Re: DRE: CTS community mail

  • From: Stephen Scheidel <gieroadsteve@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "cpt-fgc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <cpt-fgc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:15:19 +0200

Denmark was on the top of one of those happy lists too.

On 16 February 2015 at 16:14, Ilitirit Sama <ilitirit@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Nigeria has the happiest population.
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/global/2011/jan/04/nigerians-top-optimism-poll
>
> By other metrics it's the Scandinavian nations.
>
> Singapore was voted the most unhappy.
>
>
> http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/singaporeans-not-just-emotionless-unhappy-20121220
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 16, 2015 at 4:05 PM, Donaldson, Alasdair <
> alasdair.donaldson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>  Interesting read.
>>
>>
>>
>> Although the problem of people working too hard seems like a nice novel
>> one, from what I’ve read about Singapore it doesn’t seem like a place where
>> I’d like to live. The place seems to run perfectly, but I don’t know if the
>> people are all that happy.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* cpt-fgc-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:cpt-fgc-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> *On Behalf Of *Ilitirit Sama
>> *Sent:* 16 February 2015 3:28 PM
>> *To:* cpt-fgc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Subject:* Re: DRE: CTS community mail
>>
>>
>>
>> The author of that piece leans to western (read: US) conservative
>> values.  She also happens to believe that women should not have the right
>> to work after giving birth.  They should stay home and look after the
>> kids.  Basically a right-wing crackpot.
>>
>>
>>
>> She does touch on something that was highlighted as a problem in
>> Singapore by an ex-intelligence officer with whom we happened to have a
>> conversation.
>>
>>
>>
>> In short:
>>
>>
>>
>> There are basically 3 generations of Singaporeans:
>>
>> 1.  People whose family originated on the island ("ethnic" Singaporeans)
>>
>> 2.  People who emigrated there or who were slaves (mostly Malaysians,
>> Indonesians, Indians and Chinese)
>>
>> 3.  People who emigrated in the last few decades (mostly Chinese)
>>
>>
>>
>> All 3 generations fiercely identify as Singaporeans.  Generation 2 + 3
>> form the biggest part of the population.  However, generation 1 and 2 have
>> a slightly different idea of identity, or what it means to be a
>> Singaporean.  For example, they value family, so they tend to get married
>> and have kids before the age of 30.  So what happens is that in practice,
>> Generation 1 and 2 leave the workplace sooner, and Generation 3 overtakes
>> them in terms of business success (but not family success).  This results
>> in a ruling elite (in business) that has different values to the rest of
>> the country, which Generation 1 and 2 don't agree with.  Generation 1 and 2
>> are typically older, more conservative, and have more power in government.
>> So they basically enforce rules which level out the playing field between
>> people who want to have families when they are younger and people who focus
>> more on business.  This leads to a problem where the young Chinese get
>> educated in Singapore, but then leave because they feel that they are being
>> held back by the Equity Laws.  When they become successful, they return,
>> and use their new-found wealth and power to influence politics in a way
>> that benefits them, which ultimately means that Generation 1 and 2
>> Singaporean values are slowly being replaced by Generation 3 ones.  How to
>> handle this problem?  The guy we spoke to was not sure.  In fact, he
>> thought it might already be too late.
>>
>>
>>
>> This is the kind of thing that the Japanese author is afraid of.  She
>> wants Japan to retain its culture and values (which is ironic considering
>> the Western influence on her political ideas), and is afraid that by
>> treating immigrants equally they will lose their identity.  Well, I'm sorry
>> to have to break this to Ms Sono, but that's exactly how the world works.
>>
>>
>>
>> In any case, what a wonderful predicament Singapore is facing.  Imagine
>> living in a country where one of your problems is that the people are
>> working too hard, and are too ambitious.  I'll take that over the crap we
>> have to deal with any day.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 16, 2015 at 1:46 PM, Ryan Williams <ryan820509@xxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, read about this earlier. How fucked up can you get.
>>
>> On 16 Feb 2015 13:04, "Manase Zote" <bmlzote@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> Japan please...
>>
>>
>> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/11414141/Japanese-author-provokes-furious-South-African-response-by-suggesting-a-new-apartheid.html
>>
>> On 16 Feb 2015 12:53, "Moshe Shevel" <jaguguarang@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> Haha thanks guys :)
>>
>> On 16 Feb 2015 12:47 PM, "Sameegh Jardine" <sameegh@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>  Happy Birthday Jag, hope you have an awesome one :]
>>
>>
>> On 16 Feb 2015, at 12:41 PM, "Donaldson, Alasdair" <
>> alasdair.donaldson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>  Oh, nice one Ilit. You couldn’t have posted that first thing this
>> morning, could you? So we’re now all the schmucks who didn’t realise it was
>> his birthday.
>>
>>
>>
>> In other news, HDB Jag.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* cpt-fgc-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:cpt-fgc-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> <cpt-fgc-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] *On Behalf Of *Ilitirit Sama
>> *Sent:* 16 February 2015 12:37 PM
>> *To:* cpt-fgc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Subject:* Re: DRE: CTS community mail
>>
>>
>>
>> HBD Jag!
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>> e-mail are subject to the terms and conditions expressed in the governing
>> KPMG client engagement letter. Opinions, conclusions and other information
>> in this e-mail and any attachments that do not relate to the official
>> business of the firm are neither given nor endorsed by it.
>>
>> KPMG cannot guarantee that e-mail communications are secure or
>> error-free, as information could be intercepted, corrupted, amended, lost,
>> destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses.
>>
>> This email is being sent out by KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG
>> International") on behalf of the local KPMG member firm providing services
>> to you. KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International") is a Swiss
>> entity that serves as a coordinating entity for a network of independent
>> firms operating under the KPMG name. KPMG International provides no
>> services to clients. Each member firm of KPMG International is a legally
>> distinct and separate entity and each describes itself as such. Information
>> about the structure and jurisdiction of your local KPMG member firm can be
>> obtained from your KPMG representative.
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>
>

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