The unstoppable and continuous hikes in taxes, fees and fares have one painful result, eating into the litle savings, CPF of the seniors that have retired or not working, no more income. Whatever savings they have is all they have, to keep them alive, fed, clothed and housed for the remaining days of their lives.
For the younger Singaporeans, the economically active with an income, taxes, fees and fare hikes, high cost of everything, can always be mitigated and taken care of by their rising income, by pay increments. Many would in many ways ride along and still feeling comfortable and richer, with little or no worries for the high cost of living.
The seniors and the retired are caught in a very rough patch that needs financial assistance from somewhere to cope with their expenditure in the most expensive city in the world. There is nothing to cover them for the increasing cost of living. The real value of their little savings, if any, is diminishing every day, with every tax hike, fare hike or fee increase. The last thing the govt should be concerned is to protect their little savings, not to rob from it, not to decrease their buying power. Offering some financial assistance to top up their savings to ameliorate the taxes and hikes is the the least the govt can do to help this hapless lot.
The govt has started to roll out some assistance schemes to lower the financial burden of the seniors, subsidised fares and fees, here and there. And now the annual cost of living subsidies, Medisave contributions, subsidies for conservancy charges, essential services etc etc. The big question, are these enough? Are they enough just to cover for all the hikes in taxes and fees? Or should the govt give a little more to the seniors, a little more than all the hikes and taxes and high cost of everything?
Life can be very difficult to the no money seniors without external assistance. A cup of kopi in the kopitiam, a plate of chap chye png, are increasingly out of reach of many no income seniors. And these are really the basic necessities just to stay alive.
Are the govt handouts sufficient to cover the taxes and high cost of living with a little extra? Or the handouts may not even be enough to cover them and eating fiercely into the little savings or no savings of the seniors? There must be a cut off age to stop taxing and making the seniors to pay,... like Medisave Insurance and transport fares etc etc. Singapore is expensive, and many things have to be paid even if one does not eat, drink or get out of the flat. And better not get sick. But what to do when ageing cannot be avoided and sickness is part and parcel of growing old?
What do you think? Are the govt handout and subsidies enough to get by? The least the govt should do is to return, not compensate, for all the taxes and hikes that the seniors are affected. It is morally not right to rob or tax the no income seniors when the govt should be offering some assistance. Is this asking too much?
5 comments:
That is not even factoring in food prices and cost of eating out. No, not in posh restaurants, just coffeeshops and hawker centers can now burn a hole in the pockets of seniors.
One 'principled' guy even had the audacity to ask whether we are asking for more by talking and thinking of eating in restaurants with his S$10 per day handout. He obviously did not have to eat at coffeeshops or hawker centers and know nothing about cost of living for the poor.
Their salaries so high can afford to buy bungalows . . .
Solution: All Ministers/President salary to reduce by 30%. This 30% will be pooled to provide for all citizen aged 70 & above with a monthly allowances of $1000 till they up lorry
Actually, the 'how much is enough' question should be thrown at those Ministers/President.
Hope Lawrence Wong would discuss Anon 10:31 am's suggestion in Parliament.
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