I’ve been thinking about this question for sometime. We complain and discuss about issues online with what seems like a rather presumptuous expectation that the government should take care of its people. Why?
What has been the history of any form of authority in human society?
We can change the systems, but we cannot change the participants.
People form groups and contribute to them at times out of altruistic reasons but from what I have learned, the main reason is because the group might help the individual survive longer, if not thrive.
If an individual can survive and thrive by himself or herself, or a group can take care of its self with its present members, what incentive is there to increase the size of the group?
Because it is humane?
But humane isn’t human.
What has been the human thing to do?
Kill a brother for personal advancement comes to mind.
We can argue that the way a thing is doesn’t necessarily mean it ought to be.
Why? Why shouldn’t things be the way it is.
Is it because we aren’t benefiting from the current system?
Is it because we are aggrieved by how much other people are benefiting from the current system.
I won’t be so presumptuous to believe there is no one who wants to do good just for its own sake and not just because the big guy up there promises heaven/eternal life/virgins/hole in ones.
But where does that desire come from?
Where does the expectation that others should do likewise come from?
Hisham | 16-Apr-08 at 1:42 pm | Permalink
Your is short, so my reply will be quite brief too.
Being presumptuous or appear having presumptuous expectations, in Singapore’s context, can be gauged from how WE as a nation were led. I don’t know of any other countries that have a similar form of governance compared to us.
Hence, with THIS particular history as our guiding light, we DO expect the Government to take care of us.
ok .. i intended to make a brief reply but the mind works in mysterious ways. more to come if you would engage me on this.
iantimothy | 16-Apr-08 at 1:52 pm | Permalink
Are we being complacent to have such expectations?
What is so particular about our history that we DO expect the government to take care of us.
You didn’t mention if you think it is justified expectations.
Do share more.
Daily SG: 17 Apr 2008 « The Singapore Daily | 17-Apr-08 at 11:44 am | Permalink
[...] Daily Discourse - Desparatebeep: Be Annoying! - the boy who knew too much: Rice or Soylent Green? A Singaporean journalist’s view - Ian On The Red Dot: Why Do You Expect The Government To Take Care Of You? [...]
Charles | 18-Apr-08 at 6:31 am | Permalink
We expect the govt to take care of us because the government likes to tell us what we can or cannot do.
The expectation is a side-effect.
SGDaily Roundup: Week 16 « The Singapore Daily | 21-Apr-08 at 9:57 am | Permalink
[...] Felicitas}: Secret blog of a P65 MP: Part 3 - Desparatebeep: Be Annoying! - Ian On The Red Dot: Why Do You Expect The Government To Take Care Of You? - the boy who knew too much: Rice or Soylent Green? A Singaporean journalist’s view - The [...]