• Singapore will not soften its stand on drugs, Shanmugam tells UN
    73 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam told world leaders at the United Nations that the city state will not soften its drug policies, pushing back against calls from some nations to change its approach to dealing with drugs. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday (April 20) US time, Mr Shanmugam said he was unmoved by the rhetoric he had heard at the meeting. He stressed that Singapore would stick with its approach until there is evidence that a different model works better. Noting that the country's policies have created a safe and secure environment, he said: "We are not very impressed with rhetoric alone. Good speeches are one thing. Enjoying safety and security, to the level I have identified - letting your 10-year-old child take public transport alone - that is different." "I say to anyone with a different view - come forward. I am prepared to compare our experiences with any city that you choose. Show us a model that works better, that delivers a better outcome for citizens, and we will consider changing. If that cannot be done, then don't ask us to change," he added.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-will-not-soften-its-stand-on-drugs-shanmugam-tells-un[/url]
The only reason why their draconic policies work is because Singapore is already a totalitarian police state
[QUOTE=Sableye;50173906]The only reason why their draconic policies work is because Singapore is already a totalitarian police state[/QUOTE] Don't worrier the US will be there soon, Just give it a few years more.
[QUOTE=Passing;50174053]Don't worrier the US will be there soon, Just give it a few years more.[/QUOTE] No the US is too big, too pro-freedom to get that far, Singapore cracks down on everything for "the greater good" it's no surprise that every other major Asian economy has copied their model, even the ones with explicid freedoms of press and speech like Japan and South korea
[QUOTE=Sableye;50174072]No the US is too big, too pro-freedom to get that far, Singapore cracks down on everything for "the greater good" it's no surprise that every other major Asian economy has copied their model, even the ones with explicid freedoms of press and speech like Japan and South korea[/QUOTE] Doesn't your country already have mass surveillance, censorship of the press and more restrictions of freedoms as every year goes by? I just see a shadow creeping in.
Friend of mine from Singapore says that for all the statistics of low crime and racial harmony, a lot of it's bullshit. Like with the racial harmony, that's only because people aren't allowed to criticise one another because it falls under anti-racism laws and the peace is only really kept because the state has a collar around everyone's throat rather than it being genuine.
[QUOTE]"I say to anyone with a different view - come forward. I am prepared to compare our experiences with any city that you choose. Show us a model that works better, that delivers a better outcome for citizens, and we will consider changing. If that cannot be done, then don't ask us to change"[/QUOTE] Well it makes sense, Singapore doesn't have the societal problems with drugs that you see elsewhere. The geographical and political situation means it's actually possible to enforce such a strict drugs policy successfully. It's probably one of the only places where a "war on drugs" approach is feasible imo. Though death penalty for foreigners seems unreasonable to me. Or how you can get thrown in jail for having something leftover in your system which you've consumed in a jurisdiction where it's legal; even if you're 100% sober.
[QUOTE=GordonZombie;50174097]Friend of mine from Singapore says that for all the statistics of low crime and racial harmony, a lot of it's bullshit. Like with the racial harmony, that's only because people aren't allowed to criticise one another because it falls under anti-racism laws and the peace is only really kept because the state has a collar around everyone's throat rather than it being genuine.[/QUOTE] How is having a strong judicial system and anti-racism/discrimination laws a bad thing? and implying that the only thing stopping singaporeans from going into the streets and inciting racial violence is ~the law~
[QUOTE=GordonZombie;50174097]Friend of mine from Singapore says that for all the statistics of low crime and racial harmony, a lot of it's bullshit. Like with the racial harmony, that's only because people aren't allowed to criticise one another because it falls under anti-racism laws and the peace is only really kept because the state has a collar around everyone's throat rather than it being genuine.[/QUOTE] Because this one friend's words are 100% true.
[QUOTE=~Kiwi~v2;50174127]If you're gonna stab him for that lets just take a stab at you and Australia. Government not progressing with broadband. No gay marriage. [/QUOTE] Those two aren't really a problem and technically we do have gay marriage. Constitution says that if you get married in UK its recognized here just as there is common law.
[QUOTE=Passing;50174088]Doesn't your country already have mass surveillance, censorship of the press and more restrictions of freedoms as every year goes by? I just see a shadow creeping in.[/QUOTE] The 1st amendment of the Constitution garuntees freedom of the press and freedom of speech, so no very little censorship; the only times there has been any on a large scale was during WW1 and WW2. And as far as a restrictions on freedoms thats a load of croc. If anything more and more people are campaigning for greater freedoms these days. So you're observations of a future US police state are either heavily biased or completely foundationless since there are already several provisions in our government, constitution, and military to prevent the US from ever becoming a dictstorship.
[QUOTE=Passing;50174088]Doesn't your country already have mass surveillance, censorship of the press and more restrictions of freedoms as every year goes by? I just see a shadow creeping in.[/QUOTE] More or less a flat "no" to both of those. I know that the whole PRIVACY IS DEAD thing gets plastered over reddit so people actually believe it for one reason or another, as for press censorship, well, like I said, doesn't really happen. The last point just sounds like you needed one more thing to add in and just went for a really broad, meaningless answer, so I don't even know how to address that besides admitting that I can think of about zero freedoms I've lost in the last.... ever, i guess. But yeah dude! It will be a hellhole!
[quote]"We are not very impressed with rhetoric alone. Good speeches are one thing. Enjoying safety and security, to the level I have identified - letting your 10-year-old child take public transport alone - that is different."[/quote] A mountain of evidence points to a softer stance on drugs leading to better outcomes. The only one spewing rhetoric here is him.
[QUOTE=Passing;50174088]Doesn't your country already have mass surveillance, censorship of the press and more restrictions of freedoms as every year goes by? I just see a shadow creeping in.[/QUOTE] Censorship of the press does not occur lol, the press is just bias garbage for the most part. Mass surveillance and restriction of freedoms is something the entire developed world has been suffering through since 9/11, to be fair. The fear of terrorism has given governments an easy way to strip people of their personal freedoms. And I hardly find you able to see anything creeping in when you don't even live here.
[QUOTE=Passing;50174088]Doesn't your country already have mass surveillance, censorship of the press and more restrictions of freedoms as every year goes by? I just see a shadow creeping in.[/QUOTE] lmao you've clearly never been to any of the following countries: China Malaysia Singapore Indonesia Thailand All having a long and illustrious history of silencing and persecuting anyone who doesn't toe the line. Softening in recent years but still far, far harsher than anything you see in Western nations.
Fuck the war on drugs, its just a front for a war on people
[QUOTE=Headhumpy;50174737]lmao you've clearly never been to any of the following countries: China Malaysia Singapore Indonesia Thailand All having a long and illustrious history of silencing and persecuting anyone who doesn't toe the line. Softening in recent years but still far, far harsher than anything you see in Western nations.[/QUOTE] China and most South East Asia countries have had this since imperial age, where authorities usually have surveillance on the population and think that they can control the mass media and the amount of information from Western in and out. In Vietnam some years ago the authorities even blocked facebook, blogspot and other Western social medias, only to be softened up lately. Comparing to the US, these countries are much more harsher for any form of Western 'freedom' you may think of.
For the record the U.S. government doesn't censor jack shit, private organizations however are free to run their media as they please. Back on topic, I wonder when Singapore will get the massive stick out of it's ass.
[quote] "I say to anyone with a different view - come forward. I am prepared to compare our experiences with any city that you choose. Show us a model that works better, that delivers a better outcome for citizens, and we will consider changing. If that cannot be done, then don't ask us to change," he added.[/quote] Amsterdam?
Makes sense... I think they'd have to soften their stance on chewing gum first. It’s illegal there, right?
[QUOTE=Dark RaveN;50174889]Amsterdam?[/QUOTE] If you read the article, you'll notice this amazing train of logic: [quote]He stressed that there was a middle road between "locking everyone up, treating them as criminals, and feeding them with drugs". "It is possible to work with drug abusers to rehabilitate them. This is difficult and resource-intensive. But because every life is important, we do that. Legalising and giving abusers drugs is the easier option. But not the better one," he added.[/quote] He literally pointed out a false dichotomy, then immediately fell victim to that dichotomy himself.
[QUOTE=Headhumpy;50175099]If you read the article, you'll notice this amazing train of logic: He literally pointed out a false dichotomy, then immediately fell victim to that dichotomy himself.[/QUOTE] That's rich from a country that literally sentences people to death for possession. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/4uokh8N.png[/IMG] Nice rehabilitation you've got going there, Singapore.
[QUOTE] "I say to anyone with a different view - come forward. I am prepared to compare our experiences with any city that you choose. Show us a model that works better, that delivers a better outcome for citizens, and we will consider changing. If that cannot be done, then don't ask us to change," he added.[/QUOTE] idk maybe not executing your citizens because they had a tiny bit of weed I don't know, doesn't that sound like it'd work better, unless you were a total fucking psycho? [editline]21st April 2016[/editline] The better outcome is people don't get fucking lynched because they got bored and smoked a little bit
[QUOTE=proch;50175370]That's rich from a country that literally sentences people to death for possession. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/4uokh8N.png[/IMG] Nice rehabilitation you've got going there, Singapore.[/QUOTE] that's straight up terrifying right there. there's something about the phrase 'recieve a mandatory death sentence' that is just harrowing
[QUOTE=proch;50175370]That's rich from a country that literally sentences people to death for possession. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/4uokh8N.png[/IMG] Nice rehabilitation you've got going there, Singapore.[/QUOTE] And we still get to catch people with sometimes equal or even more amounts. Had some work on narcotics while serving my military service
[QUOTE=J!NX;50175443]idk maybe not executing your citizens because they had a tiny bit of weed I don't know, doesn't that sound like it'd work better, unless you were a total fucking psycho? [editline]21st April 2016[/editline] The better outcome is people don't get fucking lynched because they got bored and smoked a little bit[/QUOTE] Dont like it, don't come to Singapore. Its really that simple. And for the record, the drug problem in the US is hardly "better".
[QUOTE=poppyman;50177474]Dont like it, don't come to Singapore. Its really that simple. And for the record, the drug problem in the US is hardly "better".[/QUOTE] Morality and law isn't "really that simple", and saying otherwise is being purposefully obtuse.
[QUOTE=poppyman;50177474]Dont like it, don't come to Singapore. Its really that simple. And for the record, the drug problem in the US is hardly "better".[/QUOTE] I don't have to live in your house to tell you that you have a leaky roof and you should probably get it fixed.
[QUOTE=poppyman;50177474]Dont like it, don't come to Singapore. Its really that simple. And for the record, the drug problem in the US is hardly "better".[/QUOTE] At least the US turns the people into profit making machines instead of outright killing them. Honestly makes no sense to murder people for having things.
[QUOTE=poppyman;50177474]Dont like it, don't come to Singapore. Its really that simple. And for the record, the drug problem in the US is hardly "better".[/QUOTE] Yeah we fuck up peoples lives but we're slowly legalizing marijuana and we don't [b]execute people[/b] for having drugs. Like, if the Mexican cartel ever took over the government, that's the kind of shit they would put into law. I will make sure to take your advice and never come to Singapore btw, wouldn't want someone to plant drugs on a foreigner and then be put to death.
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