Comments on: Some Lessons in Singapore http://leavittpartners.com/blog/some-lessons-in-singapore/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:34:39 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Patricia Beck http://leavittpartners.com/blog/some-lessons-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-689 Patricia Beck Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 http://leavittpartners.com/uncategorized/some-lessons-in-singapore/#comment-689 <p>What an interesting post. I am surprised to hear that 38.5% of births in the U.S. are to unmarried mothers! It makes sense that the number of births are declining in various countries; more women are becoming career focused and do not want children or even to get married. Is it really a surprise they our current generation has more problems with kids? Moms don't have time to raise their kids properly anymore. Many women think staying home and raising their children is old fashioned. Thanks for sharing information with readers of how demographics such as birth rates impact our society.</p> What an interesting post. I am surprised to hear that 38.5% of births in the U.S. are to unmarried mothers! It makes sense that the number of births are declining in various countries; more women are becoming career focused and do not want children or even to get married. Is it really a surprise they our current generation has more problems with kids? Moms don’t have time to raise their kids properly anymore. Many women think staying home and raising their children is old fashioned. Thanks for sharing information with readers of how demographics such as birth rates impact our society.

]]> By: John Merah http://leavittpartners.com/blog/some-lessons-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-690 John Merah Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 http://leavittpartners.com/uncategorized/some-lessons-in-singapore/#comment-690 <p>Belieing Singapore's success story exist dynamics which rarely come to light in the United States. </p><p>While the country shares the same capitalist ethics as does the U.S.- i.e.,valuing higher education, hard work and investment, there are some important differences between the two societies.</p><p>Singapore is a one party state. Though it holds elections, it can hardly be called a democracy. Also, it freely traffics in blatant discriminatory practices as per some of its immigrant population. Household "servants" which constitute a significant bulk of those immigrants are treated as second class citizens, and are afforded few rights. The related horror stories are freely available for anyone who has the desire to do the research.</p><p>Singapore has an "open market"- but is not an "open society." The country's political- and to some extent- its cultural life- is highly orchestrated. Political opposition to the controlling party requires bravery. Fear of police and government reprisal helps keep the people in their place. Slight infractions consequence harsh punishment and social ostracization. Singapore has executed more people through its legal system over the past few years than just about any country in the world. </p><p>So what does this have to say about "health?" In such a rich country with a regulated economy and culture, it seems good physical health can thrive- but freedom of expression itself is sacrificed. </p><p>Is that a price Singaporeans are willing to pay? You'd have to ask them, and ultimately it is their business.</p><p>Spiritual health is the issue now at hand. In spiritual terms, Singapore cannot rightfully be termed a healthy society. Rather, the atmosphere is oppressive, and the character of the people, repressed. I think many, many foreign travelers who visit the country would agree. The fact it is clean and even "beautiful" to the eye amounts to as much superficiality as it lends itself to positive substance.</p><p>Tauting Singapore's health system- and then by extension lauding its society as a whole- does not necessarily follow.</p> Belieing Singapore’s success story exist dynamics which rarely come to light in the United States.

While the country shares the same capitalist ethics as does the U.S.- i.e.,valuing higher education, hard work and investment, there are some important differences between the two societies.

Singapore is a one party state. Though it holds elections, it can hardly be called a democracy. Also, it freely traffics in blatant discriminatory practices as per some of its immigrant population. Household “servants” which constitute a significant bulk of those immigrants are treated as second class citizens, and are afforded few rights. The related horror stories are freely available for anyone who has the desire to do the research.

Singapore has an “open market”- but is not an “open society.” The country’s political- and to some extent- its cultural life- is highly orchestrated. Political opposition to the controlling party requires bravery. Fear of police and government reprisal helps keep the people in their place. Slight infractions consequence harsh punishment and social ostracization. Singapore has executed more people through its legal system over the past few years than just about any country in the world.

So what does this have to say about “health?” In such a rich country with a regulated economy and culture, it seems good physical health can thrive- but freedom of expression itself is sacrificed.

Is that a price Singaporeans are willing to pay? You’d have to ask them, and ultimately it is their business.

Spiritual health is the issue now at hand. In spiritual terms, Singapore cannot rightfully be termed a healthy society. Rather, the atmosphere is oppressive, and the character of the people, repressed. I think many, many foreign travelers who visit the country would agree. The fact it is clean and even “beautiful” to the eye amounts to as much superficiality as it lends itself to positive substance.

Tauting Singapore’s health system- and then by extension lauding its society as a whole- does not necessarily follow.

]]> By: Kobie http://leavittpartners.com/blog/some-lessons-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-691 Kobie Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 http://leavittpartners.com/uncategorized/some-lessons-in-singapore/#comment-691 <p>Dr. Leavitt,</p><p> There is a diary on the Flu Wiki about impact on Social Security and future populations when so many young could die in a pandemic (source: <a href="http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2053)" rel="nofollow">http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2053)</a> </p><p> While I agree with you, how do we balance food and population growth? Hopefully the US will grow as fast, or faster from current families than immigration or the growing illegal immigration.</p><p>Regards,<br />Kobie</p> Dr. Leavitt,

There is a diary on the Flu Wiki about impact on Social Security and future populations when so many young could die in a pandemic (source: http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2053)

While I agree with you, how do we balance food and population growth? Hopefully the US will grow as fast, or faster from current families than immigration or the growing illegal immigration.

Regards,
Kobie

]]> By: Oracle http://leavittpartners.com/blog/some-lessons-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-692 Oracle Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 http://leavittpartners.com/uncategorized/some-lessons-in-singapore/#comment-692 <p><br />Sorry sir, but you're going to have to rethink your mindset on what constitutes sustainable population in the US. More is not better; we're well past the break-even point in per capita unit basic social services costs. What will have to change is the concept of retirement entitlements. Federal and State governments will also have to push and prod our population into responsible behavior of fiscal, social, physical and mental health practices. </p><p>Could you please comment on the PLoS Medicine article published today on life expectancy trends in the US?</p> Sorry sir, but you’re going to have to rethink your mindset on what constitutes sustainable population in the US. More is not better; we’re well past the break-even point in per capita unit basic social services costs. What will have to change is the concept of retirement entitlements. Federal and State governments will also have to push and prod our population into responsible behavior of fiscal, social, physical and mental health practices.

Could you please comment on the PLoS Medicine article published today on life expectancy trends in the US?

]]> By: Anthony Cirillo http://leavittpartners.com/blog/some-lessons-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-693 Anthony Cirillo Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 http://leavittpartners.com/uncategorized/some-lessons-in-singapore/#comment-693 <p>Mike - I have done some work overseas in the area of medical tourism. Singapore consistently comes up in the literature as a destination. When I started my work it was unheard of that insurers in the U.S. would contract with overseas hospitals but now you have Blue's such as in South Carolina doing just that. Would the government ever think of off-shoring health care programs such as Medicare to give people choice and reduce costs? Thanks, Anthony Cirillo, FACHE</p> Mike – I have done some work overseas in the area of medical tourism. Singapore consistently comes up in the literature as a destination. When I started my work it was unheard of that insurers in the U.S. would contract with overseas hospitals but now you have Blue’s such as in South Carolina doing just that. Would the government ever think of off-shoring health care programs such as Medicare to give people choice and reduce costs? Thanks, Anthony Cirillo, FACHE

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