If you are below avg income in Singapore life is a struggle. Low income the situation is quite hopeless - you will never in your life be able to own a car, raising a family is a tough struggle that gets tougher with each year, retirement is not possible...it is hard to imagine how someone in this situation can look forward to the future with optimism...in fact he has to constantly worry abt getting sick, gettng replaced by foreigners, and the sharp rise in cost of living that makes it difficult to make ends meet.
However, problems are now spreading to people with middle income. The COE near 100K and relentless rise in housing prices spells trouble in the middle class. The median household income is $7500 rising 13% in the last 5 yrs cannot keep pace with the double digit per annum rise in medical cost, COEs and housing. We are seeing great erosion now in the lives of those in the middle. Households earning the median income is seeing a deterioration in quality of life. Many will try to borrow to support their lifestyle but high debts can only end in grief. The more likely alternative is to downgrade from car to bus, aim for 3 RM flat instead of 5rm, stay class C instead of A when in hospital. Many here will say, still tolerable but it is a step back.
By looking at what is happening in the middle income, you can tell where the majority of families is heading and the direction is down. Normally the failure of a goivt to better the lives of the people is punishable by election defeat. However, the pap has suppressed the opposition to such an extent, and systematically weakened them so that the people's real choice is taken away....many will voite pap because they are afraid the opposition does not have the experience to be govt.
The thing is this....as things deteriorate yr after yr , there will come a point where anger over come fear and that will put an end to bad govt.
However, problems are now spreading to people with middle income. The COE near 100K and relentless rise in housing prices spells trouble in the middle class. The median household income is $7500 rising 13% in the last 5 yrs cannot keep pace with the double digit per annum rise in medical cost, COEs and housing. We are seeing great erosion now in the lives of those in the middle. Households earning the median income is seeing a deterioration in quality of life. Many will try to borrow to support their lifestyle but high debts can only end in grief. The more likely alternative is to downgrade from car to bus, aim for 3 RM flat instead of 5rm, stay class C instead of A when in hospital. Many here will say, still tolerable but it is a step back.
By looking at what is happening in the middle income, you can tell where the majority of families is heading and the direction is down. Normally the failure of a goivt to better the lives of the people is punishable by election defeat. However, the pap has suppressed the opposition to such an extent, and systematically weakened them so that the people's real choice is taken away....many will voite pap because they are afraid the opposition does not have the experience to be govt.
The thing is this....as things deteriorate yr after yr , there will come a point where anger over come fear and that will put an end to bad govt.
