Transport and the imminent decline of a nation 

People ask me why I don’t like going out during the weekends, why I love staying at home. It’s not so much that I love staying at home, it’s more that i hate travelling in Singapore. Our convenient public transport is becoming a nightmare to travel in.

On the MRT (train) and bus, we are packed like sardines, even on so call off-peak periods. People lose their sense of common courtesy, shoving each other around just so they can be comfortable. Thoughtless teenagers blast their music so loud that everyone can hear, giving others a headache especially since their music is stupid brainless heavy metal or rap. Well-abled people refuse to give up their seats to people who need it more – old people and pregnant ladies. They pretend to sleep, read their newspaper or worst, just stare defiantly at other people, knowing that they are in the wrong, but not caring anyway.

Our once affordable taxis (cabs) are ridiculously expensive now, and a lot of the taxi drivers are reckless and dangerous, leaving me with a fear for my life throughout the entire journey.

Driving myself is even worst. It’s dangerous and very stressful to drive here. The selfish mentality is so obvious on the roads, people tailgating you, cutting into your lane without warning, and without enough space to even sanely attempt a cut, causing me to brake suddenly. Road accidents and road rage are on the raise. People are rushing to make money, rushing to spend money, rushing to earn more money. Let me also mention how ridiculously expensive driving a car is now. The “wonderful”, money-loving government puts up all these ERPs (electronic road payment) gantries everywhere! Where it was once used to regulate traffic in the city area, it is now used as a money making tool for an already absurbly rich government.

The situations on the roads and in public transport are a clear picture of the selfishness and greediness of Singaporeans today, both of the people and the government. Where I was once proud to be a Singapore, I am now becoming ashamed, reluctant to associate myself with a nation of money-grabbing, think-only-for-myself people. If given a chance to go overseas to work, I would probably take it without a glimmer of regret. I have lived in another country and though it has its faults, at least the people in the place where I lived were caring and loving, knowing that there was more to life than just money and “me”. The only thing keeping me here now is my love for my family and friends. My love for my country has been progressively destroyed by its people and government, ever since I returned to find that my beloved country has deteoriated in morals and values.

I believe that a country, no matter how rich, without its morals, integrity and values will sink and die fast. Unfortunately, I already see that happening here.

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