The way you see the world depends on where you grew up

I thought before that most of citizen of developed have nothing to complain to their government. They must be grateful to be raised in those countries. The system focus to the people and makes corruption as a difficult business. They could reach the Maslow’s highest hierarchy of  needs “Self-actualization needs”  through implementation of the system, but people doesn’t stop to complain. Those are one short conversation of so many similar conversations before.

Jan        : From now  until the end of the year we start to work for our self.

Efrata    : I don’t get it, what do you mean?

Tom      : Yeah..from January until June, We have worked for government, and then we will work for our self from now.

Efrata    : Ahaaa.., so because the taxes that you guys have to pay are almost 50% of you salary, am I right?

Tom      : Yep

Efrata    : So what are you complaining guys? I can understand if every month half of your salary goes to Government, It makes you cranky, but It’s still a lot of money, with that money you can have a luxury life which most of people in my country never have. The goods is  3 times more expensive here than in my country, but your net salary is 6-7 times more than in Indonesia (with a same job and responsibility). So It’s a lot and more than enough for live.

Tom       : Well, you can’t say that more than enough. Everyone here require a better life, I know It’s a luxury, but we want to have more and more than before. We would love to have that luxury and because of that, sometimes we are stress. We would love to have more than we could have. We think every time to improve our skill, to put some more knowledge and ability and in the end to gain more salary.

Efrata    : That’s normal too, Everyone in everywhere would like to improve their self and to have more,  but see how your country is developed. The government uses the taxes  properly and now you have  such some luxury facilities. Here I can be relax use a public transportation: The bus stop when I step in and step out; Full air conditioner and heater for every seasons;  and I paid only 10 Euro per month; You can drive without worrying a hole in the highway; First aid and ambulance come in time when there is an accident because there are cameras everywhere;. In terms of healthiness, you guys have such a great system: You paid about 20% of all cost like medication, hospital, doctor etc; Whenever you have a heavy disease, you just need to be worried of your health not the cost because your mutualitet (a system for healthiness etc in Belgium ) covers it for you; The hospital, the medication and the laboratory use the high-end technology. In terms of welfare: If your doctor can prove that you have a disease that makes you couldn't work, you would get monthly money from government; You get enough pension welfare when you are old, so you wouldn’t be depending on your kids or others; If the company fire you, you get monthly money from government, while you are searching for a new job. We would never get all those luxuries in my country. We never paid that big of taxes and most of us could not survive if we paid half of our salary as taxes to Government.

Tom       :  You are right, but We are used to these luxuries and We don’t see them as  the luxury facilities anymore. We see it as a normal condition, a right that everyone has to get. We are used to complain and to whine because we always want to have more.

Efrata    : Have you ever traveled  to Asia, Thailand or Indonesia for Instance, or maybe

             India?

Tom and Jan       : No, not yet

Efrata    : You have to, and maybe after your trip,  you will be more grateful with your life here. I learnt a lot here. Before I came here, I didn’t see many things as my right such as the bus stops for me, the bus has to go to the end route (bus station), the car stops when a pedestrian cross the street and so on.

“Some get more than enough but they don’t realize they get so much, the other get less than they should get but they don’t know that’s their rights until each of them live in the other’s place”

Do you see the differences ?

These pictures have been taken from :

1. http://blogimages.bloggen.be/metrotrambusfanaat/14-19bba23cf16d0b5ff3c3f313283b562d.jpg

2. http://imagene.youropi.com/vlaanderenstraat-winkelen-in-gent-2(p:location,524)(c:0).jpg

3. http://taksitaksi.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/04272008480.jpg

4. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/media/images/large/20091023230001444.jpg