The case for a social contract
Many thanks to Patsy Leung for pointing out the reality of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance reduction ('Welfare cuts will only hurt the poor and aged', June 6) . The social deprivation that exists for some families - at no fault of their own - cannot be tolerated in a city that aspires to world status. A world city must set world standards not just of cleanliness and economic performance but of humanity as well.
An article in the Financial Times summed up the case for a more equitable wealth distribution in terms of a social contract. The 'have-nots' will abide by, and support, the property laws that keep the 'haves' up to their necks in land in return for a reasonable standard of living. Upset that equilibrium and the have-nots will deem the contract repudiated, then take by force. Breaking point may be a long way off, but so too is the lauded status of a city other cities aspire to be.
J.L.F. WARD, Deep Water Bay
Cultures defy generalisations
I refer to Jean Nicol's article, 'One culture's hero is another's loser' (South China Morning Post, June 6). I have never been entirely comfortable with broad generalisations such as American 'this' and Asian 'that'.
When Jean Nicol speaks of the American or Asian mind, I am left wondering exactly what mind is meant. Is it the Pakistani immigrant's mind, the Albanian refugee's mind, the white middle-class mind of European extraction somewhere in rural Montana, or the Filipino domestic helper's mind in Hong Kong?
The point is, any discussion of multiculturalism or behaviour that is culturally embedded must first be specific to the culture being examined. Neither Asia nor America is a culture - they are amalgams of culturally and ethnically diverse people who happen to share a geographical proximity to one another.
Certainly, regional similarities exist but so too do the differences. Would it be possible, for example, to speak of a Middle Eastern mind? How about a West Bank mentality? This may be taking things a bit far, but generalisations are only ever useful for those who issue them; they do nothing for those being generalised. It is possible to make generalisations about diversity, but only if you want to look like an oxymoron while doing it.
IAIN MELVILLE, Tseung Kwan O
Cabbies need hi-tech help
With attention on the fare cut for taxi drivers, I think we should look to Singapore. Taxi drivers in that city make use of global positioning systems (GPS) and radio to pick up the nearest customers. Instead of driving around looking for customers, they use technology in which the nearest driver is directed to the passenger who makes a booking.
If no private firm is willing to invest in this business, the government should. Such a move would result in less pollution and jobs could be created at a new company willing to set up a GPS-based booking system.
PETER CHU, Chi Fu Fa Yuen
