9/16/2013

The Singapore Dream flying high

There was once the American Dream that made many Americans rich or at least promoted to the middle class with reasonably high pay, home ownership and cars and a good life of plenty. This American Dream was real and known world wide that people from across the world came knocking at the American shore. Many foreigners were equally happy with their American Dream.
 

The Chinese flocked to America once the barrier was lifted, to live the American Dream. The early birds caught the worms. Unfortunately the American Dream is crumbling. Many middle class Americans woke up to find the Dream gone. They became the new poor of America. Those from the Third World are still chasing the American Dream as the average American lifestyle is still worth many times their pathetic life in their home countries. This has changed for the Chinese who are starting to go home. Even the Hongkies are going home.
 

There is now a Chinese Dream where many became millionaires and billionaires within a generation, where jobs are aplenty. Many talented Chinese, trained and educated in the best American and western universities and systems are returning to China to chase the Chinese Dream.
 

Those who came to Singapore to chase the Singapore Dream are also returning except for the low level unskilled and semi skilled food court operators and those in Geylang. The Singapore Dream is also crumbling to the educated and professional Chinese. But to the Third World arrivals, the Singapore Dream is still much alive and flying high. Many are dreaming of becoming landlords and business men and women after making their little fortune here. What they earned may not seem much here but on going home they will be much richer and could start a new life with their new found wealth acquired chasing the Singapore Dream. Yes, the Singapore Dream is good to the Third World foreigners.
 

To the Sinkies, the Singapore Dream is changing. The latest is to stop dreaming of a car. Many have stopped dreaming of private properties or even a 5 rm flat. The Singapore Dream to the Sinkies is disappearing just like the American Dream to the Americans. Only the foreigners from poorer and less developed countries are cherishing this Dream, to be rich and to upgrade themselves to the middle class or better, to live better lives. To Sinkies, the new Singapore Dream is to downgrade, to downgrade their expectations, to downgrade their jobs, their homes, and forget about car ownership. Can’t believe it but the new Singapore Dream is all about downgrading.
 

Might as well call it the fleeting Singapore Dream.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have to be carful.......

Let there be beautiful dreams......not NIGHTMARES......

Anonymous said...

"Can’t believe it but the new Singapore Dream is all about downgrading."
RB

Who is dreaming about downgrading?
Real Sinkies? New Sinkies? RB?

How many of them? 40%? 43%? 60%?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

redbean: Please lah, not that bad.

BTW "dreams" are individual experiences, not to be take too seriously when grouped under a label of culture or cuntree.

Realising one's dreams have to backed up by rational, goal-directed action. If you are dreaming of a nice 3000 sqft condo in district 9,10 or 11, then what are you doing about it on a day-to-day basis to realise your dream?

If you blow all your resources feeling bad and complaining, then chances are you won't have enough "juice" or time to move toward realising your dream.

IMO the so-called "Singapore Dream" (as experienced on an individual basis) is not only alive and well, but given a huge boost of steroids and viagra.

Living well is the best revenge. What Kishore says is his own opinion. Fuck him. Fancy allowing him the "right" to tell you what you should think or dream or strive for. You have to be nuts to allow this man's opinion to ruffle even one feather.

Singapore is still one of the best places in todays uncertain world to make good and create wealth. Foreigners know this. Many locals don't. ;-)

Anonymous said...

You call it dream because it is something good that you hope to have. Bad dream is also called a nightmare. How about changing the Singapore Dream to the Singapore Nightmare?

Anonymous said...

The BEST and WONDERFUL dream is the SIMPLE living dream.

Anonymous said...

There r severe headwinds ahead of us
Circlres around me r struggling ..though there r still people doing well .. but I believe more are not doing well ..
Situation seems fill with anxiety n uncertainty ..
Two things for sure will kill a lot of people n small businesses ..that is costs ..hi property hi business rental hi manpower cost hi materials n hi ingredients costs ..n high daily fnb n transport costs

I dare not dream but more prayers ...

I guess one or two major external events ...like us europe or china hardlanding will create havoc n bring us down ..going forward ...

Anonymous said...

Many living in multi million properties or million dollar HDB and think everything is fine. If an accident happens, they will have to vacate their homes.

Many very happy coz got a few hundred K in savings. When a serious illness struck, they will be bankrupt.

This is how perilous the highly geared and highly debted Sinkies are living their good lives that could vaporise any moment.

Anonymous said...

"This is how perilous the highly geared and highly debted Sinkies are living their good lives that could vaporise any moment."
Anon September 16, 2013 1:15 pm

So how? Vote opposition to be govt?

Anonymous said...

"When a serious illness struck, they will be bankrupt."
Anon September 16, 2013 1:15 pm

True lah, but how many will get serious illness? Only a minority, maybe 40% or less, tio bo?

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Many Sinkies seem so comfortable taking a million dollar loan and the ability to pay up. Is this prudent or high risk takers?

Anonymous said...

For the Religious Lots, there is no need for anyone to worry for them. Their gods will take care of them, no action needed except just pray to theiir gods.
For those who dream and work to actualize their dreams like mati lah, they will find ways to realize their dream. Again this group need no help, they will do well with their hard works.
Then comes the true dreamers who are happily dreaming and getting all their highs and contentment just by dreaming. So what is the worry?

b said...

Sinkies have all along been dreamers - dreaming of striking 4d, toto, big sweep instead of wanting to house, feed and provide for the families properly. The same mentality is repeated by the gov towards the people. This same mentality will continue into the future until everything (housing, cars, savings etc) has been lost to the foreigners. Will they then wake up? Maybe then it will be too late.

Anonymous said...

Hi
My name is Lee Con You.
Welcome to my dream.
You have been living my dream.
Not your own dream.

Go get yourself a real backbone.
And two balls to put into that castrated meat bag you call a scrotum.
Then go get yourself a real life and chase after a real dream.

My eunuchs, minions and successors are only able to give you downsized dreams.
And very expensive ones at that.

Anonymous said...

Oh I see.
So Mr Lee Con You.
What you are saying is that this current social compact/arrangement in Singapore is YOUR dream.
Since it's your dream, therefore, obviously you should be paid millions.
And since we are living in your dreams. We therefore deserve only peanuts.

I can't argue with your logic.
Who dares, wins.
And the chicken shit Singaporeans don't dare to vote Opposition.

Anonymous said...

What Singapore dream? That is only for the rulers, cronies and well off. Did the PAP tell you that for most Singaporean that dream is just an elusive wet dream that you can only realise in your sleep. Keep dreaming and wait long long lah!

SgDreamsTurnNightmares said...

Could it be Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, to believers, helps fulfil their Dreams?

Could it be Kuan Yiu, the Godless of Mercy to non-believers, helps fulfil nightmares?

Obviously when Yin becomes Yiu, Goddess becomes Godless.

Naturally, believers become non-believers.

Nightmares are the new Dreams.