A minister said that whether Singapore will have a casino is a sign of its people's maturity. So if I disagree, he may say I am not mature enough. Does that mean I am really not mature?
But since really mature people don't really gamble (they have better things to do in life, no?), the minister probably imply that Singapore wants to take advantage of the less mature in Singapore and in the region (if not, then how to make money?).
Then imagine getting the majority (which should include the mature ones, by way of the minister's logic) to agree to take advantage of the less mature ones when they should be doing the exact opposite! What would that mean to mature me if I agree? What would that do to a country's soul if its mature people agree?
And if Singaporeans are mature enough to have a casino, wouldn't they be mature enough to manage the other more important aspects of their lives like their own wealth (and not be sucked up by high property prices & CPF) & sort out the liars from the not (without the tight control of the media & political arena)?
Perhaps people like me are not mature enough to figure out such contradictions. In that case, I am totally against anyone (mature or otherwise) agreeing to take advantage of people like me!
2 comments:
stanley.wong@ezenithgroup.com wrote:
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With regards to your petition, please see comments below:
A minister said that whether Singapore will have a casino is a sign of its people's maturity. So if I disagree, he may say I am not mature enough. Does that mean I am really not mature?
No one's got anything against you, Donald Duck. Not that we should believe everything the government/gestapo says, but they've made up their mind. If you insist on going against them in capitalist Singapore, they'll find a little cell for you on Pulau Hantu. So why bother?
But since really mature people don't really gamble (they have better things to do in life, no?), the minister probably imply that Singapore wants to take advantage of the less mature in Singapore and in the region (if not, then how to make money?).
You're bordering on very fine lines here, and don't get personal. Gambling is everywhere, whether it's stocks, bonds, mahjong, cards, marbles, your life, or running your own business (which is really a gamble), why stop now when we're on a roll?? We've got a racecourse, shut that down. Close the stock exchange. Padlock Singapore Turf Club. Burn all the Singapore Sweep tickets. Oh, and this is gonna get you killed: cancel the Hong Bao Toto Draw.
Then imagine getting the majority (which should include the mature ones, by way of the minister's logic) to agree to take advantage of the less mature ones when they should be doing the exact opposite! What would that mean to mature me if I agree? What would that do to a country's soul if its mature people agree?
Wake up and smell the flowers, Daisy. You're in Singapore, not some democratic country. You've spent your entire life in Singapore, and yet you fail to understand how our dear leaders are taking care of us, and you definitely haven't understood why we have chains around our necks with a beautiful red-white-starry Singapore flag on it to make it look cool. If you understand what Singapore Corporation Pte Ltd is, then it's simple: building a casino on home ground is similar to building a new pantry in the office. I'll put a nice wager on the colour of Jessica's panties when she pops into the new pantry anytime dude!! Where's the difference?
And if Singaporeans are mature enough to have a casino, wouldn't they be mature enough to manage the other more important aspects of their lives like their own wealth (and not be sucked up by high property prices & CPF) & sort out the liars from the not (without the tight control of the media & political arena)?
tsk tsk tsk......... you seem to have a BIG problem with the word "mature" used in the latest edition of Mad Magazine (aka. Straits Times). Khiaw, it's not about you lah, they were referring to the Malaysians. Heh.
Perhaps people like me are not mature enough to figure out such contradictions. In that case, I am totally against anyone (mature or otherwise) agreeing to take advantage of people like me!
Hmmm....... is that why you are always screaming and shouting on and off the field on Sundays? Even when it's not our game? If Singapore Corp Pte Ltd has seen your outbursts on Sundays, they wouldn't have dared challenge the level of your maturity in the comic book. But then again, consider the following issues about having a casino in Singapore (yippee!!):
a. Singaporeans have it in our Asian blood to gamble. Every casino in the region is filled with Asians/Chinese, and a significant number of them are Singaporeans. You can ban a casino in Singapore, but you can't refuse them from going overseas to try their luck. You could argue that having a casino here would make it more accessible for us to punt, but hey, get rid of the SGX, Turf Club, etc. first, then propose this draconic idea. If they didn't lock you up for trying to burn down the SGX, I promise I'll help your crusade against the evil Casino-ists.
b. Think macro, bro. Casino keeps the Singaporean gamblers IN the country ie. we don't bring precious SGD out of Singapore and use it elsewhere to help another country's GDP. We're talking millions of dollars. It also attracts foreigners who bring their precious dollars here and help OUR GDP. What this really means is, we (Singapore) intend to lure those "dirty" dollars into our lair (not liar), so we can have a better tomorrow.
c. If you're feeling that having a casino here WILL cause major social problems, you may be able to sleep now that you know there will be measures imposed to ensure that the 5-yr old girl next door doesn't get hooked on roulette after school. It takes time for society to accept having a brothel in the neighbourhood (ask Francis), and parents have confidence over time that their little girl won't end up thinking that that's the place to build a career. You don't see stablehand or plumber or other lower-income people hanging around in Genting, do you? Singaporeans are throwing away so much money, you cannot imagine. So, if you are bent that going to a casino is throwing away precious dollars, what's new in society? By the way, what do YOU do with your savings anyway?
d. If you asked for my opinion, I would say the extra money in my pocket today is worth a 50-50 chance in the casino of doubling it anytime, as opposed to saving it in a bank (fark!) at 2.35% p.a., or "investing" in a property or stocks and bonds. Actually, I would really like to put a tener ($10) on Morgan FC for this Sunday's game, provided Francis stops his Sat night gig in Lorong 14.
e. Finally, not everyone loses in a casino. In fact, you have half a chance of winning. I should hold your hand and bring you into a couple of casinos some day, and maybe you might consider a change of career. Heh.
My response to Stanley Wong:
Hi Stanley ‘Casino Ho’,
Sorry for the late reply as I had to attend to my work the last few days and did not want to risk gambling with them. While each of us will have to make up our own minds, there is always the risk that some judgments may suffer from dubious observations or rationalities. That is a risk that people like me loathe to leave to chance, which makes it imperative that I send you the following for your consideration:
1. Gambling vs Taking & Managing Risks
Understanding and managing risks are key aspects of our lives, and the better we are at both the better the world becomes but it is a fallacy to equate them to gambling. Our lives definitely and to some extent stocks, bonds and running a business do not have to be like gambling for those who understands what they really are (step 1 on my beginning sentence). Of course, it can appear to be so for those who cannot figure out the difference, and then manage them. The last few centuries of 'human progress' can be attributed to people who can tell the difference between the two (the rest are hitch-hikers). For example, when we fall sick we go see the doctor and not the pope for we sub-consciously understands the difference between the 2 (please don't ask me which isleaving things to chance).
If you still don't understand the difference perhaps this will help. Looking left and right before crossing a road is not gambling. Doing so with eyes closed (and without other aids) is. Or using your example, when Francis goes to Geylang and if he wears a condom he is managing risk (not gambling) but if he does not (wear condom, that is) he is taking a chance (gambling). They are not the same.
2. What’s wrong with one more?
While other forms of legalized gambling are already in place it does not automatically imply that more should be added without a holistic review of its implications. It is like saying that since cars are legally allowed and can whizz along all roads (and some clowns do recklessly crash them into buildings once a while), we should not object to plane ownership for the man on the street, and planes whizzing around on roads. Or since rape of children is common throughout history, we should keep quiet when we know such an incident is about to happen and leave the child’s future to chance.
3. Chicken or egg first
While your observation that Singapore’s government ‘dictates’ everything, it is incorrect to say that we could not and therefore should not do something about it. As in everything in life, most things start with individual choice (not chance). The same explains the current state of Singapore you now observe.
4. Casino Odds are not 50-50
Lastly, give the world a casino with even odds that the likes of Stanley ‘Real Casino’ Ho will show any interest and you shall go down in history as the greatest businessman the world had ever seen. Until then you should hold my hands, and choose whatever career you like but unless you want to be Stanley 'philantropist' Wong don't spend your hard earned money starting an even chance casino....
Ok its new year, let's mah jong (at least that's evenodds for all).
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