I think the current environment in Singapore encourages maturity
to a certain level. However, in line with the examples Poh has
given, there is a point at which our maturity stops developing.
I can understand the rational behind the government's policy, I
can also see the effects, some of them probably unintended, of the
Government's policy.
I wish I had an alternative to put forward but I don't. I think
passing laws to govern internet publications is the wrong way to
go. It's actually a pretty good alternative global media and allows
discussion.
Instead of regulating it, the government may have their own
websites that reach out to people. Conduct polls, get feedback,
invite suggestions, post FAQs on policies, clear up any
rumors, etc. Having to answer intelligent questions
intelligently helps make one more intelligent.
Obama is thinking of using the internet to reach out to
Americans so maybe we can develop a system here that becomes used
in other countries. We have the advantage of being smaller, good
infrastructure already set up and an educated populace with
internet access.
Who's to say we can't create the first model of a web based
government? If we succeeded, we'd become consultants to
the world.
