Karl Marx: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"

This is the communist manifesto of Karl Marx that I saw on my 2nd brother Sim Che's desk when I was young and I always remembered it and pondered the meaning until I became more aware of the different systems of government; democracy, communism, socialist, and our own brand of Singapore socialist democracy.

I had a nap yesterday from 6pm to 10pm and when I woke up, I went to my favourite kitchen workplace and saw a big NUS package, bigger than the previous envelope from last week.

I immediately opened it and was shocked to read that NUS has "SUPERSEDED" John's offer of dentistry and now offered him Medicine for 2008 academic year. I was puzzled and thought this must be a bad joke or he might have appealed and was some divine intervention. Why did they admin change their mind within a week? Then I realized that John or for that matter any applicant to NUS didn't really have a choice of what they wish to study! It is what and who the government needs.

Within 5 days, they can change your fate and your future to let you be a dentist or a doctor. never mind what your heart or mind or emotions tell you. This is it. The other offer is simply "superseded"

Then the horror and confusion after reading the 1st page, is the second page that says offer to medicine course 2010 academic year. So what is what, I don't really know. Included in the package is the freshmen orientation package, study loans applications, instructions from MOH on finidng surety for his bond to serve the Singapore goverment, to attend briefings etc.


I called John and he too was confused but sounded happy. After he came back, he looked through the package and said he will call the university administration on Monday to see if it is 2008 ot 2010. After all 2 years, or specialization of the mouth & teeth and brains is not so much a a difference, and this is probably another "HONEST MISTAKE"

We will just let John decide what he wants to do. Not that he has a choice. Now if he wants to be a dentist to take over his mum's clinic, he has to go through the appeal process. Which I doubt they bother. This happened in 1977 when Shuh Jen was given Dentistry over medicine and appeal despite having perfect scores. They just didn't want too many females in medicine then. Well, like they say, everything will work out for good, over time.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" Karl Marx