICANN meeting in March of 2011, was held in San Francisco and the comparison between those two cities is remarkable.
Travel is always mind expanding for me.
To see how other people live, learn about other cultures and see how other countries operate.
Singapore is another one of these countries like Hong Kong and Panama, which has little to no income tax and which seems to be booming while our economy shows no signs of life.
Everywhere you look there is huge construction projects, busy restaurants and bars and overall a dynamic energy of success rather than a society trying to avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy.
I’m told that Singapore, unlike the US, which is as we all know $14 trillion in debt, has a huge surplus.
So much of a surplus that while many cities in the US are cancelling their independence day fireworks and celebration plans, Singapore is literally just pissing money away by already practicing on every Saturday night for its independence day celebration which is not until August.
To be clear I just watched for the second Saturday, a practice of the independence day celebration with fly overs of f-18 or f-22′s, helicopter demonstrations and fireworks even though their actual celebration is not until mid-august.
So you get the idea.
In the US a lot of cities can’t afford to celebrate independence day, while Singapore can afford to practice it’s independence day for 6 weeks.
Singapore like all countries have to make money and the way they choose to do it is by levying high duties on purchases.
That Mercedes Benz you can buy in the US for $150K might cost you $800K in Singapore plus $65K for a license plate for 10 years, but then if you don’t want or can’t afford to spend $800K on a Mercedes Benz then don’t, take the train, bus or buy a Honda.
Voluntary taxation.
No one in the US believes people will tax themselves but they will.
If people can can afford and want something they will pay for it.
Likewise if you have a Singapore passport you have to pay $100 to enter a casino.
I’m told quite unofficially that 2,500 Singaporean’s pay $100 each day for the privilege of losing money to the casino (actually to enter the casino) but once again that’s a choice not an obligation.
Once again I’m told that the Sands hotel/casino which cost some $6 Billion to built, on land which used to be the sea, makes more money than any casino in the world, just 1 year into operation.
Sin taxes are quite present in Singapore where beer, wine and alcohol are ridiculously expensive.
I have seen beer for selling for upwards of $27 (plus 10% service change and 7% sales tax that is include in everything)
I would say these “sin” items are at least 3 times the cost in the US if not more, but you don’t have to drink.
Of course everyone gets free medical care.
I’m also told that unemployment is no more than 2%.
Also almost more amazing of what I saw in Singapore is what I didn’t see.
In 10 days I didn’t see a homeless person, anyone sleeping in a street or a park or anyone begging for money.
I can’t recall even hearing a police siren, actually I hardly saw any police anywhere except for directing traffic.
You can walk anywhere in the city anytime of day and feel and actually be perfectly safe.
Try that in New York, Miami or Detroit.
And definitely not in San Fransisco where not only was every corner occupied by people aggressively begging for money but even lobby of the hotel that ICANN was based out was regularly visited by people wanting you to give them money all day and all night.
San Fransisco was also the place where we were just a block down the street having dinner with friends when gunshots went off and 5 people were shot.
No its not Singapore.
We all hear about the strict laws in Singapore.
Before we got here plenty of people reminded us not to spit on the ground or chew gum or you will get a good canning.
Well the streets are spotless.
If you want a parking spot there are digital signs are all over the city telling you in real time how many parking spots are available in each lot.
If your waiting for a bus or train, there are digital signs telling you how long until the next bus or train is coming (usually measured by no more than 5 minutes)
In 10 days driving around town in taxi’s I didn’t feel a pothole in the road.
I didn’t see one mark of graffiti anywhere in the country.
Not on the subway
Not on the buildings
Not on the roadways
I’m told the highest tax rate anyone pays on their income is 10%.
Singapore has become a huge financial and banking center a mecca of shopping with probably more high end designer stores per mile than anywhere I have ever been including New York City. There are just malls after malls here mostly all with worldwide national brands. Its like miles and miles of 5th avenue in New York, there isn’t a Chanel store there are 10 of them in 10 different malls.
The subway is spotless and I guess for good reason.
If you litter on the train its a $500 fine, litter means throwing or dropping anything on the ground or on the seat.
If you eat or drink on the train its a $1K fine
If you smoke its $5K fine.
Like I said the trains and subway are spotless.
What the trains do have is free Wifi and it seems everyone is on their smart phone and iPads.
I went to a performance of a show at the Sands and before the show there was not the announcement we all here in the US, “please turn your cell phones off”
Yet although I would say 85% of everyone old enough to have a phone was using them up to show time as soon as the lights dimmed all phones went away and not one went off during the show. At intermission it was the same. Everyone was back on their phones even iPads but as soon as the lights went down, without any announcement all phone were put away.
Crime has been in large part inbred out of society.
Its just not something that is done by many and most regard those who do it as being rather stupid.
So while I wasn’t too excited about the thought of coming to Singapore I’m leaving with some regret.
In a few days I will have to go back to looking over my shoulder to make sure no one is trying to take my stuff, or harm myself or my family.
I will be back in an environment wherever you looks there is bad economic news; foreclosures, store and restaurant closings, tons of people out of work for years families really hurting and an environment where the government wants to be your equal partner in every dollar you make.
Some think Singapore is too clean, too sterile, too nice.
But I’m going to miss it.
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Wrong,
This is not about differences in culture or values that different societies want to uphold, when it comes to torture its something that concerns us all regardless of where it is taking place.
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It’s not too hard to understand, really. You’d have to be pretty much retarded to not understand it, but its a domain blog and there’s no sense needlessly dragging that discussion here.
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Its a simple question and yet you have to become insulting. I have noticed that this “industry” is full of people that lack basic manners no wonder there seems to be news about some scam or another every month. A lack of manners are usually accompanied by a lack of principles.
@ojohn
First I’m not saying I’m a fan or not of anything in particular a culture does. Generally I almost always agree with the “American Way”.
That being said, regarding your last comment, check out the Hamer People of Southwestern Ethiopia. Here is the wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamer_people
What would you like to do about the Hamer People? They have been featured on NatGeo many times so it’s not like nobody knows about them.
When your economy is heavily based on services instead of manufacturing or agriculture, then the retaliatory penalty for high tariffs on imported goods is low. In other words, you can get away with high tariffs if you aren’t worried about tariffs that other countries are going to impose on your own goods. It also helps to have a ready pool of non-permanent resident workers from surrounding low income countries.
“Have you been to every country in the world?”
LOL!
MHB +1
The other thing that’s funny is that Americans seem to believe they are truly free to think and say whatever they want. That is true. But if an American ever compares America to another country and suggest he likes the other country as much or more, he’ll hit a nerve in a lot of other Americans. It never fails. Sure he’s free to state his preferences but not with being questioned or criticised. He might wonder if it’s even worth exercising his “freedom” in that regard. Why bother? Chances are it will fall on deaf ears.
@JP
There are many examples of human rights violations that exist all around the World, the question is are we going to accept or even embrace them or are we as the human race obligated to do our best to address and correct them.
And please don’t get me wrong, I am not criticizing mike for having enjoyed his trip, all I am saying is that we should be careful not to be fooled by material things to the point that we are going to close our eyes to torture.
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Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are the best and prosperous cities in South East Asia.
Kuala Lumpur is rich in multi cultural society in the world.
Singapore is the cleanest city in the world.
Americans never fail to amuse. Bruised egos and a really, really sick psyche. Defending themselves when nobody was even attacking them.
I’m sure some of you Americans must feel a little embarrassed for the blind patriotism that is so prevalent in your society. Oh wait, you can’t – that would be un-American.
Get a fucking education and stop comparing yourselves to the rest of the World when nobody asked you to. Most of us hear nothing but blind ignorance towards the larger issues, most of which America fails at best.
Enjoy your economy and the bed you sleep in – just remember you created it!
Get a fucking education and stop comparing yourselves to the rest of the World when nobody asked you to.
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You couldn’t be further off base.
To the contrary, for the most part, America doesn’t give a shit about the rest of the world, whereas you can go to most countries in Europe and at any time of the day, turn on the TV and they’ll be either talking about America, showing American shows, or doing those “man on the street” segments where they produce some toothless retard from Louisiana and mock him when he can’t identify Joe Biden in a photograph… because that’s what all Americans are.
If anything, we probably err a bit much in our total lack of consideration for the notions of other countries, but really, why should we?
(and PS- that’s ‘arrogance’ more than ‘ego’. Ego can be healthy and credible, but arrogance is always obnoxious when you’re confronted by it)
Oh, and for the record, it’s pretty amusing to compare downtown Singapore with downtown San Francisco.
One is the pinnacle of social order by way of strict social mandate, the other, the exact opposite; probably the most ‘permissive’ society imaginable (in the United States, anyway)-
One is clean, orderly, prosperous and safe while the other… not.
whether discussing .co or geography, can we not be civil here?
benno, americans are often defensive because in america citizens are constantly attacking each other. american political campaigns are the pinnacle of this circus. argument and criticism are a big part of the culture. being defensive is a reflex. and of course the blind patriotism is embarassing. because it’s usually coupled with severe ignorance. if something isn’t done, lack of education and an ever-growing level of ignorance will destroy america as we once knew it, slowly but surely. it’s very sad. but these issues are not unique to any one country. many countries have suffered from problems with patriotism and lack of education. it’s a worldwide problem and any country call fall victim to it. no one needs permission to compare their country with any other. not sure where you get that idea. we can all learn from each other.
@Ojohn – “We should not embrace canning and some of the other inhumane ways that these kinds of Countries treat their own people no matter how well polished their society looks on the surface. Material things should not make us close our eyes to torture. ”
I do endorse canning of criminals if it means there are going to be far fewer of them. Wouldn’t you? Fewer ciminals means fewer victims. Get your priorities sorted out.
Canning criminals is cruel and inhumane. Sure, there would be less criminals because they would be in cans but I think jarring and pickling is more humane because at least from a jar they could see outside.
Chris
There is a lot of cruel and inhumane conduct by people & governments a like all around the world
Personally if one person has to get canned to prevent hundreds of children from getting abducted each year and worse like in the US its well worth it
The question is
Canning criminals is cruel and inhumane.
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No, it isn’t.
It’s quite possibly the only thing that ‘criminals’ understand and a perfectly reasonable response to anti-social behaviors. That we no longer do it explains why our societies are so chaotic and dangerous in many places.
I swear to god, if I could forcibly remove everyone from their suburbs, gated communities and enclave, bus them straight into the South Side of Chicago then drop them off for a month or two, their outlook on life would completely reorient, once ‘being sheltered’ gave way to ‘being experienced’.
The majority of the people around the World who are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment are not what you might consider true criminals.
There are fanatic and extremist groups in every society around the World who will not hesitate to use any means at their disposal (torture, killings, or spreading fear) to force their ideology on others. Once these groups manage to take control of their government they make their fanatic and extremist ideologies into law and then they can violate everyone’s human rights with impunity. Whether their fanatic and extremist ideologies are based on religion, politics, race, culture or just plain hunger for money and power the end result is always the same, a dictatorial or fascist government that only thinks of its own survival and is willing to kill and torture to maintain its control over the people.
Look at women in Saudi Arabia who are put in jail because they want equal rights as men (women are still not allowed to drive or vote or travel on their own). Race and Gender discrimination whether towards women or others accounts for the majority of the human rights violations around the World.
No one should be subjected to torture, even true criminals should be controlled and managed in a way that is compatible with human rights principals. All those hardcore criminals were once three year old kids that could have been brought up to be normal and productive adults in a more perfect World.
PS: I think I have said enough, I don’t want to get canned here on this blog.
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Check out the Wikipedia page for Capital_punishment_in_Singapore for some interesting statistics.
For all you ex-GoDaddy elephant fans, note the “Past methods”.
Singapore had the world’s highest per capita executions from 1994-1999?
USA has highest incarceration rate per capita?
However the individual states vary on the adoption and use of capital punishment?
The USA is almost 300 times the size of Singapore?
True or false?
Note: Failure to check facts may result in an incorrect answer.