Red Dot Rants 2: the comedy and tragedy of living in Singapore

Welcome to the land of rapid demolition/construction, extreme shopping, scripted lives, sanitised fun and sheltered walkways.

Tiny Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world with the highest paid leaders in the world and close to 100% home ownership. Yet, beneath the veneer of prosperity, is a cold and calculative society inhabited by a highly stressed and frustrated people who somehow want to be pampered and spoon-fed all their lives.

What does Singapore look like beneath the surface? Why are people so well-off yet unhappy? Or are they really that well-off? Come with us and take an insider's view of this enigmatic, atypical Southeast Asian country.

Red Dot Rants is a collection of cynical yet funny and lighthearted essays and social commentaries by Singaporean writer/blogger Chan Joon Yee. In spite of his political neutrality, Chan Joon Yee's observations may embarrass some of the apologists and propagandists.

Read this book for information and entertainment.

Bread was a simple pleasure in Singapore 40 years ago. This essay recalls how bread was sold, loved and enjoyed in the old Singapore.

Follow Your Heart If You Still Have One

One of the richest countries in the world is making no apologies for sacrificing its soul and ideals to get there. Amazing some people still wonder why we’re so lacking in ideals.

Misplaced Righteousness

Singapore suddenly became the sin city after a few high profile scandals involving supposedly incorruptible people in power. The puritans are sounding the alarm. Are things what they seem?

The Convenient Split

To win an argument and support the official stand, some intellectuals grossly simplify their opponents’ viewpoints and put words into their mouths.

Soldiers & Workers

Security used to taken very seriously at military bases in Singapore. No foreigners were allowed. But as practically no Singaporeans are willing to menial jobs, something has to give.

Fertility and Mobility

The policy makers need to understand that giving a little financial support will not encourage well-qualified Singaporeans to reproduce.

Digesting Their Dreams

The consequences of rapid immigration to increase population. We’ve seen it in Sabah. Swallowing and digesting the Population White Paper.

To No Avail

Your country is rich, but what about you? Why are you working harder but not getting any better off financially? When will the country’s enormous wealth start trickling down?

Uniquely Expensive Singapore

Medical tourism? Eco-tourism? Wellness tourism? Spiritual tourism? The joke of reinventing tourism in Singapore and the truth about what is actually bringing in the money.

Reimagining

Perhaps the word “reimagine” (an advice given by Singapore’s leaders) explains it all. We have to imagine that the service at the restaurant is good even when everything is self service.

Singa – Lion Without Teeth

Our mascot for the Kindness Movement is a lion without teeth. …the second cause for such unkind behavior is ironically, self-righteousness and an insistence on “truth”, “justice” and “morality”.

The Vehicle Commander Syndrome

Examining Chua Lam’s essay on why people get divorced. .. when the husband takes a certain route, the wife afflicted by the Vehicle Commander Syndrome would always have a better one.

Still On The Beaten Track

A phenomenon in our public libraries - so many students in their 30s studying for higher qualification. An education bubble in the making?

A Parent’s Struggle With Role Models
Are our national heroes who gave their lives for their causes, good role models for pragmatic Singaporeans? How many parents want their children to emulate people who died for their beliefs?