I'm tired

So, 4th Jun 2007's Zaobao reported that Matthais Yao's South East CDC gave a 52 years old single-parent mother $200 because she did not even have enough money to buy the long pants and shoes that were required of the food court cashier job (which the CDC found for her). Some months later, the woman "returned" Matthais Yao the $200 personally.

The first thing that came to my mind was of course how the CDC had wasted no time in calling the reporters to write about it! (Com'on, don't tell me it's the woman who called the newspaper instead?)

But my lasting impression is on the attitude of the woman and her 25 years old daugher:


'...原本女儿对于她接受社理会的帮忙很不高兴，经陈如意解释后也慢慢接受了。'

Why is the daughter not happy with the mom asking for help from the CDC? What is there to be ashamed of? Social welfare is our rights, not a privilege bestowed on us by some gods in white! That's why we pay tax during our good times. It's so that when times are bad, we get welfare!


'如今找到了工作，家境改善了，陈如意非常感激社理会的援助，决定把钱还给社理会。她心存感激地说：“要向社理会拿钱，我实在不好意思。既然有花红，尽管手头还是有点紧，我还是决定把200元还给社理会，希望能帮助其他人。”'

Why is she embarrassed? Why is she so full of gratitude? Why is it that even though her money situation is still tight, she wants to "return" the money so that the CDC can help others with this $200?!?!? The CDC did no charity at all! It is a contract between citizens and goverment: I pay you tax, you go invest it, so that when I, or my fellow citizens need money, you distribute MY money back to me/them!


'陈如意是在议员姚智接见居民时，亲自把钱还给他。姚智也是社理会东南区市长。陈如意说：“姚智跟我说，这笔钱不必还的，但钱不是我的，所以坚持把钱还给他。”...'

Why did she say that the money is not hers, and therefore she must return it?

The money is of course hers!

She has paid her tax (even if "only" in the form of GST).

Her husband had paid his tax before his death. (the high HDB price is a form of tax).

Her daughter has paid her tax, and most importantly,

Her son (now in prison) has paid a lot of tax!!! Serving NS for nearly free is already paying high tax! If not for this young man, SAF would have to pay $X to employ a driver/cook/whatever, and now they pay him only $Y, then $X-$Y is the high tax he paid for 2 years!

And with all these tax paid, she is entitled to some welfare when she needs it.

So, what is there to be so grateful about?

But, alas, not only is she grateful, I further speculate that maybe she is so grateful that she will vote for Matthias Yao (again?) in the next election.

Tax!
Entitlement and Rights!
Responsibility of a government to provide (some) welfare!

Just which part of these 3 things does she not understand?

Everytime I read about such news, I tell myself:

F*** it!
This Matrix Island is hopeless!
No change is possiible with these submissive peasants!

More importantly, it is not a matter of possibility, but of necessity: No change is necessary for these submissive peasants! Why would we, who have taken red pills, want to change the life of these submissive peasants who pop blue pills everyday?

I mean, just look at how absurd the whole situation is: These people don't find any problem with their Matrix Masters. We go in, agitate the water, stir some shit, open their mind. So then they become very dissatisfied with the situation. And then, having made them unhappy, we help them fight the matrix master so that they can become happy again!

Why don't we just leave them in their happy dream world right from the start?

At times like this, I look back at what I have written. and tell myself that I make much more sense when I write like that! So I want to say:

Give up, Neo!

Give up, Trinity!

And you too, Morpheus!

No point at all!

They don't deserve your sacrifices!

You all are liberated. The world is your osyter. Now go!

Leave those who are not ready behind. They are happier in the Matrix!

(But I am not saying that you should abandon human batteries forever. The one who should leave permanently are the Matrix Master and his Machines, not you. But bid your time. The Matrix Master is not going to be around forever. When the situation is right, we will take back our little Island)

Cypher: I'm tired, Trinity. Tired of this war, tired of fighting... I'm tired of the ship, being cold, eating the same goddamn goop everyday...