Money is not everything

As it is also a telling tale on population and economy vs. environment, this could as easily be over at Junkk Male RE:view.

Singapore’s population crisis in a nutshell

Having lived there for a decade, and still visiting since my family's departure a decade ago, the 'world in miniature' aspect of this once great city state is too important not to learn from.

I treasure (fading) memories of Singapore Slings at the original long bar in the original Raffles, to drives to Punggol for chili crab in lean-tos on shoreline shanties set into the jungle.

On our last visit, I am pretty sure that's where one of the several hundred 26 storey HDBs my brother in law and his family live in now stand. Not sure a family meal at Jack's Place in Parkway Parade had quite the same sense of cultural bonding.

Progress? There is a finite land area (well, they are trying to prove Mark Twain wrong daily, but international sea limits will eventually require either going down, or higher up as the only options). Maybe the era of Blade Runner-like living is not so far away.

All to 'sustain economic growth'. And then, when the last square inch of grass has been concreted over? What quality of life will those who have got to this point enjoy, now that the shark that needs to swim to survive has stalled and is gasping for more air?

Ironically, my 12 year olds have been written to to require they get ready for National Service when they are 18, and we are required to stump up $75k bond each should they not feel so disposed.

As I replied to someone who asked me if I was ever tempted to return: 'there has to be more to life than living in an a/c box from which you commute in an a/c box to work in an a/c box to earn enough to blow at nights and weekends in another a/c box. And I think my kids deserve better.'

So unless the govt. revises its policies a tad, they'll be missing out on 6 years' worth of tourist money and, who knows, the chance of two 18 year olds opting to do their bit for a few years in a Taiwanese swamp to get their chance at living in a... albeit potentially well-appointed... a/c box.

Governments would do well to remember that human beings don't respond well to coercion and can, surprisingly, even opt not to be bribed with trinkets.

Still, I'm sure the SDU (Social Development Unit (bless), better known as 'Single, Desperate and Ugly' with the humour I still take strength from knowing flourishes there) is finding its ad budget enhanced.