Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Comparing US Departments with Singapore Ministries

Friday, January 23, 2009

Comparing US Departments with Singapore Ministries

Here is a comparison of the US departments with the Singapore ministries.

The US has a Department of Justice which is similar to our Ministry of Law. Perhaps, there is a difference in emphasis?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...: The (I&C) in the MICA comes under dept of commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA); January 23, 2009 7:47 AM
Anonymous said...: Do the US has control of the press, free speech, freedom of assembly?

In Singapore we know these are strictly under control, except at Hong Lim Park (for speech and assembly).

Actually no point controlling if you cannot control the internet.

That's why today is different from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

That's why in most western countries, they do not have a ministry in charge of culture and the arts. These are creative things which cannot be controlled or regulated.; January 23, 2009 1:12 PM
Anonymous said...: It's a whole world of difference. Can't compare. Notice how each of these US departments had to answer to intense inquiry from the Senate plus media coverage when the Iraq war screwed up (Rumsfeld) and most recently, the subprime mortgage crisis (Paulson); Also, notice how the department secretaries are scrutinised by the Senate before they get confirmed.; January 23, 2009 3:34 PM
Anonymous said...: The difference is in the level of professionalism. SEC as an agency has admitted failure and its chairman has resigned at the wake of the Madoff scandal.

What have the MAS and the SGX (the regulator, not the business entity - why such a conflict is allowed to exist is a separate discussion) done so far in the credit-linked notes debacle?

There is no oversight and no accountability. Totally unacceptable!; January 23, 2009 5:28 PM
Anonymous said...: i am not at all impressed by the US system.

They invaded another country under false pretext.

Many years later, what accountability is there ?

Democracy works only if everyone is knowledgeable.
But we all know the masses are not up to par.; January 24, 2009 9:01 AM
Tan Kin Lian said...: The Americans choose to name the Department of Justice (and not the Department of Law). They like to emphasis on Justice. Singapore emphasis on Law.; January 24, 2009 9:45 AM
Anonymous said...: MR TAN
Thank you. I learn something interesting from you today. You shared ... "The Americans choose to name the Department of Justice (and not the Department of Law). They like to emphasis on Justice. Singapore emphasis on Law." ... My guess:

[a] Department of Justice - sounds more like "heart-driven" approach for the ministry
[b] Department of Law - sounds more like "brain-driven" approach for the ministry

Maybe our government could ponder the terminology change, as many government organisations have changed names serveral times eg. TCS, SBC, Miadia Corps etc etc. Also, Nantah, NTI, NTU, NYU etc.

I think this is doable by our Government.

From CASHEW NUT; January 24, 2009 10:16 AM
Anonymous said...: E71,

Bush, Cheney and others may yet be prosecuted for war crimes. Take a look at the following for background.

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/7805

http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Bush-administration-co-by-Sandy-Shanks-090112-295.html

Taiwan has taken a lead to prosecute its former leader (president). If the situation calls for it, do we even have a workable mechanism for it? Think about it.; January 24, 2009 11:27 AM
Vincent Sear said...: Foreign Affairs in Singapore is called the State Department in the US. Singapore seems to emphasize on dealings and relations with foreign countries while the US seems to emphasize that what happens in the rest of world outside the US are still very much concerns of the state.

The emphasis is significant in that the US Secretary of State is widely viewed as the second highest ranking statesperson in just below the President, even more important than Vice President.

Also notable in the UK, in WW2 and earlier, there was the Foreign & Colonial Office and the Ministry of War, later changed to Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence.; January 24, 2009 11:52 AM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; January 24, 2009 11:48 PM