World Rankings - Do We Like Them?
-
If we want to be happy, looks like we have to take these rankings with a pinch of salt!
World rankings
Do we like them?
Unhappiest lot in Asia, poor in bed, lack of press freedom, rude, etc: Are Singaporeans that pathetic?
By Seah Chiang Nee. littlespeck.com
Jul 24, 2006
Few people pay as much attention to global rankings as the competitive Singaporeans.
People here like to pitch themselves against the achievements - for better or worse - of other countries.
They greet each revelation with a great deal of cheering or hair tearing, whatever the case may be, and, of course, critics scour the statistics for opportunities to hit out at the government.
There are also occasions in which the mainstream media, misreading its national service, has been known to play up the good news and minimise - or leave out - the bad.
But when it opted recently to publish a report about Singapore being ranked Asia's "unhappiest" country, it unwittingly ran a misleading piece.
It was a British-based report that not only described Singapore as Asia's unhappiest nation, but also graded it the 131st of 178 nations in the world.
The Happy Planet Index, compiled by the British think-tank New Economics Foundation (NEF), named the top 10 countries as follows: Vanuatu, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Panama, Cuba, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Vietnam is Asia's top ranking.
To describe these countries as the happiest in the world is, to put it mildly, far from reality, and I was sure when I read it in the newspapers that it wasn't the intention.
If Columbia, Cuba and the others were the globe's happiest places, there would surely be millions wanting to live there to share their happiness. Instead, its largely poverty-stricken people are emigrating in droves.
On the other hand, Britain came in at 108th while the US ranked worst than Singapore - at 150th.
The misleading report (a radio forum later put it right) set Singaporeans off the wrong track. A visit to the original website soon explained to me that it was about environmental efficiency rather than human happiness.
It clearly explains: "The Index doesn't reveal the 'happiest' country in the world. It shows the relative efficiency with which nations convert the planet's natural resources into long and happy lives for their citizens."
For the government, however, no two global rankings are equal in importance. It depends on the subject.
It appears to be interested only in rankings on the economy and social achievements but not those critical ones about press freedom or human liberties (dismissed by Lee Kuan Yew with "we will not allow foreigners to tell us what to do".)
In the past 40 years Singapore has been ranked very well. It is the world's most global city and is graded the world's best in economic competitiveness, productivity and battling corruption.
It also has the world's best airport and the busiest container port (by cargo volume) as well as the highest Internet penetration. All these were widely reported by the local media.
But Singapore also has a reputation or poor rankings in non-economic fields such as: -
· Press freedom. Dismally ranked 140th out of 167 countries by Reporters without Borders,
· Executions. One of the world's highest rates (on per capita), having hanged 400 criminals between 1990-2004).
· Sex performance. Second last out of 41 countries (2005 Durex Global Sex Survey), which wouldn't have bothered the government had it not been for its very low procreation).
· Emigration. Singapore has an average outflow rate of 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens, the second highest in the world - next only to East Timor (51.07), according to an unverified website.
· Courtesy. It is ranked a poor 30th out of 35 countries and now - the Happy Planet Index of 130th out of 178 nations.
Be that as it may, the index has cranked up much head-nodding among people who agree that Singaporeans are an unhappy lot despite their comparative wealth.
"Look at the MRT commuters and workers at Shenton Way with their long, sour faces."
Ironically, the government was appealing to the citizens to greet visiting delegates of the IMF-World Bank meeting due in September with "four million smiles". A tough act to achieve!
What's the problem? Everyone has his pet reason, ranging from "unbearable" pressures of life to overly high expectations to an incurable national trait of excessive worrying - in good times or bad.
Social trends leave people unsmiling; divorce is rising and there is an average of one suicide a day.
"Most Singaporeans don't know how to be happy. Either they are struggling or, if they're not, they are worried about something or other," someone commented. Its small size magnifies these potentials.
Humour has long become a casualty to the unceasing reminders by the authorities to work hard or suffer the consequences.
Costs are always rising, unemployment dole doesn't exist and besides, the leaders - straight-laced people who are unable to laugh at themselves - also set the tone for the country.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong quipped, "We even take our fun seriously."
One cynic described Singapore as "a Disneyland without the laughter", where humour is not allowed, referring to a blogger whose newspaper column was banned because he wrote a satire piece on the rising cost of living.
Some of Singapore's neighbours view us as too serious and humourless, just like the Germans and the Japanese, who had turned their war-torn countries into world giants in a single generation.
They did it armed with a single-minded purpose and extreme hard work - not a light-hearted approach.
Singapore, too, has also run an endless "marathon" with the same degree of urgency, except now it has to run faster because other runners are catching up. This could explain the long faces here.
This article was published in The Sunday Star on Jul 23, 2006 -
It's time we embraced those non-economic fields too..
-
Yeah... four million smiles... right...
.. four million FAKE smiles are more like it...
Right now, people are just working hard because of all the increase in daily and monthly needs - not because they're aspiring for a better lifestyle.
Are we happy???
... do your own personal survey, ask the common men and women on the streets, and you will be surprised how unhappy they all are - even though they hung flags every National Day. -
Those 4 Million Smiles are either Fake, Plastic or Ignorance ! !
-
I agree that Singaporeans in their frenzied pursuit for progress have forgotten how to laugh. We should learn to slow down a little and take things easier. We should also learn to laugh at ourselves esp regarding those unflattering rankings.
-
only the govt need the world rankings.
no 1 airport
no 1 seaport
no 1 math competition
no 1 this hub and that hub -
I guess our country is multating into something else.
-
More comparison means more unhappiness. All these results take it with a pinch of salt lah, say we are very bad also not true, say we all very good, world class, also bluff people one lah.
So best is dont compare. -
Yah frig... Hub this and Hub that... when it comes to actual need, hospitals are short of beds!!Originally posted by dragg:only the govt need the world rankings.
no 1 airport
no 1 seaport
no 1 math competition
no 1 this hub and that hub
How much is one bed?? And people please don't give me the crap about having all the beds and who is to pay for healthcare workers. WTF, our ministers are so knowledgeable, they SHOULD come up with smart solutions - or is it like those smoking restrictions at coffee shops where now non-smoking customers are stealing smoking tables & seats from smoking customers???
It's called half-assed solutions! -
sigh i rather grow some vegetables n live my life with feelings.
rather then work the f-out. and gotten smile just becoz someone told us to -_- -
I'd rather live in a snow-covered terrain growing cold vegetation and living peacefully with my future wife than to be working my butts out and getting only a puny 2/3K a month..
-
Why no geniune smile??? Papies elites loh...and 40 percent of 4 million are those high raking officials and their family members lah....Most importantly...the multi-million dollars mini-stars will smile like c o c k.Originally posted by ShutterBug:Yeah... four million smiles... right...
.. four million FAKE smiles are more like it...
Right now, people are just working hard because of all the increase in daily and monthly needs - not because they're aspiring for a better lifestyle.
Are we happy???
... do your own personal survey, ask the common men and women on the streets, and you will be surprised how unhappy they all are - even though they hung flags every National Day.
I remember one mini-star (Something like Le.......) was almost like going to cry in a parlimentary meeting when the cabinet had approved the casinos. Now, I think he had forgotten about his sadness over the casinos...but happily smiling to welcome IMF and continue drawing his multi-millions salaries and dividends.
What a hypocrisy! -
How abt Geyland Hub! or Peitu mamas Hub?Originally posted by dragg:only the govt need the world rankings.
no 1 airport
no 1 seaport
no 1 math competition
no 1 this hub and that hub -
I dont work in these hubs.Originally posted by dragg:only the govt need the world rankings.
no 1 airport
no 1 seaport
no 1 math competition
no 1 this hub and that hub
But I do share my joy as a proud Singaporean whenever I see my country being ranked so high in international standard. These rankings certainly make our passport valuable.
-
What done cannot be undone. We shall know in due time when the casino open its door to the public. It be terrible if our ministers cannot be resilient enough and take setback as ultimate failure. Instead the ministers shall move to tackle more pressing issues and not dwell on what had already been placed on the stake. Furthermore, whatever had been implemented, other than the initial investment capital aside, the rest of the issues can certainly be improvised, modified or controlled through the use of legislation. Similar to business patching.Originally posted by Lowclassman:Why no geniune smile??? Papies elites loh...and 40 percent of 4 million are those high raking officials and their family members lah....Most importantly...the multi-million dollars mini-stars will smile like c o c k.
I remember one mini-star (Something like Le.......) was almost like going to cry in a parlimentary meeting when the cabinet had approved the casinos. Now, I think he had forgotten about his sadness over the casinos...but happily smiling to welcome IMF and continue drawing his multi-millions salaries and dividends.
What a hypocrisy! -
I doubt this ! !Originally posted by TooFree:These rankings certainly make our passport valuable. 
Many countries custom officals don't know what Singapore is, some argued it's a Fake Passport from a Fake Country ! !
-
forget all the rankings and survey:
ask urself:
do u hv a roof over ur head
hv enough food(incl junk food)
enough clean water(i drink direct fr HDB tap)
etc
then if u not happy with PAP,u can ,like
many hv done,express here without
your door been knocked in mid night
nor u disappear .u would not been detained under
ISA.
or u really not happy,with Sg citizenship and education
background,just migrate lah.
or join SAP ,WP etc and
change Sg in a peaceful way.
2.but to many non -Singaporean,
they are willing to do anythings to get some,not for the sake
of ranking,but to make the life better.Get out from the hell
take a good look of the ranking there.
3.
To some,like Chee Soon Juan and his western supporters,
they would rather prefer Sg get a top ranking in Press and Democracy
freedoms and at the same time get many low rankings
in other aspects.To them ,these two are more important
than others.So they are praising those third world countries,
where people suffering in daily life just to get food
on the table,but their Freedom and Democracy ranking
are damn high!! -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:then if u not happy with PAP,u can ,like
many hv done,express here without
your door been knocked in mid night
nor u disappear .u would not been detained under
ISA.Originally posted by lionnoisy:
There is no correlation between the peaceful way and the means warranted by the Internal Security Act to act on supposed dissidents. This only means the peaceful way must be obselette.
or u really not happy,with Sg citizenship and education
background,just migrate lah.
or join[b] SAP ,WP etc and
change Sg in a peaceful way.
[/b] -
Which Third World country has freedom and democracy? Tell me lionoisy, I'd like to know.
You're just unhappy and have resorted to wanton spamming. -
gambling business is the root of all evil!!!Originally posted by TooFree:What done cannot be undone. We shall know in due time when the casino open its door to the public. It be terrible if our ministers cannot be resilient enough and take setback as ultimate failure. Instead the ministers shall move to tackle more pressing issues and not dwell on what had already been placed on the stake. Furthermore, whatever had been implemented, other than the initial investment capital aside, the rest of the issues can certainly be improvised, modified or controlled through the use of legislation. Similar to business patching.
are u saying we can hve a evil business and improved ,modified and controlled it and make it into "angelic" business???
I am hoping that u r not so naive to believe in all these preventive measures will work after the casino had taken place in S'pore. -
Our Gahment knows how to make good money what, on one hand is the IR, on the other hand, set up a medical centre for "Fixing" Gambling Addicts ! !