JP,
Aside from the fact that I get lesser subsidies on the medical front after my most healthy years as a younger man are gone, now that I may need it they take it away? Minor concern considering the costs of medical services in my home country but what next. Oh yeah, while is doesn't concern me anymore, they have taken away the childcare benefits as well. And as most PR were EP's who probably made more than the average local, when they roll out the means testing, guess who is going to pay even more if they have to be hospitalized!
I just want people to see all sides of the coin. I am still pro PR even as I rant about the fact that like their own citizens, they screw us as well. They have been screwing my wife for years because we take care of her parents. Because of that we bought a 5 room flat instead of a four room one so the parents could have their own room. So not only does my wife get screwed every time there is a goodie givaway because she lives in a five room flat, so does her mother & father as well. Because I pay the same taxes but am not allowed the same subsidies (yes I enjoy more than an EP holder.- I get to contribute 20% of my income to CPF, I get to give up my housing allowances, care allowances, etc.). Oh, sure, I can withdraw my CPF when I give up my PR so yes that's a benefit. Granted with the right financial guru, I could possibly make more investing my money elsewhere as opposed to it sitting in a non-liquid form (without giving up PR) drawing 2.6 or 4% interest. But that's doubtful isn't it. At least at an equal risk on risk level that is (must keep it apples & apples right?) Over the past 8 years nobody has been able to do better over the long haul. Oh yes, I almost forgot, when buying landed
property, PR's are limited regardless of their incomes, while locals are not. On a slightly different note, wait till you want to buy an HDB flat (but you seem the
condo type to me), but because you're Scandinavian, you are considered "Others" so are only allowed a choice of 2 out of every 100 flats due the the HDB/PAP's racial profiling (that is a different kettle of fish however and nothing at all to do with PR vrs citizenship as it applies equally to both).
It just gripes my butt that after giving this country 25 years of my time and efforts now they are going to start to penalize me for paying taxes, letting my son keep his Sing Citizenship, taking care of my in-Laws (using the much vaunted by LKY, 3-tier family structure) and generally assimilating a much as possible into this country. Now they are going to penalize me for doing so? Sorry, maybe if you spend a quarter of a century as a PR paying taxes to this government while you watch them screw your local family because of it, you just might see it my way.
I actually am pro-PR even as I sound otherwise. I don't advise taking up PR unless you ARE willing to stay for the long haul and not just use PR as a means to secure more than 2 weeks after a local takes your high paying job. This gripes my butt more than what the govenment is doing because it is the abusers of the system that make it hard for the ones like myself who have spent the long haul here and are now paying the price for the short-term abusers of the system. The term PR means PERMANENT RESIDENT. Permanent usually means for a long duration. not 2 to 5 years.
JP, I don't expect you to understand, PR or otherwise. After you have as many years here and raised a family here then and only then would I expect you not necessarily agree but at least understand where I am coming from. I have stuck out 4 recessions (included the one here in '84 as well (I'm less of a quitter than a lot of citizens!)
Okay, rant over.
jumping_gene,
That's exactly the attitude that I am referring to. You want the benefits but not the negatives. I can almost bet you have never done any military service for your home country. Am I right?
