The following is excerpted from SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity. Tomorrow, in Part 21, I conclude with the simple solution for crime.
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The Singapore Solution to Crime
In March 2004, Michael Peter Fay, 18, from Missouri and Ohio, pleaded guilty in a Singapore court to vandalism (spray painting cars), mischief and receiving stolen property (No Smoking and No Exit signs). He was sentenced by Judge F. G. Remedios to four months in prison, six strokes of the rattan and a fine of $2230. Fay’s partner, Shiu Chi Ho, 16, of Hong Kong, was given 8 months in jail and twelve strokes of the cane. This is not a slap on the knuckles by a nun wielding a ruler. An official trained in the martial arts, with firm strength, swings a half inch cane, many times causing shock and usually permanent scars. It is reported that around 1000 canings occur every year. There is no graffiti problem here and, furthermore, chewing gum was once banned (lifted in 2004). I think it’s still illegal not to flush a public toilet. You don’t want to be caught for this neglect.
While Americans seemed aghast about Michael, more than half of us in a poll of 23,000 favored whipping and other harsh sentences as an acceptable deterrent to crime in the U.S. That year, Mike Royko, the Voice of the Working Class for the New York Daily News (both have since passed away), said that 99% of the letters he received said, yes, Fay should be flogged. Yet, President Clinton did send an official protest, and so did six U.S. Senators. Officials in Singapore were unapologetic, wondered how the leader of the most powerful country could worry about a spoiled brat and remarked that they did not have situations where vandals spray-painted police cars, such as in New York City.
Well, Singapore President Ong Teng Cheong, ever so kind, reduced the penalty to four strokes and they were applied on May 5, 1994, in private. Americans again griped that the penalty was excessive and inhumane. Not long thereafter, after Michael Fay returned to the U.S., he was admitted to the Hazelden rehabilitation program for butane abuse (he sniffed this fossil fuel gas), was cited for reckless driving in Florida and then arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. I guess he is one person who never learns his lesson. Hmm...a candidate for Three Strikes and You're Dead.
In 2002, Van Tuong Nguyen of Melbourne was arrested at Changi Airport with nearly 400 grams (almost a pound) of heroin. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers, the Pope and many others, called for clemency. Singapore has a mandatory death penalty for the importation of more than 15 grams of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine and 500 grams of cannabis. Singapore executes more people per capita that any other country, about 35/year, mostly for drug trafficking. Van Tuong Nguyen was hanged in Changi Prison on December 2, 2005.
In the 1800’s, before Singapore became a nation, opium was supplied to laborers and addiction became increasingly widespread. After World War II, opium smoking was made illegal. By the 1970’s heroin took over. Well, is there a drug problem in Singapore today? Yes, but mostly synthetic drugs such as nimetazepam, because it was new and not yet subject to control (it now is). Today, heroin is #7. Zero tolerance seems to be somewhat working.
In March 2004, Michael Peter Fay, 18, from Missouri and Ohio, pleaded guilty in a Singapore court to vandalism (spray painting cars), mischief and receiving stolen property (No Smoking and No Exit signs). He was sentenced by Judge F. G. Remedios to four months in prison, six strokes of the rattan and a fine of $2230. Fay’s partner, Shiu Chi Ho, 16, of Hong Kong, was given 8 months in jail and twelve strokes of the cane. This is not a slap on the knuckles by a nun wielding a ruler. An official trained in the martial arts, with firm strength, swings a half inch cane, many times causing shock and usually permanent scars. It is reported that around 1000 canings occur every year. There is no graffiti problem here and, furthermore, chewing gum was once banned (lifted in 2004). I think it’s still illegal not to flush a public toilet. You don’t want to be caught for this neglect.
While Americans seemed aghast about Michael, more than half of us in a poll of 23,000 favored whipping and other harsh sentences as an acceptable deterrent to crime in the U.S. That year, Mike Royko, the Voice of the Working Class for the New York Daily News (both have since passed away), said that 99% of the letters he received said, yes, Fay should be flogged. Yet, President Clinton did send an official protest, and so did six U.S. Senators. Officials in Singapore were unapologetic, wondered how the leader of the most powerful country could worry about a spoiled brat and remarked that they did not have situations where vandals spray-painted police cars, such as in New York City.
Well, Singapore President Ong Teng Cheong, ever so kind, reduced the penalty to four strokes and they were applied on May 5, 1994, in private. Americans again griped that the penalty was excessive and inhumane. Not long thereafter, after Michael Fay returned to the U.S., he was admitted to the Hazelden rehabilitation program for butane abuse (he sniffed this fossil fuel gas), was cited for reckless driving in Florida and then arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. I guess he is one person who never learns his lesson. Hmm...a candidate for Three Strikes and You're Dead.
In 2002, Van Tuong Nguyen of Melbourne was arrested at Changi Airport with nearly 400 grams (almost a pound) of heroin. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers, the Pope and many others, called for clemency. Singapore has a mandatory death penalty for the importation of more than 15 grams of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine and 500 grams of cannabis. Singapore executes more people per capita that any other country, about 35/year, mostly for drug trafficking. Van Tuong Nguyen was hanged in Changi Prison on December 2, 2005.
In the 1800’s, before Singapore became a nation, opium was supplied to laborers and addiction became increasingly widespread. After World War II, opium smoking was made illegal. By the 1970’s heroin took over. Well, is there a drug problem in Singapore today? Yes, but mostly synthetic drugs such as nimetazepam, because it was new and not yet subject to control (it now is). Today, heroin is #7. Zero tolerance seems to be somewhat working.
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The Dow Jones Industrials, opening at 8154, rose past 8400 today, only to drop back to 8170, then, in the now famous last hour so common to the stock market in these volatile times, jumped almost 250 points, ending at 8419, up 270 (3.3%) for the day. Asian markets all dropped about 4%, with the Japan Nikkei plunging 6.4%. The European stock exchanges, though, virtually all remained positive for the day.
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It is appearing that, now chastened, the Big Three CEOs later this week, will ask Congress not for $25 billion, but $34 billion, with Ford, at least, mumbling that they might not need to use it if the situation improves.
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The NYMEX Crude Future dropped $2.32/barrel to $46.96. Christopher Ruehl of BP remarked that oil prices will continue to fall because of the world recession, unless OPEC cuts production, something that their Secretary-General, Abdalla el-Badri said might happen when then meet in Algeria later this month. While King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and oil ministers have continue to mouth statements to the effect that $75/barrel would be a fair price, Ruehl remarked, "There is no fair price. There is a price, which balances demand and supply."
Interested in what gasoline costs around the nation? However, for Hawaii, I yesterday paid around $2/gallon at COSTCO, so averages don't mean that much.
Interested in what gasoline costs around the nation? However, for Hawaii, I yesterday paid around $2/gallon at COSTCO, so averages don't mean that much.
NOTE THAT, INSTEAD OF ALPHABETICALLY WAITING, YOU CAN TYPE IN YOUR STATE SYMBOL AT THE BOTTOM, SUCH AS "HI" FOR HAWAII. You can also CLICK on "Gasoline Prices" at the top and go directly to the source. The national average price of gasoline in the USA was $4/gallon on July 7, 2008. Today, it is $1.81 for regular.
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