I mean... Currently, I would love to return back to Singapore.
However, based on my current visa in the US, we do have an easier path to a Green Card or the equivalent of a US PR.
Now, there's plenty of people who would love to get a Green Card.
And for me, I can understand why. US provides many people with an opportunity.
People from Vietnam, Koreans, Hong Kongers, etc.
People who want to get out of their country cos of whatever reasons.
Of course if people are doing well in their countries, most likely they would stay in their home countries. Unless they have concerned about the stability of their home country.
So I do ask myself if someday in the future, would I consider migrating to the US.
It's not an ideal place. As I said before. Politics is dirty and ugly, there's racism, minimal but still rears it's head every once in awhile. High taxes, worldwide tax, etc... High cost of eating out...
I mean currently, if I had a choice, I wouldn't want to move to the US.
There's no push factor from Singapore. There's no pull factor from the US.
Why would I want to leave the comforts of my home country for a foreign country?
I have no friends or family or any roots in this place.
But yet, there are cases for me to consider getting a Green Card.
I'll talk through why I'm even thinking about it.
The main reason is that it is a big and powerful country
It's as simple as that. It's a big and powerful country. Despite all the problems. It's still big and powerful.
They are able to and willing to step on China to keep their position. They can afford to offend others cos they are powerful. As a country, the US, will always remain sovereign, unless due to civil war.
It's almost a whole continent on it's own with no enemies which can threaten the sovereignty of the country. Also, it has no real enemies which pose any threat nearby.
It has it's own food and water supply, it's self reliant. There's no real fear of a disruption of food or water supply like in Singapore. Where Malaysia has repeatedly used water as a negotiation strategy with Singapore.
Despite high income tax rates, there are some states which the tax is pretty low, like in Texas. There is federal tax, which is US tax, but no state tax. Whereas residents of states like California will have to pay both federal AND state taxes.
No doubt, taxes in US are definitely higher than in SG.
But for taxes, I feel it's somewhat manageable depending on circumstances.
If we take into account the COE tax in SG, that changes a lot in the calculation.
If the US fails, probably the rest of the world will fail as well. If the US dollar crumbles, the rest of the world will crumble as well. So might as well be at the top of the financial pyramid.
If Singapore has any financial issues, US residents will not even notice.
I can buy a property and car forever. Unlike in Singapore, property is usually leasehold and cars have COE, in the US, when I spend money to buy a property, I will own it forever. I'm not holding on to a depreciating asset.
If I look at it from the perspective of the sustainability of a nation, US beats Singapore hands down.
I won't even need to talk about the plus points of Singapore if I look at it from a sustainability standpoint.
The future of Singapore concerns me. I would love for it to continue as it once was. And even now, Singapore isn't a bad place to stay in. But I'm not so sure in future. 30 years into the future is a long time. I'm only 38 this year and so many things have changed from the past. The economic and political environment is going to be tough. China starting to expand it's interests around the Asia region and stuff like that.
Moving to the US, ensures that I will have some semblance of stability.
Yes there will be other issues, but at least there's still a country to call my new home.
It's the idea of 国家. 有国才有家.
Only if there is a country then can I have a home.
Although many people read it as, to defend your country so that you can continue to have your home.
But I could also read it as, as long as I have a country, any country, I can build a home.
Anyway, these are just musings in my mind. As of now, I don't have any intention to move to the US permanently. I have all my friends and family and home in SG and I like it a lot better there than any of the other places I've lived in.
So the nasi lemak set is still the same, I still choose Singapore.
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