Used to be easier. Now, harder after a population explosion due to excessive immigration. THere was a political backlash in 2011 from locals who faced stress competing with foreigners in the job market. Same problem everywhere. It's still not hard to immigrate here if the foreigner has special skills/talent to make money for himself and the host country. It's a good country to make money thanks to pro-business government, for sure.
And that is their magic. You don't FEEL restricted. But if you analyse it, you are. Which perversely is why it works so well. Again, not criticism.
No problem. I really don't care if I don't FEEL it. What matters is the economic freedom to make money with minimal government interference. That's what I feel we have in abundance here.
Try criticize your Prime Minister like we criticize President Trump in and see if you will get away without spending some nights in Changi.
It's true Americans have more political freedom. However, many people, including me, don't care about political freedom as long as we can make good money. I only care about economic freedom and a pro-business government which creates a good environment to make money. Why would I criticise a leader who creates a conducive environment for making money and the economic freedom to attain a good standard of living?
You can! Just take a taxi in Singapore and you will hear all about Sgeans complaints. Or on internet (yahoo....). Same as every country, Sgeans criticize a lot their government. Though they can't protest or organize a gathering to criticize the PM or attempt to publish a negative article in a mainstream media. But most people don't want to do that so they don't really care!
And that goes to the heart of not having freedom for so long. This is more of a philosophical point on my behalf. ps, people in prison are not allowed to protest either.
I can't tell. I am a Singapore resident but not Singaporean. Too big a shortcut! You can't make this association! What about the freedom to go anywhere you want, at the time you want, without worrying for your own safety? In Sg, you have this freedom. Very few countries have this freedom!
Lucky you. Living in Singapore as a resident is wonderful. However, being a Singaporean carries the life-threatening duty of being called up for military duty out of the blue like an Israeli should one day the country is invaded. It is a tiny vulnerable country. Every male citizen is a conscripted soldier by law, except for new immigrants. News about stock market crashing and losing job doesn't scare me. What scares me as a Singaporean is being called up for war. I don't think I'm alone having this fear.