[107666] in Cypherpunks
Re: Singapore...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jukka E Isosaari)
Wed Jan 20 18:12:57 1999
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:49:29 +0200 (EET)
From: Jukka E Isosaari <jei@zor.hut.fi>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
In-Reply-To: <199901200330.EAA10920@replay.com>
Reply-To: Jukka E Isosaari <jei@zor.hut.fi>
This, if anything, is a very good reason to spread and encourage
strong crypto. In light of this, the WA and US export controls seem
to be effectively supporting dictatorial governments like this, who
want, and with today's tehcnology can achieve, 100% control over their
citizens' lives.
++ J
On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Anonymous wrote:
> You americans are cribbing so much about big brother watching you
> every step of the way.
> be thankful you are not in a country like singapore.
> well, I live in singapore, and the governmt is
> more like big uncle here . they "watch out" for you every step of the way
>
> forget crypto. look at the basic lifestyle here. CHEWING GUM is banned and
> you can go to jail for importing or chewing gum. assholes.
> all movies are censored. no "adults only" scene is allowed. not even
> small shots of nudity. they think we'll all get corrupted. goes without
> saying that skin mags are banned. If they find a playboy in your posession
> you get at least a $1000 fine and time in jail. well heck, this is just
> a little bit...
>
> there are no such thing as fair elections. the present PAP (Peoples action
> party) has been ruling ever since I care to remember. The opposition doesnt
> have a chance since there's no such thing as fair elections anyway. if you
> raise your voice against the government for a real cause, you get into the
> bad boooks of the big shots and you get carted off to jail for the slightest
> offense. If you're politically "marked", you could land a 1 year jail term
> for spitting on the sidewalk.
>
> Oh, and spitting = $500 fine, littering = $1000, eating on trains/buses =$1000,
> smoking on trains / buses = $1000, fines go up to $5000.
> the whole country is networked by a system of spies. the govt offers anyone
> $10,000 if they squeal on software pirates. All backed up by BSA and micro$oft.
> several cab drivers are government informers and they are paid to sniff out
> dissidents and possible "trouble makers".
>
> Of course, you don't have any say in the way the country is run. the government
> is "good" amnd they decide what is "good" for the "people". recently they have
> decided that it's ok for employers to cut salaries and CPF contributions
> without even thinking that the employees themselves would get affected...
> becoz if this, most home owners are not able to make their monthly mortgate
> payments and the interest due keeps rising.
>
> Oh, and of course, if you're caught doing drugs, it's the death penalty.
> There's usually no trial and you're executed within a couple of days. I'm
> not saying that's bad, but recently a young couple who had 15 grams of heroin
> in their posession were sentenced to death, and their 3 year old child is
> in hospital now without anyone to look after it.
>
> all citizens / permanent residens have ALL their personal info on the
> centrel computing base - includes fingerprints, life history, etc
> etc etc... so that they can track your every move.
>
> there are survellance cameras at every conceivable location for
> big uncle to spy on every move you make. yesterday I was totally stunned
> when I realized that every SINGLE pillar that supports the overhead train
> system is wired with 4 miniature cameras on 4 sides and sensors. I could
> nt believe this.
>
> of course, cars are unaffordable to the general public. a crappy Honda civic
> costs $150,000 - yes you read that correct. you still find the rich
> bastards driving around ion BMWs, Mercedez, rolls royce, Jaguars and
> other big time cars. A crappy HDB flat costs $200,000, and an independent
> house with a small garden is beyond thw wildest dreams of the common man
> - $ 1 million to $2 million.
>
> i Guess you can expect nothing better from a country which is ruled by
> a self appointed "council" oof "knowledgable elders".
>
> Shit! Guys, you Americans are a REALLY FORTUNATE lot. Look at other
> countries worse off than you ! Crypto restrictions are not a really
> great price to pay for other kinds of freedom you have. I'm sure
> you would not want to live in a military state like singapore.
>
