After having been there three times now for a longer period, Singapore is the perfect blueprint for any country, according to my husband. There is hardly any unemployment, crime, corruption or poverty. Housing is well taken care off; almost 90% of the population owns its own home. The streets are kept spotless. Buddhists, Muslims, Christians and nonbelievers live happily next to each other. There are rules, many and strict. Sounds good to me, so far. But, as Utopia simply does not exists, there is a catch with Singapore as well.
Even though Singapore is a parliamentary republic, with elections for a new president every six years, it has been governed by just one party ever since 1959: the People's Action Party (PAP). Censorship, judicial corporal punishment and the death penalty are still carried out. Singapore has one of the highest execution rates in the world (more than Saudi Arabia). The zero tolerance policy applies to any sort of vandalism or violence, which is good, but also to selling chewing gum, not flushing the toilet after using it and walking around naked in your own house. Eating, drinking or smoking in a public area like the metro station can cost you 500-1000 (Singapore) dollars. And if you happen to love the same sex, there is no place for you in Singapore.
Here in Holland we definitely have a problem with rules, discipline and authority. The policeman is supposed to be 'your best friend', you address a teacher on a first name basis and paramedics are being molested trying to save someones life. Punishments are way too low here for severe crimes, vandalism and aggression. But would I like to live in a country like Singapore? Never! Nothing good ever came out of censorship and/or corporal punishment. Strict regulation is fine, but that much control of a government is no good; people should be able to have a mind of their own. And once the government starts interfering with people's private lives on that level, that's it for me. I understand the need for regulations and I like respect for authority figures and professionals, but within my own four walls I want to determine whether I walk around the house naked. Love, M.
