Mr Edmund Khoo Kim Hock has vividly portrayed how deep-seated materialistic values have penetrated the identity of Singaporeans ("Owning a car marks one's status, identity"; Dec 24).

Is this where Singapore is headed? Going by Mr Khoo's logic, those with material aspirations but are losing out to their competition will not be a happy lot.

Where would they go? If they are not mobile enough to migrate to greener pastures elsewhere, we would have a lot of disgruntled people living on this small red dot.

This could happen soon, if it has not already. We need to think about the consequences - not in another 50 years, but now. It is sobering.

Thomas Lee Hock Seng (Dr)