At the moment, everything in Singapore hovers around the level of unbearable expensive. After 2.5 weeks in California, I come back and realise just how our costs and quality of living have risen to be painful. I don't need a perfect Singapore but I need to be in a country that doesn't make me depressed thinking about my future . That I'm working hard enough to an end that will give me enough savings and assets not just for myself,my spouse but also my children.
The meals in California were the same price, only in usd and 1.5 times our portion often, it's good enough for two people to share a main ad appetizer and be full . parking was free half the time and the country on a whole was just gracious, in service and on the roads. I feel Singaporeans have forgotten how to slow down and smell the roses. Everything is about dollars and cents. I can't afford a car or at least I can't bring myself to buy a vehicle that costs one third of my apartment. And I don't think my savings are rising proportionately to the spending (only counting neccessities). Even more worrying to think about kids.
So the government pre aches about starting families early, about controlling the foreign talents, about helping Singaporeans. I'm feeling the impact when I know my husband and I are in a comfortable income bracket individually . I can't bear to think about those who aren't so lucky. And so what are the societal impacts gonna be? More angst, more irrational complaining and people who start to lose more faith in our government.
I love the efficiencies of our country. And I never take them for granted. But we are also small, so small that if the growing population and the costs are gonna push us away. And I'm not even old. I'm supposed to be in the prime of my career, willing to push even harder ahead and build the mentality of nation building. It sounds propaganda but it was indeed a spirit that the earlier generations held that seemed to have gone amiss. Anyhow, the point is.. The future doesn't always look bright. Not what we used to envision in school. I will be comfortable for sure, but for how long?
The richer are getting richer. The middle income class is struggling and the poor are getting poorer. It's one task for our millionaire ministers to meet and greet our people once a week. Another to truly know and experience what we go through. E.g. Take the public transport when their pregnant wives at peak hours of the day.
