SEPT 20 — There was once the American Dream that made many Americans rich or at least promoted to the middle class with reasonably high pay, home ownership and cars and a good life of plenty. This American Dream was real and known world wide that people from across the world came knocking at the American shore.

Many foreigners were equally happy with their American Dream.

The Chinese flocked to America once the barrier was lifted, to live the American Dream. The early birds caught the worms. Unfortunately the American Dream is crumbling. Many middle class Americans woke up to find the Dream gone. They became the new poor of America. Those from the Third World are still chasing the American Dream as the average American lifestyle is still worth many times their pathetic life in their home countries. This has changed for the Chinese who are starting to go home. Even the Hongkies are going home.

There is now a Chinese Dream where many became millionaires and billionaires within a generation, where jobs are aplenty. Many talented Chinese, trained and educated in the best American and western universities and systems are returning to China to chase the Chinese Dream.

Those who came to Singapore to chase the Singapore Dream are also returning except for the low level unskilled and semi skilled food court operators and those in Geylang. The Singapore Dream is also crumbling to the educated and professional Chinese. But to the Third World arrivals, the Singapore Dream is still much alive and flying high. Many are dreaming of becoming landlords and businessmen and women after making their little fortune here. What they earned may not seem much here but on going home they will be much richer and could start a new life with their new found wealth acquired chasing the Singapore Dream. Yes, the Singapore Dream is good to the Third World foreigners.

To the Sinkies, the Singapore Dream is changing. The latest is to stop dreaming of a car. Many have stopped dreaming of private properties or even a five-room flat. The Singapore Dream to the Sinkies is disappearing just like the American Dream to the Americans. Only the foreigners from poorer and less developed countries are cherishing this Dream, to be rich and to upgrade themselves to the middle class or better, to live better lives. To Sinkies, the new Singapore Dream is to downgrade, to downgrade their expectations, to downgrade their jobs, their homes, and forget about car ownership. Can’t believe it but the new Singapore Dream is all about downgrading.

Might as well call it the fleeting Singapore Dream. — TR Emeritus

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.