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1/13/2011
Signs of rising intolerance
A Maureen Foo wrote a letter to Today paper yesterday complaining about noise in the HDB void decks. And her complaints included children cycling and rollerblading in the walkways. These are signs that the intolerance level of overcrowding is beginning to get to the nerves of the people.
When space is aplenty and one needs not bang into another so frequently, community living is a joy, or at least bearable. When one starts to bump into one another in every corner, the nerves are likely to flare. When have people become so irritated with the aunties and uncles spending their time at the void decks or children playing in the HDB estates? Such problems will keep on increasing as the population grows. Those crazy people who want a 10m population here need to be sent to the firing squad. Oh, I just say this figuratively hor.
Even husband and wife will get onto one another’s nerves when the novelty of marriage life starts to wear. The little irritating habits when repeated or accumulated and prolonged can be unbearable. This paradise will soon be turned into an inhabitable place when neighbours will start to give hostile stares at one another, commuters punch ups in public transports or people fighting in hawker centres or on the streets.
The white mice effect is about to erupt if we are still complacent and think it is ok.
This is just a preview of things to come and you ain't seen nothing yet.
ReplyDeleteAnother 10 million or even 100 million in a continent country like Australia is just a little drop in a big pond. An increase of 100,000 people in a country the size of this little puny putty is like squeezing 100 people into a Beamer. Another 1,000,000 and the german steel would just give way.
And it's not only the quantity. It's also the variety. When you have boors coming here spitting all over the place, bicycling against traffic, talking loudly in crowded place, all disgusting mannerism which is the norm in their home countries,tempers are bound to snap and rage ensures.
Good luck to you guys here. When that happens, I'm retiring for good at Lijiang at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain chain and be at one with the Gods. Shangrila is just a short distance away.
Hehe. :o)
If the rich, successful and powerful folks consider Sin a paradise and if you poor folks dont like it here, please go away.
ReplyDeleteIt only goes to show some people just dont understand that they're living in the laps of good life.
It is true that high density population can be stressful and that people need time to adjust to get used to one another.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is going to be bouts of intolerance, stress etc... but what is the alternative? A small city-state can only remain prosperous if its economy was kept "open".
The worlds population is growing. In time, every place which is "livable" is going to increase in population density -- until limiting factors like water, infrastructure and energy supply limitations cut in.
That, you can take to the bank.
We need another world war!
ReplyDeleteOops, just joking only hor.
Hehe. :o)
Another world war (i.e. whole world at war) is a "black swan" at the moment...
ReplyDelete...however a China-India war could be more forthcoming. I'm willing to bet money on this one.
China is going to be accused of "stealing" water which India will claim "belongs to them". China is building the worlds tallest damn in Tibet (Yarlung Zangbo River) and other dams along the way. This river flows thru India where is becomes the Bramahputra River.
But if China dams the water upstream, I seriously doubt there'll be a Brahmaputra River. There might be a trickle of longkang water.
Water-rights war could also break out between India and Pakistan.
7 billion souls on the planet, and increasing. And they all need water.
It's going to get very interesting :-)
Let's bring it on.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a pop corn machine and there's plenty of exotic beer in the fridge.
Hehe. :o)
After the 1962 whacking India would not dare risk a war with China. But with a little carrot and backing from Hilary, they may just be tempted.
ReplyDeleteLet's look at the offer. Dinner party at the White House. Preferable status, UNSC membership, weapons technology, nuclear technology, free weapons and bullets to shoot at the Chinaman, more investment and financial aid....And cannot lose with the US standing by to join the war. At most China will hit, charge to Delhi and then pull back again. A can't lose war.
Not bad huh.
Someone argued that the Indians would not be stupid enough to invite the wolf into their home. Gandhi would be turning in his grave, after fighting so hard to get rid of the British.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, when war with China breaks out, sentiments may change. Yeah, and like an Indian movie script, corruption always makes the impossible possible.
A war between China and India would really be interesting since both are so corrupt that the machineries of war would just break down at the most embarrassing moment.
ReplyDeleteOn balance though, I think the Chinese would win over the Indians if you look at their track record hosting the Olympic games and the Commonwealth games respectively, both bisected by corruption, but the Chinese were miles away in terms of tactical planning and execution.
No account has been taken of China's advances in weapons development which is at least 10 years ahead of the Indians.
No way the US is going to offer much help to the Indians because although strange bedfellows, the latter was once sleeping with the Russians.
Like I said, I'm willing to put money on prospect of this war occurring, for the reasons stated: dispute over water-rights.
ReplyDeleteWater is going to be (if not already) a hotly contested resource. People will die fighting over this.
Yes, I agree, India will get whacked terok terbokok.
India will fight a water water at some time -- either with China or with Pakistan...or worse case scenario -- with both.
In the past, China's military doctrine was aggression to solve "disputes". Have they since changed? I don't know.
However it is fair to say that once you have a state, warfare is "legitimate" means to achieve any political objective you desire.
India and Russia are pals in weapons industry. India uses alot of Russian weaponry.
ReplyDeleteA war between China and India would be complicated once the US gets involved.
ReplyDeleteAny war that has the footprints of the US, will result in massive destruction of infrastructure, like the Vietnam War. But done anywhere outside of the US, that is just collateral damage, nothing serious to them. They are adapt in using foreign soil to get rid of obsolete weapons before manufacturing new ones as replacements. A smart way of more business for their weapons industry, while deluding the stupid Asians.
And who is the eventual winner? Your guess is as good as mine.
Matilah,
ReplyDeleteWhat have you been smoking? China's military doctrine was aggression to solve dispute? When has China fight a war of aggression? Korean War, Vietnam War, Sino Indo War? The first two were obvious who were the aggressors. The latter, India and the Western media refused to acknowledge that it was the Indians that started the war.
The first week China was walloped because they were unprepared and taken by surprised. Only after weeks of reinforcement were they able to mount a counter attack. And after defeating the enemy, they withdrew back to the status quo position. The same as when they retaliated against the Vietnamese border incursion. They withdrew.
You called that a doctrine based on military aggression? Don't talk about Tibet or Taiwan. Historically, they were Chinese territories and the Chinese will fight a war with any country to defend these territories. The West may want to put on a pretext to call them independent countries for their own strategic interests. Even Dalai Lama have accepted that Tibet is a part of China and asking for autonomy.
Diaoyutai belonged to China but it refrained from fighting the Japanese to reclaim it. The foolish claims by Asean countries in the South China Sea were only met with restraint. At one time the Philippines even arrested Chinese ships. China could sail their navy ships into Manila if they wanted to. But it refrained from doing so. The Americans will do just that if American ships were seized.
Countries with military doctrines of aggression are Japan and the US. The aircraft carriers are for aggression, NOT FOR PEACE. And after every pretence of war, they will keep their forces in the countries they invaded. Forget about them withdrawing from Iraq or Afghanistan or even Pakistan.
With money to be made, don't rule out the corrupt politicians and businessmen trying to instigate for a war. The death of innocents is nothing as long as there is money to be made.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Americans will do all it can to assist.
Once states declare war on each other, there is no such human as an "innocent" anymore.
ReplyDeleteHumans on the opposing side are known as "enemy".
> don't rule out the corrupt politicians and businessmen <
"Rule out?" Huh?!?
Of course not!
In fact, I am betting that certain powerful interests will be lobbying for armed conflict in the name of "defending the national honour and sovereign supremacy"
I reiterate: I'm putting my money down on this one.
'Countries with military doctrines of aggression are Japan and US'
ReplyDeleteWhen torture is not torture by their definition, aggression has been translated into liberation. The Japs still do not accept the fact of their aggression during WW2.
So, the US liberated Iraq and Afghanistan. They are trying to liberate North Korea and Iran. The Japs are arming to liberate East Asia again, by the looks of it. Only that this time, China is no longer a walk in the park for them.
India going to war with China?
ReplyDeleteNay, nay, nay, no matter what, the indians are more sensible than to do the most stupid thing.
Unless they think like Redbean or they think India is too over populated, the last thing they wish to do is to go war with China.
They won't have a choice but to defend their rights to water.
ReplyDeleteIf they don't have water, they and their civilization dies.
Simple as that.
If the desert people and sinkapoorerians can find water, the Indians will be able to find more. They have the Ganges and the Indus with their numerous tributaries, not to mention the endless supply from the Himalayas round the year.
ReplyDeleteanon 124
ReplyDelete> They have the Ganges and the Indus <
Sure they have. And they also have 1.15 billion people compared to the (let's say) 10 million to be in Singapore.
Damming the Brahmaputra river (anon 124-- check your map before commenting -- you'll look less stupid then...just a suggestion, mate) upstream is an almost guaranteed reason for war. India has no choice: it will have to fight for water rights. If it does not fight, those people relying on the water now will be totally fucked.
redbean: I won't go into your historical account (subjective at best) of China's past military adventures.
We talk now, ok? China's role in the world has changed. It's profile has escalated rapidly, and generally no one trusts them -- that is perception -- there's nothing you or anyone can do about that.
Therefore it will have to change militaristicly. New policies. China needs to secure resources and be able to DEFEND whatever they secure -- for the "national interest" of the country and for its own sovereignty.
Also, you will see a shift in the political power -- more will go to the generals.
Just watch. OK?
China and India will fight: it's only a matter of time.
Hahaha....
ReplyDeleteimagine war between two largest economic improving old civilizations.
Let's congratulate both the Chinese and Indian for their prosperities and may they have peace to enjoy their wealths and good live.
Surely, both would not be stupid to forgo their newfound prosperities.
However, sporadic civil unrests inside both nations are as sure as the next sunrise.
Sigh...
ReplyDeleteAnother one who doesn't "get it".
For both cuntries: No water, no "on-going" prosperity In fact, very soon: no water, no life. So both cuntries will be fighting for their survival - on every level: sovereignty, life, property, prosperity, social and economic.
Dun worry: you will see on-going disagreements btw S'pore and Malaysia too over water.
Malaysia is also importing foreign labour -- population is increasing. In time, that water they have and sell to S'pore is going to get SCARCER as population in BOTH Singapore and Malaysia RISE.
...and we haven't even considered climate change yet ;-)...so it's going to be NEW kinda fun. :-)