Pros and Cons of Singapore

Every day in Singapore proves definitively that this is an ideal place.  A perfect city of the future.

Every day I weigh the pros and cons.  With difficulty.

After a week of intense scrutiny, I can report my findings two ways:  1) In a T-chart that shows the balance, and 2) with a few choice vignettes.

1)  Weighing the Balance

Pro

Con

Rated #1 in the world by World Bank for ease of doing business and for best labor force in the world. Rated #1 place in Asia for quality of life and political stability. Rated #3 in the world for wealth and for being the most globalized. Incredibly high tech and modern. Cleanest city imaginable. Doesn’t even allow gum chewing. Everyone seems happy. Amazing buildings, architecture, policies, programs, and services. No crime. No unemployment. No poverty. The government takes care of everyone, giving excellent transportation, healthcare, education, culture, and so on.

Hmmm.  I continue to struggle with this side. Considered a “socialist democracy” The Government controls just about everything.

2)  Choice Vignettes

Car Ownership.    Singapore is one of the greenest, if not the greenest city in the world, because the government has implemented many measures to clean up and combat pollution.  Great, eh?  Yeah, well, not if you want to buy a car.  Only 15% of the population owns a car.  Guess who?
     Well, in theory, anyone can buy a car in Singapore.  That is, if they first apply for a certificate of entitlement.  This permit costs at least $50,000 and is very difficult to obtain.  On top of that, if you do get permission, the taxes on cars are 100% of the cost.  Driving is expensive and ERP fines drivers for use of the roadway.  If you are lucky enough to own a car, it is not allowed on the road once it's ten years old.  And you can't just replace it, you need to apply for a new certificate of entitlement.
     All of this is ok, if you are happy with public transportation:  cheap, easy, clean, ready to go.  Perhaps eventually this tiny island will allow no cars at all. . .

Home and Land Ownership.  How wonderful is it that 90% of the population lives in government housing?  And we're not talking about American projects.  These are state-of-art condos that cost about two hundred grand each.  No one in Singapore is unemployed.  All people work, earn the right to have a nice home, and qualify for retirement support.
     Land is scarce.  The government owns most of it.  At least 10% is reserved for parks and green space.  The few people who do own their own land are a rare elite.  Instead, the government leases the land to a business or individual.  When the lease is up, it can be renewed (for a fee), unless the government wants to use that land for something else.
     I took the following photos at a Burmese temple near my hotel.  Notice that they are making steady progress toward raising the funds needed for renewal. My fingers are crossed that they make it.

Burmese Temple.

They just need two million more dollars.