Singaporeans are not poor

Nat: Singaporeans are not poor (because most are from the middle class)

Ke Ching: Yup, they aren't poor. Most are only indebted for life.

Touching lives

This post is dedicated to Ming Guang, Shi Min, Wei Jie and Xin Yu.

This semester, I test a new strict study-rest pattern of 45 mins readings followed by 30 mins to keep my rate of absorption maintained throughout the day. Just today, 10.45am to 11.15am was my time for sleep and have decided to forego it to write this post, because I received an SMS from Shi Min at 10.49am, in which this is the content: "ker ching! last lect must come~".

1. This isn't the first time Shi Min has showered me her care and concern. On at least 3 occasions throughout the semester, she has asked why I had not turn up for lectures and that I have seemingly disappeared. And in return, I only have thank you, thank you and more thank yous, which is increasingly laden with guilt with each thanks I return her. In fact, this is concern that she has no obligations to shower me with, and still she does. She cares for my welfare and my future. Am happy to have the opportunity to share with her my story in Central Library last Tuesday, and this story can be found here. Therefore, Shi Min, my promise to you is that for every grade that I fall in, it is because I have channelled my resources to other constructive means that ensures my survivability and welfare, which you care for. Thank you : )

2. I stayed over in school on Wednesday night to complete the Architecture competition that Yan Liong, Poh Liang and I took part in. We worked till 6.30am and I finally got the chance to sleep at 7.00am in Arts Club room till 8.00am. Some time in between, I was woken up, only to find Xin Yu covering me with one of the sleeping bags in the club room. Xin Yu, I was at a loss for words. Thinking back, I can't quite remember how I got acquainted with you but at this moment now, I am glad to realise in time how close I am to taking you for granted. All the help you've given me including allowing me the opportunity to watch movies in the club room with a lady I love, I thank you : )

3. I also received another SMS at 10.00am today from Wei Jie: "Hey KC just rem something. Wanted to tell you maybe when you address the pef team everytime, you'd tend to talk to only the few of us. Probably it'd be better to give more attention to probably _____ or _____ or _____ by mentioning their names too. Can make them feel more part of the team." Wei Jie was even thinking about the Performance Team when on the move. No, I should say that Wei Jie was thinking about the Family we have in the Performance Team. I'll like to think that I am showering my care and concern for everyone, but Wei Jie has reminded me that, on the contrary, I am far from doing that. Sometimes it is impossible as I focus on the larger goals for the Performance Team to the extent that I do not realise that I have neglected what really matters, ie the Family. Wei Jie, I thank you for pointing out this flaw of mine of wanting to eagerly move on all the time and forgetting to look back. I also want to thank you for taking ownership of this Family and to look after our friends. Thank you : )

4. Ming Guang has always been there for me, consistently. I am really a tech-noob, and a can't be-bothered-about-institutional-systems person. But this is one of the most basic yet important aspect I have to keep up with in order to stay afloat minimally in the NUS school system. Thank you for keeping me updated about the bidding periods, the surveys that will yield me some Program points and everything else pertaining to school. My promise to you, like my promise to Shi Min, Xin Yu and Wei Jie is that I will take the initiative to depart onto the less beaten routes in order that I will grow myself to be able to serve you one day, like how you are concerned about me today.

Life is worth living and relationships is home.

Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

Had a great lunch with my client and his girlfriend on the 11th October 2007. The three of us major in Sociology. What dominated the bulk of the lunch session is the topic below:

I honestly haven't got an idea what kinds of classes, perceived to exist, are out there in the working world. "Blue collar", "White collar", "Middle", "Lower", "Upper" seems common enough. However, as far as I see it, there are only two classes in society that really matters. They are the Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.

The society's view of classes appears to be as such:

• Upper / Elite
• Middle
• Lower

This is how I view it:

Bourgeoisie:

• Upper / Elite

Proletariat:

• Middle
• Lower

We will now take a look at the middle class, which forms the majority of society. It matters because the majority of the cream of the crop of our schooling system, ie University students, are fighting to enter this class. Examples of vocations or jobs in this class are Teachers, Engineers, Doctors etc. They are indeed a cut above toilet janitors, hawker centre cleaners, construction workers etc. However, I put forth to you the fact that middle class workers have to turn up for work the following day, from 8am to 5pm or 9am to 6pm or any other figures, anyway. This question follows: Have these people the autonomy or freedom of choice to stop working?

In a world where the medium of exchange for goods and services is money, I present to you the following scenario: I swim often. And I swim often enough to imagine money entering my pocket even as I am swimming or taking a dip in the pool. Dear reader, replace the activity with any that is of particular passion/ interest to you. Can you stop working? With money entering your pocket while pursuing your passion, definitely, you can stop working.

Let me now draw my line that marks the difference between the Bourgeoisie and Proletariat. The line is The Freedom of Choice, in the most general sense.

The phrase "Middle class" is merely a phrase constructed, perhaps socially or politically, with the sole purpose of giving hope and pseudo-status to poly graduates, ITE graduates, any other graduates and ironically, University graduates. Why have our cream got to fight with the supposed lower classes for exactly the same status?

The Middle class is merely an illusion. I reiterate that the only two classes that matters are the Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.

Bourgeoisie has freedom of choice.

Proletariat does not have freedom of choice.

Lastly, there is no point engaging in such academia work if it does not apply to you, my reader. The only way to enter the Bourgeoisie class is to have automatic-income-generating business or investments, which allows you to live the simple scenario as presented above.

I do what I do because I am able to pull my friends and family from the Proletariat into the Bourgeoisie. It is possible to become a Bourgeoisie. You can too.