[something2324]

Well the first part is very true and the fact that the gov't doesn't really care about quality (just as long as people are working) probably fuels the culture of mediocrity, but this really doesn't apply to the private sector where in a different cultural climate the employers would always demand excellence. I mean at the end of the day it's sorta understandable b/c you just have to not be a ton worse than your competitors - and think of the savings!

I'm sure it's very different from Singapore/Taiwan/HK (though judging by the lack of attention to detail by immigrants in San Francisco I'll wait to see for myself), but this is a country of peasants/farmers run by peasants and farmers. It's going to take a very very long time for the culture to change - I'm talking several generations - b/c it's the culture of the "weakest-link". I guess their only blessing is that they have these other places to learn from.