Flooding and meritocracy

Despite spending approximately US$ 1 billion on flood alleviation schemes since 1982, Singapore still has 134 hectares of flood prone land. When 366mm of rain crashed down on Singapore on December 18 2006, some of these areas were submerged up to 0.5 m. The forces of nature, you can't fight them even if, as the Public Utilities Board, you were named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006. more

Well, I guess they did rather well when the same 366mm of rain fell on South Johore, Malaysia, causing floods of up to 5m, or ten times the depth of inundation in Singapore. The IHT, Asia has more

I don't know whether it pays to be small or to have "affiramtive action" planners and engineers, or both. Go figure ...

Being alive and staiying that way.

Hi All and welcome!

1. I'm a patriot but not political. There is a difference between the nation, its government and the ruling party. I'm loyal to the first, critical of the second and have no wish to be associated with the third or any political party.
2. We live in a dangerous neighbourhood. Indonesia is a failing or already failed state that cannot deliver good governance to its people. Malaysia is constitutionally divided and no nation can be built without unity. Consequently and regretfully, and despite our high diplomatic profile in international organisations, this means a muscular military.
3. Power is a matter of perception and wars mostly result from miscalculation. Hence, a proper display of both diplomatic and military power increases the chances of not using it and enhances security.
4. The converse is also true. Maintaining a respectful silence during Singapore-bashing in the regional media, as our neighbours mistakenly prefer, may lead to a deluded superiority and unnecessary aggression requiring a violent correction which no one wants.
5. Opinions are can be about physical events, what actually occurred and how we understand them. These can be debated when the events are stated.
6. Otherwise they become pure mental constructions like ideas, or worse, biases which cannot be debated. No evidence means no argument, only assertion.
7. Those preaching hatred should not be silenced but answered with rational arguments.
8. Deliberate mis-statements about events which did not take place are lies. Lies are not opinions and liars should be exposed whenever they disguise their lies as opinion..
9. Having seen a little of their effects at close hand, I fear and detest modern weapons; but, sadly, others do not.
10. Those inciting violence may change their views if they experience it directly.
11. I've no quarrel with those who wish to meet their God; but taking along anyone else is unacceptable. I support those who are arranging for these zealots to meet God; but by themselves.
12. An overwhelming majority of these sad and dangerous people are financed by oil revenues. High oil prices mean more money for hatred and violence. We must conserve energy and reduce our oil dependence. Saying: "Never mind, I can afford it." is a delusion; we can't afford suicide bombing.