Is it wrong to be rich?
I come from a middle class family, parents raised me up, put me through university, and now I’m out in the working world making a living for myself in corporate. Like many others, I share the Singaporean dream of climbing the corporate ladder and possibly striking the jackpot in Singapore pools.
As a sandwiched class of society, I have been observing people from different financial and socioeconomic backgrounds. I have friends who are less fortunate in life, with terminally ill parents and young siblings to support. I also have friends who are wealthy and comfortable, with wonderful parents helping them with their housing down payment and buying them a car upon graduation.
I too, like many others, aspire to be wealthy and provide a comfortable life for my kids in future. Which is why I understand why many parents from wealthy families “spoil” their children, because no parent will want to see their child struggle in life. As such, many outsiders will give comments such as “spoilt brat from rich family” or “privileged and silver spoon”.
Some of this children from wealthy families do actually appreciate their generational wealth and are humble. Some, not so much, and will splurge their parents money irresponsibly. But regardless of weather that wealthy child is humble, or one who is irresponsible, they will still be subjected to such labels.
I always see negative comments in Facebook and instagram posts, when it comes to wealthy people. Take for example the recent spotlight on dick Lee’s family putting their bungalow up for sale and donating 60 million to charity. Many, actually most, of the comments are saying that they are trying to evade taxes through their charitable deeds or just looking to be in the limelight and doing it for fame.
Another example is the case of Naomi Neo, a local influencer in Singapore. Whenever she splurge on her children, for example on the birthday for her daughter, people were just so toxic and negative in the comments.
Now bringing me back to the question, is it wrong to be rich? Because if being rich subjects me to such hate, it seems like a curse.
But it’s a curse that I will want to suffer, in silence.