What a fucking grotesque conservatopia.
Yeah another reason why my next vacation in Asia won't be there.
Seriously, I haven't smoked in years and don't use any other drugs but I'd be worried about being caught with a cannabis seed on my shoe or something stupid like that. Forgot to flush the urinal at the dive bar? Ten lashes! Fuck that shit
This is the best response - vote with your dollars. And let any friends / fam in Singapore know they're losing your travel, perhaps, eventually they'll join the modern world in terms of prohibitions.
Just curious, Japan, China and Indonesia aren't pot friendly, where would you go instead around the pacific side of asia?
It isn't about cannabis for me in terms of travel. It is about all the other insane legal stuff there. Yes, I prefer to get high before I get on a plane these days but I can manage fine without doing that.
In any case my next vacation to Asia is probably going to be a two day stopover in South Korea followed by a week or two in Thailand.
Singapore's success is partly due to the absence of minimum wages and also the use of migrant workers like Qatar. Take that away....
...But mostly due to their extremely privileged position at the strait. That's probably even more valuable than having oil.
Yes... partly due, or minutely due. It's not like they're building their success overnight. Their main sector is service, and partly manufacturing which used to be their main sector. And have been building strong reputation that's good enough to attract expats. Take the expats away, they can still thrive. They've got very competent locals breeded from their hight quality school system and many top 50 universities, which is a lot considering their size.
For the low skills needs they import the migrant workers. Take that away... no worry, many other will come. They threat their workers well - not like the middle eastern counterpart.
They are like night and day compared to Qatar/UAE.
So, to get back to your last sentence: Take that away... no big deal.
p/s: this is my rational view as their overlooking neighbour.
It's also literally a tax haven.
This incredibly inhumane. What horrible and despicable people leading this crusade. I really don't understand how a bunch of them can proceed with this barbarity and continue lifting their heads proudly.
History will forever condemn them for this.
I imagine they'd cite their society's success with stringent laws.
I don't agree with them, mind, I'm a pot smoker, I don't travel for pleasure to countries that criminalize people like me. But I have been to Singapore for work. It's an amazing multicultural society with fantastic food. In order to get these groups to co-exist politely, you can't say things about religions, they prohibit Charlie Hebdo, for example.
Considering the tiny land area and enormous population density, strict and often, what people in the west would consider anti-free-speech policies are probably the only way to make things work.
I don't begrudge them their policies but won't support their economy with my business. I feel for anyone living there, but can't control where people are born. Being born in a rich, educated, and vibrantly multi-cultural country like Sinagpore is probably an enormous leg-up compared to many other countries, in terms of QOL.
Not trying to change any opinions, just offering some nuance.
Sorry but "the only way to make things work" is a dumb argument used by dictators.
Also I fundamentally disagree with your assessment of Singapore. It's an awfully square and drab place. The food is a shallow copy of surrounding areas. It's not worth a visit tbh.
Pray tell what part of Singapore is 'drab' exactly? time to get your eyes checked, that sounds like glaucoma or you've got cataracts.
TBH, sounds like you've never been, because every fuckin square inch is either lit up with electronic displays or in the glow of bustling underground malls and street food. seems like you have other issues lol... Not defending their repressive gov't, but drab? what a stupid thing to talk shit about.
I'm sorry for not finding malls and street food exhilarating. It's square, it's sterile, it's boring. The whole city is just a giant mall with little character. It sucks. Especially if you compare it to the rest of South eas Asia. Go to Manilla, Bangkok, Hanoi and fucking tell me Singapore is not the most boring place in the region. Sorry for getting a bit angry but man I hate how overrated that place is. I lived in SEA as a digital Nomad for almost 20 years now. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are just a waste of space imho.
America is just as bad
I'd assert in some ways, the US is worse:
Singapore is a melting pot of dozens of ethnicities and cultures; I doubt they have a preponderance of laws that are applied to minorities like the US. I might be wrong, but while visiting there saw so many different kinds of people, systematic racism like you see in the US wouldn't work.
A bit harsh but hey, respect their laws.
Yes good law. Piss someone off, they can plant heroin on your belongings and then turn you in. Next thing you know you lose your life.
Honestly. it's a country where you can kill anyone if you can plant drugs on them.
That's why anyone defending this law is an idiot
Do you actually hold this position in all situations? It was illegal to harbor Jewish fugitives in Nazi Germany, should those laws be respected?
When you say "no, of course not", maybe actually consider what your position is before posting. Because nobody's position is to just "respect laws" in all circumstances.
What a disgrace Singapore is.
It ain't right
it's their country. It's not like these laws are secret, these people are hoping to make a large reward from a large risk.
I see this like I see people buying cheap homes next to the airport and complaining about the noise. Or buying a really nice house in a HOA and then complaining about the fees.
If you don't like it, leave. But that's how those people are choosing to live.
Takes "hang em high" to a new meaning
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