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.
