gst, more than what was told

Previously we heard that the 2% increase is to help the poorer Singaporeans and to make them better off, and also to close the income gap. Now it seems that the tax raised will go to many other things like paying medical bills, building facilities for the oldies, for investing for the future, and also some to be set aside in case of in case and in case… something happens. This last part is very familiar. Now where has this last part gained notoriety recently, savings and savings and savings without knowing what it is for and without knowing how much savings is enough? Was it some charity money being shiok shiok set aside and forgetting that the money was supposed to help the people’s immediate problems?

2003 Household Expenditure Survey/Census of Population Bottom 20% $302.41 average monthly income per household member Next 20% $578.45 Next 20% $877.69 Next 20% $1306.70 Top 20% $2845.87 The above figures were provided by Siew Kum Hong using some extrapolations of 2% and 4% of annual rise in income and expenditure for period 2001-03 and 3004-07. If the average income of each household member of the top 20% is $2845, what about those with an average household income per household member of $5,000 or $10,000? No such animals?

thank you bloggers and forumers

Thank you bloggers and forumers That is what the govt would like to say but would not say it after hearing Hsien Loong’s speech at the PAP Party Conference. He had addressed all the concerns raised by the bloggers and forumers in cyberspace. The main issues were of course all the concerns about the GST, the poorer Singaporeans and the recognition and the need for a clear distinction between Singaporeans and non Singaporeans. Even the hiphop that was not hip were not missed. The gripes that PRs and foreigners were receiving the same or better treatments than Singaporeans were put to rest in a way, hopefully. And these were issues that no main stream media would dare to raise, or if they did, in a very cursory form. Only in cyberspace that all the fires and brickbats were hurled daily to make the issues an urgent issue not to be ignored. Hotel Singapore was not mentioned directly but it was clearly denied that Singapore was a hotel for all the fair weather travellers and freeloaders. There is a saying that the people who complained the most, who made the most biting remarks are actually your teachers. These are the people that meant well and if carefully listened to, they have a message to tell. Compare this to all those that only say good things and praises, the end result can be disastrous. It is like no warning signs and suddenly death struck. Bloggers and forumers, you are heard. And you have an important role to play. The MSM cannot do what you are doing. They only sing praises. And without the kpkb in cyberspace, all the concerns that Hsien Loong addressed may not be addressed at all. With MSM and everyone saying only the good things, the PAP may have just go along with what it was doing happily.

another jumper at admiralty station?

Looks like the train had taken a wrong turn. The MRT track is now for pedestrains to use. Whatever, it is a message, a very loud message to those who think earning a million is not enough and need more pay rise. All the talks about compassion and helping the poor when one by one jumps onto the MRT track. Do all these acts evoke any sense of guilt? Or should the party go on and peanuts for everyone?

we need another brilliant sequel to 2% gst

I have sort of been praising the impending 2% rise in GST as one of the most brilliant ideas that can come from our supertalents. And I really hope that they can pull it through and benefit all the poor buggers who are struggling for an existence, the 30% right at the bottom and the 40% sandwiched in between. Just hope that the tax raised out of these 2% are not redirected somewhere else under whatever guise. It is for the people, to help the people, to reduce the income gap. It is not to build more infrastructure that cannot fill the stomach or pay for school fees and transport, not for the pay rise of the already very comfortable. But this part is hard to prove as budget not spend in one area, or save, will mean that it can be used in another area. The ingenuity of this move is that it defies all conventional wisdom. It is like saying gravity will throw an apple upwards. Nonetheless it is a great idea, a great hope. And that is why they deserve top dollars for exactly things like this. Now I am looking for a sequel, another ingenious idea like paying all Singaporeans, including the low level workers, high salaries and still be competitive and productive. I would like to hear a new directive or plan saying that Singapore is moving away from low wages and need not fear competition from India and China. Or something like we can pay our workers the highest salaries in the world and still attract all the MNCs to set up operations here. Now that will be something that can match this 2% GST to help the people and make them better off.