I came across this recently: Link.

The author said that Singaporeans should be thankful of what we have. I have some thoughts on that.

1. We have portable drinking water that other countries do not
   
   Not every country has it, he says. This saves us the hassle of having to buy bottled drinking water from supermarkets. Far as I am concerned, many countries has it, and even if there isn't, what's the problem of buying bottled drinking water together with all our groceries? This is such an insignificant hassle that we will have got over it in no time. Having portable drinking water is good, but it's not going to be a very big mitigating factor for other screw ups that we may see
2. Safe and secure living environment
   
   Singapore has hardworking police that keep our crime rate low, he says. Our crime rate is low no doubt, but I would think it's more due to our education than the hard working police. In fact, the years of having low crime is causing our police to be less skilled in tackling crime. They lacked 1 important attribute when it come to crime fighting, which is experience. Of course, it's good problem to have, just don't expect too much from them when something big happen.
   
   Examples of not so brilliant police work:
   
   • When Mas Selamat escaped, we have more than 1000 officers comb Bukit Batok hills looking for him, and nobody to monitor his brother's place, where he hide in for a few days.
   • The plot to bomb Yishun MRT station was discovered because a surveillance video was found in the rubble of a house bombed by the Americans, and they told us.
   • In April 2010, 2 taxi drivers was assualted by 3 Caucasians at Suntec city and was seriously injured. The police couldn't find the culprits in 2 weeks, but 1 of the witness managed to find them in 30 minutes after getting frustrated by the lack of result from the police.
3. Our clean streets
   
   This point I agree. And like he mentioned, we have tons of cleaners making sure our streets are clean. We spend a fortune on that. I would hope that our cleaniness is due to the clean nature of our citizens though.

I would also like to add a few more points of Singapore that we could be thankful of, but we aren't.

1. Pur economy is doing well and we are one of the richest country in the world
   
   Stagnant or negative wage growth for the middle to low income for the past few years somehow blind us to this fact. What good is a bustling economy if the majority of citizens are not enjoying the benefits?
2. Garden by the Bay
   
   Featuring an exotic diversity of plants from all over the world, it's a technology feat that we can even have the plants here. But it being manufactured, with a slightly high carbon footprint, cost a bomb, and having a real nature reserve (Bukit Brown) demolished to make way for more roads, contribute to remind me of the Chinese saying 打肿脸皮称胖子。

Of course, there are other real good things in Singapore that we are appreciative of. We have many nice food that we like. We have good people out there trying their very best to make Singapore a better place. We have our friends and family here. Etc. We keep them close to our hearts and not brag about it, but that does not mean we do not appreciate it. Due to our low crime rate, we can wander the streets at night without too much worry of not making it home.

Recently, I read an article where someone commented that work life balance is a privilege, and not an entitlement. It's only for people who has worked so hard to show their importance to the company that the boss has no choice but to accede to their requests.

I disagree somewhat. Work life balance is a choice. Our commitment to the company is 9am-6pm on weekdays. Other time should be ours. Of course, when work is not done, we should be responsible enough to use our own time to complete it on time. But then, I would say that free overtime by employee should be a privilege, not entitlement of the company. The company should try their best to let the employee go back on time everyday. Of course, the employee should also be trying their best, do overtime if necessary, to complete their work on time. After the employee had put in a reasonable amount of time into his work, then he should be free to spend the rest of the time on other important stuff.

I'll be shaving my hair for Hair for Hope. Please support me!

Work till we die

There are a lot of old people working in Singapore. You see them driving taxis, helping out in kopitiams, selling tissue papers, fast food restaurants, etc.

I understand that there can be 2 reasons for old people working. One is that they find it boring, untenable to be lazing at home. Two is that they really need the money. Scenario 2 is where I find it depressing. Our country has failed them. We make contribute to our economy their whole life, and we can't let them take a break and enjoy the fruits of their labour in their later years. I used to think this is the more depressing scenario.

Until I come across this article recently, which got me thinking:
TOC - Why are you still driving a taxi at age 73?

People that belong to group 1, they are so attached to work that they don't want to slow down. They are so attached to the idea of working and it's how they measure their self-worth. Our income has so much become our life that we forgot there's another important part to it. Our relationship with the people around us, especially our family. What happens to walks in the parks? Having a game of chess with friends? Just plain chit chatting and catching up with friends and family? Having fun with our children and grand children? We have spent so much of our effort in our work that we neglect our family and friends while we are young, are we going to do that when we are old too? Or is it that due to our workaholic tendencies, we forgot to build our family, which leads to us not having one to turn to for solace and joy after our retirement?