"... and progress for our nation"

Over dinner with the parentals, I learned that, despite having picked up a new full-time job post-retirement, my father has nonetheless joined the ranks of retirees who write outraged letters to the Straits Times forum pages. Meanwhile my mother had several choice phrases of outrage herself about whoever seeded the idea in our society that Singapore women should have children and then hire a typically unskilled person at a pittance from a less developed neighbouring country to look after said children.

I think a sign that one is growing old up is when one catches oneself making utterances in the same outraged tone as the parentals.

Like all good Singaporeans, we also compared how much we had each received for our Progress Package, which disbursement, as all good Singaporeans know, has absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming general election. I thought the amounts we received would be commensurate with our age, since the dividends are purportedly to "share the fruits of growth with all Singaporeans", and haven't my parents contributed a lot more towards the country's growth than we young 'uns? But no, it seems it has more to do with one's housing type (public or private, and the value thereof, it seems safe to assume).

Anyway, since the Progress Package has, I repeat like a good Singaporean, nothing to do with the upcoming general election, and all the news headlines suggest that Singapore's economy is doing better than ever this year, I look forward to receiving next year's Even More Progress Package as well.

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