It is not a pay cut.

It may not have any real impact on the economy.

It might just be a token move to score points with the people.

But at least Australian PM Kevin Rudd isn’t trying to justify ever-increasing world-leading remuneration for him and his colleagues in parliament while telling people to cut costs by buying no-frills home brand stuff in the face of increasing costs of everything under the sun.

We just want a small iota to indicate that our gahmen cares about its people. That they are not just serving their own needs. Then again, whatever they do, it will never be enough.

That’s the irony of our country. We have been thoroughly drilled with the idea that what we have is never enough. It is our prime motivation. It is what keeps our economy ticking. The obssession with money and economic prosperity is what made Singapore the country it is today, for better or worse.