A deep sense of helplessness in Sin City

The failure of the opposition parties to make gains into Parliament GE after GE and by election after by election has led the citizens that were looking forward to change into a state of despair. Nothing is going to change and the people will have to live with the PAP as the ruling govt for the next 50 years. Lee Hsien Loong knew this and that he would remain as PM until he chooses to retire at a time of his own choosing, that is when he is 70. This is only one of the unbearable hard truths that Singaporeans would have to live with and feeling helpless about it. And the helplessness did not stuck with just the political system.
 
There are many things that Singaporeans felt are very wrong, or not to their likings but, yes, helpless to do anything about it. So they would just have to live with them and make the best out of a bad situation, or a very bad situation.
 
The influx of foreigners into the island, as job hunters, as PRs and eventually given citizenship, is so huge and so disproportionate to the number of citizens is a big sore point. More than half of the population, including many new citizens, is foreigners, not locally born. Did the Singaporeans agree to it? Were they asked that this is ok? No, but they could not do anything about it. It is a fait accompli dictated by the political party they elected to Parliament, to be their govt.
 
The problem of the influx of foreigners is not just a number. Singaporeans lost their jobs, high cost of living, inflation, high property prices and rentals, and stress on the infrastructure especially public transport, housing and medical. What can the Singaporeans do about it? Nothing.
 
Many have been cursing about their life time savings in the CPF that they thought were something to look forward to at retirement, ie 55 years old, only to see their savings slipping away from their fingers. The govt keeps changing the rules to keep them from touching their life savings, at times with ridiculous nonsensical reasons. Some jokers even openly said the savings of the people in the CPF are not their money. What can the Singaporeans do? Nothing. Just as helpless as if the money is really not theirs. And many of the natural aristocrats are grinning at their stupidity and helplessness.
 
Recently there were many noises about whether the HDB flats they lived in belong to them or the HDB ie the govt. Are they owners or lessees? If they are lessees, why are they made to pay property taxes and for the upkeep and maintenance and repairs of the HDB flats? No matter how much kpkb, nothing happens and the people lan lan continue to pay their property taxes on the lease property, their HDB flats accepting that they are the real owners of their HDB flats.
 
And now the case of the Elected Presidency. The govt changed the terms and conditions to the Elected Presidency. Only a handful of super rich elites can stand for election as the EP. This is no longer the right any citizen like before. This used to be the right of every citizen but no more. So, what can the people do about it?
 
The govt also decided that a Parliament appointed president can also count as an elected President despite everyone knowing that the first elected President was Ong Teng Cheong. Tan Cheng Bock went to court but his case was thrown out. The govt has the absolute right to determine what is an elected president and what is not according to the court rulings.
 
The govt also has the right to decide who is a Malay or who is not a Malay to be eligible to stand for the reserved election for a Malay President. A non Malay or half Malay also can if accepted by the President Election Community. What can the people do? Nothing. Helpless.
 
What about the case against the WP in the management of Town Council? Were there more serious cases of bigger losses and mismanagement than this case? This time the WP looks so helpless and waiting for the guillotine to slam down on their necks, as sure as the sun will rise. What about the people? They can only look at the case helplessly. There is nothing that the people can do about it to speak out and defend their elected representatives in Parliament.
 
What about the foreigners taking charge in the job market, recruiting and filling good jobs with more foreigners citing that Singaporeans are daft, no skill, lazy, incompetent etc etc and foreigners are the best fit for top jobs? The helpless Singaporeans only try to help themselves by applying to be taxi drivers or be content with part time jobs or contract jobs. What else can they do?
 
Helplessness is everywhere, if one bothers to look, in Sin City. Fees, taxes, transportation costs, prices of everything are going up and up. The helpless people just have to live with them.
 
PS. Actually this picture of helplessness is not true. Many Singaporeans are buying bigger houses and bigger and more expensive cars. The helplessness only happens to the losers, the Singaporeans that are jobless, underemployed or unemployed.
But what about the foreigners? They have never had it so good. It is like landing in paradise, away from their slum filled countries where jobs were hard to come by, to a land where pots of gold are everywhere and fortunes are made. Many went home rich, became landowners and starting their own businesses. Some even retired and no need to work anymore, living as the nouve riche in their original home countries where they were once poor ordinary folks.