Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:
And why do they find it worth the while to stay put?
Our government would disagree with you, having highlighted that
losing our top talents is a real and pressing issue. We are losing
our smartest people, naturally because as it turns out the smart
people are the ones with the vision, and the means to make the
decision to vote with their feet. And this has our government very
concerned.
Unfortunately you seem to try to paint the main reason for us
losing people as due to "childhood dreams" and other non-pragmatic
reasons, but I think even our own government knows better then to
believe in self-deluding reasons like that.
There are very pragmatic push factors for making Singaporeans want
to leave.
And of course, there is also an issue of what your money can buy
you. Unfortunately no matter how much you make, chances are you,
like most Singaporeans will never have a house beyond a hole in a
flat. And of course cars are yet another issue.
In short Singapore is like a theme park then a real nation, there
are only so many rides that you can take before you realize that
you are paying the tourist dollar for something that you can get
for a lot less, and also a place in which people try to convince
you that the limited number of rides are all your options of
fufillment you can ever have in life.
Chances are being in a theme park is safer (due to the security)
then being outside in nature or in a real town, but eventually one
realizes life is more then the reverse bungee gimmick at Clarke
Quay.
The question is, fine then we have these limitations, so what are
we going to do about it? By making them felt even more by
Singaporeans by devauling retirement, lowering wages, and raising
the costs of living?
[b]Actually there is no need to say so much, just go live with a
family from one of the nations that are the top destinations for
Singaporeans to move to for two weeks or so and experience their
kind of life and ask them questions about their lifestyle and the
costs they have to pay and the like.
A lot immediately becomes clear to most people once that
happens.
It is true Singaporeans are decended from immigrants, the problem
is this: if Singapore expects to survive as a nation it needs to
move out of this phase and transit into one that makes nationhood
into a solid concept. Unfortunately the latest policies aren't
helping too much.[/b]
I love the way you put it with your analogy. 
Its just so... aptly put 
Frankly, you don't need to go overseas to see how much we as a
bunch of losers (I am not being offending, but just stating in a
way that mean the govt made us a bunch of losers) have been cowed
by the govt.
Just ask any of my friends. They will tell you that their pay in
Singapore companies are the best they can do. And they are so
surprised that I can double my pay.
Many many years of control, that caused people to think so lowly of
themselves, and don't even dare to ask for the value they
deserve.
i once had a friend, whom went for his interview with a UK firm.
They asked him how much he is asking for. He stated his
expectations, thinking its still high. The interviewer laughed and
said "hahaha, tell you what, we add another $300 for you"
You see, if you are stupid, and you ask for a pay that is much
lower than their budget, most companies won't tell you (the UK firm
was good to my friend). Most would just laugh their way to the
bank.
