Sunday, November 16, 2008
Recently, the United States elected a new president. People were saying how historic it is in electing a black person to the most powerful job in the world. The leader of the world's largest economy and most powerful military certainly does yield alot of power. Being colour blind, i believe his win signifies something more than increasing racial equality. Over there, people could really tell their kids they could be anybody you want to be. Their president to be would certainly be the best role model for their kids. That is the good thing about their country. Anybody could be whatever they want to be, as long as they work hard.
Singapore certainly has a long way to go before we can be as meritocratic as the US. Not that the best and most able is not duly rewarded in our country, but people with better family background do have a higher chance of getting into powerful jobs more often. And the mathematics hold. Imagine our CEO or figurehead is someone who has a stepfather, half sister, African father, mother who had him/her when she was still in college.. Somebody once said that graduates should marry graduates..
There was something i found puzzling initially about McDonald's and Burger King. They now have the extra large burger. Mac got the 4 patties big mac and 2 chicken thighs Mcspicy, while burger king countered with the 2/3/4 patties burger. In bad times, why would people be willing to spend more for a bigger meal? Won't they want to tighten their pockets and prefer a smaller meal? After much thinking, i came to a conclusion that by offering this new meal, these restaurant outlets could trick people that they could have a much fuller and more value for money meal, while the more price conscious could still have their cheaper normal size meal. Its price discrimination at work, discriminating out people who would be willing to pay more for a bigger meal and those who would want to save money. After all, they did not get rid of the cheaper option.
Why do i hate serving the nation so much?? I don't hate serving the nation in the past. In fact, i was looking forward to it. To training up physically, firing guns, trek in the jungle, drive tanks, it was what i thought in the past, quite fun. But i never go a chance to do these stuff. Slapped with an unfit for combat tag, i am posted to do no-brainer admin work. Yes, i have learnt much in my time here.. I learnt how to chao keng, how to siam arrows and how to tuang. Its not that bad after all. I am so damn sure these skills would be valuable to me in the future. Honestly, i would not want to bring those set of skills with me into civilian life.. Those are skills which would allow you to survive in such a mundane organisation, but not to the competitive outside world. I would always lament to my CSM(hes a nice guy who would talk cock with you), but he would always say the same stuff. My PES status do not allow me to chiong sua, alot of people would want to be in my position. What the heck, i want to be in their position.
iduntellu at 9:23 PM