What I Need & What I Want!...

It is during times liked this that I get a shot of deep thinking. I have been working hard to let Chloe understand the difference between "What I Need & What I Want!" It is interesting to hear the key arguments presented by people who are agreeable and also those against the pay increase proposed by the government.

Needless to say, all the debates were somewhat unnecessary when one knows that the increase will be approved and implemented. At least that is how things have been done in the past. The government tells you their idea and invites you to give your opinion. Give it a few weeks... you know that thing will be implemented. Perhaps not vanilla but definitely it will be implemented. So why was there so much discussion everytime one of these provocative ideas are told to the public. I really don't know and I don't understanding either...

In this latest one, I was personally torn between the whole question of "What a minister need in pay vs what a minister want in pay?" Being a KPO, I often end up talking to taxi drivers, delivery man, newspaper vendors, etc... i.e. the common man on the street. I have a good impression of the tight budgets that they are under month on month. I am quite sure that they will all faint when they hear the ministers feel SGD1.2 Million is not enough. My feeling is that the government needs to bridge this big knowledge gap between pay need to be increased and the feeling of living hand-to-mouth.

Upon listening to various arguments put forward by the government, I realised that they started off the arguments with the growing number of people leaving the Admin Service. Intentionally or otherwise, I was led by all the articles in the various newspapers to believe the government is really using this increase to retain the current pool and also attract new people into the Service. I am still one of those idealistic person who think there are somethings that money cannot buy. So, I do worry about the type of people that we are retaining or attracting into the Admin Service. These people are going to lead this country because they are paid well? Perhaps I am worried over nothing...

Anyway, debates are meant for people who really want their views to be known. For me, I just want to pen down my thougths so it is out of my own system. :-)