Revisiting "Disneyland with the Death Penalty"

[nakatago]

Written by a Singaporean this time. With a "pedigree."

It is now nearly 20 years since William Gibson wrote his infamous article on Singapore which got Wired banned for a time. What saddened Gibson most was that our government might have found a way to have prosperity, progress and innovation without sacrificing central control and whilst repressing freedom. The thing is, he needn’t have worried.

I hope Wired.com doesn't get blocked because of this.


http://www.wired.com/opinion/2012/04/op ... th-penalty

Mugabe gets a shout out too!

[sundaymorningstaple]

I remember the hoohaa when William Gibson wrote the original article. Interesting, but not surprising, the writer this time. He's pegged it as well.

[morenangpinay]

what he wrote about are only problems on the surface... there are more actually if you dig a bit deeper. I'd like to write about it but I'm afraid I'll end up in jail.

[nakatago]

what he wrote about are only problems on the surface... there are more actually if you dig a bit deeper. I'd like to write about it but I'm afraid I'll end up in jail.

Probably because he's Singaporean and that somebody already gave his dad an ass-whoopin' and he'd like to, you know, live a life?

[JR8]

Thanks for posting that, very interesting.

I'd wondered why the SGn government have brought such trouble upon themselves by the rampant increase in population. Perhaps national GDP is all that matters to them?

[ecureilx]

Thanks for posting that, very interesting.

I'd wondered why the SGn government have brought such trouble upon themselves by the rampant increase in population. Perhaps national GDP is all that matters to them?

On a related subject, a very interesting observation of the MRT failures, by a Singaporean colleague here ...

MRT was listed, and the company's interest is to turn a profit. Or not to turn a loss. As the main shareholder, Temasek Holdings, which in turn, is answerable to the joe public, needs to ensure profit is achieved.

Now, the colleague said, if they were to use 10$ titanium bolt instead of 1$ bolt steel botl, they will have to cut profit. So use the cheapest .. cost control right ? If they had no profit motive, they may have used the most expensive and best quality bolt. Alas, Cannot lah !

Now, when the train breaks down, it is the same Joe public who is mad. Now, who's money is in SMRT ? and would the same Joe Public be happy to see his GIC / Temasek Money make a loss ?

And the government can't allow more competitors, because they may eat into SMRT's profits, i.e. Public profit. i.e. Singaporean Money !

See ? it's a catch 22 !!!

he started off, telling me that years ago, any apartment near MRT commanded super-premium prices, as those days, even with the NS and EW Line - before the extension to the Airport- MRT breakdown would have been as shocking as the SQ006- simply cannot do .. and now ?

PS: Kenneth's read is interesting - though no comments

[JR8]

Someone sent me a link to a blog article this week, 'Singapore Dissident'...


Holy smokes...