As you noted, this story was posted months ago. According to STAT in a report published just a week ago, funding for stem cell research in California has essentially been squandered.[1] The issue isn't whether stem cell research can be done (it can)[2]. It's whether we should fund the research through taxes.
If basic research is needed, better to push that forward than to squander the money shooting for the moon. They are shifting to clinical trials now, so we'll see how that works out.
Singapore has one of the highest income inequalities in the world. It has one of the lowest violence rates in the world. You can say the same about China too and many other countries in Asia.
I don't know about Singapore, but China is known for its unofficial millionaire/billionaire corrupt bureaucrats and party members. Also, when government has a complete control over the media, crime statistics tends to get underreported.
I think that supports the article's thesis? My understanding of TFA is that inequality remains until a violent event. If Singapore has had no such violent events, then by TFA's thesis, inequality has been free to increase.
[1] https://www.statnews.com/2017/01/19/california-stem-cell-age...
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/07/justice/stem-cell-appeal/