The Golden Age

The good old times, who doesn't miss it? We could hear it every day about how the economy is bad, how people cannot afford houses, and Taiwanese people moving out...etc.(and also low birth rate! LOL). There are literally countless problems but we only need to fix...one.

Due to abundant free time, I basically have my thinking cap on 24/7. It was just last week that a regular gymming grandpa who approached me and started babbling about politics. Make no mistakes; I love this topic. It's just that he's in fact... only got 1 working ear. He told me a long time ago that he couldn't really hear. Thus, with such an exciting topic, I could only pay respect to this elderly hater.

Grandpa Smiley (he always smiles) was not happy about how in Taiwan, we are getting a lot of foreign labors and in particular as care-takers; it's taking our jobs away. About 3 seconds of my life was deducted upon this statement, and I was thinking how if my thoughts were a weapon, I could have saved so many others who Grandpa Smiley tries to convince every day. Enough kidding. First of all, why is it that we are open to foreigners to work in our countries?

1. lack of skill

2. lack of labor

3. development

A simple fact as we all know, what we don't have, we seek help. It isn't a matter of being a small country. There are foreigners who work everywhere! Those who have better skills should rightfully contribute the best way they can afford. It's what makes a country move forward to progress. The idea of "locals only" would not be patriotic but rather the opposite. Take the example of a company only using the family members of the CEO; it's doomed to fail under that policy. Whoever is best qualified should get the job, not whoever is blood-related.

Moreover, what makes you think that we're killing for those jobs that foreigners took on? According to the context, Grandpa was especially complaining about the fact that "the Vietnamese"are flooding in. "Well, be careful who you're hating. You never know who they're going to push next." I thought to myself and almost chuckled. I highly doubt Taiwanese people love those jobs at the first place. Yes, we see foreign "care-takers" walking with their ears plugged, pushing grandpas and grandmas to parks every day. I don't love the scene. To be honest, I hate it, but not because of the nationality of the people. It's how sad it looks for those who grew old and sick without family around them. With these people who are willing to take on such chronic positions, we should be thankful at least.

Having foreigner workers shows how open a country is and depending on the levels of work they take, it indicates the development of a country and the quality of the people. If a country is poor in economy, who's going to come and take any front-line, laboring jobs? Who's really coming here from overseas to work on a farm collecting goods for a higher salary? None. They come because it's better here. It's many of us who don't think it's better here. That's why many of us leave and there's nothing wrong with that. In terms of development, having foreigners work here SHOULD open more opportunities for the locals. We have reached some level of education; we should be moving on to more knowledge-based positions, no offense to the others.

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I have a theory for all those who think the time(economy) is bad now. This is the norm. There are no World Wars, no foreign aids. This what we have now, IS normal. From now on, if not earlier, we ought to make changes on our own and reform if we want to make a difference. The good of time when money came rushing in, when a bowl of beef noodles was 50, when fried chicken was 30... it was a time that abnormal and is never going to be again. Never. That doesn't necessary mean anything bad though. It just shows that we're in reality and it's up to us. All the whining and complaining aren't anything but their literal meaning.

Also, the whole "young people are not getting married and/or have children could cause national crisis" is ridiculous. So far, everyone that talks around the low birth rate has been blaming. Again, I disagree and with the very same reason above. Furthermore, as we become more educated, we certainly would be focusing on more than just the prolonging "the family bloodline". We have bigger dreams in the bigger world. Why should we be blamed for progress? I have a bold statement here: We don't need so many people.

The future is not about human labor anymore. It's going to depend on intelligence. Of course, it doesn't mean people shouldn't have more children if they want. However, saying that we should have children just for the sake of having them is seriously wrong. Look at all the bad parenting and unloved children that would have been great. It always breaks my heart to see people become mothers and fathers but never parents. Having children does not make you a parent. You'll have to make that decision and learn every day for the rest of lives about this new identity. Making babies and feeding babies are easy but to raise them, to teach and grow them into kind and loving individuals is although difficult, the only task once you're parents.

This is U.S.

At last, Grandpa Smiley, I hope you're a fan of my blog. Kidding. I hope what I think rings some bells and help those who feel bad either about Taiwan or the circumstances mentioned above better. As always, let me know if you have any thoughts to share.

#selfreflect