There are some people who have difficulties despite their best efforts to make ends meet.
They might be handicapped in some way.
So? What to do?
We should help these people.
However, there are those who are physically and mentally whole but are complaining day in and day out.
These are usually the ones who keep asking why must they pay for this and why must they pay for that?
They want free education.
They want free transportation.
They want free medical attention.
They complain until sometimes I run out of patience.
Wah! A poem?
Not bad, AK!
We are familiar with the saying "there is no free lunch in this world".
If lunch also cannot be free, how can education, transportation and medical attention be for free?
Hey, AK. Why not?
In some countries in Europe, really got such free things!
Alamak!
Then, AK is the stupid one lor.
Cham liao.
Please lah.
AK not stupid.
Free education?
Do these people think that the lecturers and tutors work for free?
Do these people think that books grow on trees and the libraries are manned by altruistic house elves?
Do these people think that the lights and machines are powered by magic and water flows clean and freely from Mount Faber?
Please lor.
All these have to be paid for.
If we wish to enjoy something, we have to pay for it.
If we got it for "free", someone else is paying for it.
Providing subsidies for financially struggling families is the caring thing to do but if we are not financially struggling, don't cry father, cry mother.
Pay up!
What?
We are financially struggling because we must pay for our car, our maid, our twice a year atas family vacations etc.?
Alamak, so, those tax payers who don't have a car, who don't have a maid and who don't go for atas vacations must subsidise our lifestyle, is it?
佛都有火.
So, what do we call people who want everything for free?
Related posts:
Do you need or want assistance?
Sense of entitlement that the world owes you a living is a bitter pill that will poison the one's happiness and contentment in life.
ReplyDeleteFor my children instead of communicating "I love you, so let me make life easy for you," I decided that my message needed to be something more along these lines: "I love you. I believe in you. I know what you're capable of. So I'm going to make you work.”
Hi Siew Mun,
ReplyDeleteYou are a model parent. Two thumbs up! :)
Children should be made to know that money doesn't grow on trees earlier the better. Want something, we have to exchange something for it.
Believe in the principle of equivalent exchange!
Full Metal Alchemist!
Singaporeans have that sense of entitlement that arises from our education and the country we live in. The government has made it too easy for us. Put that guy you made you so angry in another country and we will see how he sinks to the bottom. Maybe that will change his mindset.
ReplyDeleteWah! AK also anime otaku :P
ReplyDeleteThe law of equivalent exchange
if you can afford it, you will want your loved ones to be happy. All people love their children, or parents or other closed to different degrees. if you cant afford, then of course your children must be made to learn how to work. how can it be otherwise
ReplyDeleteHi TG,
ReplyDeleteI highlighted to him that he has not been in a country which takes away 50% of his income annually as income tax. Free stuff? They have to be paid for by tax payers.
Worse still, go to a country like Indonesia which is so lacking in so many areas and pay 30% income tax if annual salary is S$50,000 or more. Jaw dropping!
Hi MK,
ReplyDeleteI am spendng a lot of my time as a retiree catching up on things I always wanted to do as a younger man. ;p
Hi Victor,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is a matter of affordability and how much people love their children. It is more a matter of values and how love is expressed.
I know a multi-millionaire who choose not to pamper his children, for example. I also know someone who is deep in debt but would buy his children anything they want.
千金难买少年穷！
ReplyDeleteHi Jasper,
ReplyDeleteAnother Chinese language lesson for me.
Found this explanation online:
"Hardship environment for young people, perhaps it is a rare fortune! If children live too comfortable environment, for most people, only quietly while away the will and ideals, rich material, can poor out of it is the spirit!"
Translated from a Chinese website. ;p
Thanks for this. :)
子女從小要風得風，要雨得雨，這些白白得到的財富和享受，對年輕人是一種蠶食，一種毒害。
ReplyDelete千金難買少年窮，是我們經歷過的道理。今天的一切，都憑自己雙手賺來，是我們引以為傲的成績。不為子女留什麼，我認為是應當的。
我常提醒自己，不要令子女過得太好，因不知他們將來家境如何。年少時享受慣了，將來未必會有這種生活。
有一個年輕同事跟我說過一句話，令我印象深刻，她說：「我這一代的痛苦，是從小被培養出一種品味和要求，是我憑現在的收入負擔不起的。」
Source:
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/columnist/16633856/art/20140823/18841144
AK, Well said. Especially for some people study very high but simple logic still cannot through their heads. NOTHING IS FREE !!!
ReplyDeleteJust like in Taiwan, SG people say medical free. Free is because uncle pay 3 times more tax than in sg. Free because i have to top up monthly National Health Insurance in the range of S$200-$700 monthly.In-addition I still have to buy self insurance to get the better care than the basic can gives. After all this. Is it still FREE in Taiwan ?
Think man ! Think !
Being a 'fu er dai' will be a diservice to themselves and the country.
ReplyDeleteHi Cory,
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who went to Taiwan to work for a few years. He used to complain everything about Singapore. He now thinks Singapore is heaven. ;p
Hi Siew Mun,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. Unfortunately, I see so many parents spoiling their children in Singapore these days. I have a feeling that they are more common than parents who don't. -.-"
Ben said...
ReplyDeleteWhat's over cannot be undone.
They should focus on how to make the financial situation going forward.
I also had such mentality in the past.
I come to the realisation that there is no point for me to lament on the past.
It's a completely waste of time if I continue on focusing the past.
Why not refocus the energies on doing something in the present which will benefit the future.
AK said...
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
For sure, what is past is past.
Harness resources in the present to ensure we will continue to have resources in the future. ;)
"...there are those who are physically and mentally whole but are complaining day in and day out. These are usually the ones who keep asking why must they pay for this and why must they pay for that?" AK
ReplyDelete