9/04/2007

Compulsory contribution to Public Legal Fund

As the legal and court fees get beyond the reach of the masses, it is timely to have a Public Legal Fund for the people to fall back on in cases like this where it is quite clear that they have a right to fight for some justice. I will like to propose that all the CPF holders contribute $1 a month to this fund so that the public can gain access to legal assistance to protect themselves. It would also prevent the rich and mighty from resorting to the court as a kind of blackmail. They will have to think very carefully before attempting to sue anyone. It is only $1 a month. Very affordable and definitely very necessary in a rule of the law country. It is good for the people, especially the not so well off. Legal protection for $1. The public can pool their limited resources to help themselves.

The right of might

I wrote about Odex or Odium and whether it will take the same path as NKF and the map provider, winning the first battle but losing the war. Odex has no legal right to sue or ask for compensation. Now what are they going to do with the compensation collected? Likely some would have been paid for legal fees. Now if there is a counter claim, looks like they are going to pay very well, compensation plus compensation plus legal fees. This saga also reflects and confirm the sickness of our society. If you have the money to engage legal assistance, you can threaten those without the means to fight back. And it is cheaper for the poor to pay than to break their bank accounts to fight for justice. What have we become? This is how we have developed into a first world cuntry.

Any change in retirement age and pension payout

With all the changes to withdraw CPF savings tied to retirement age, will there be any changes to the retirement age in the civil service and the commencement in the payout of pension? Would the payout of pension to politicians still starts at 55? Still waiting to hear something on this.

9/03/2007

Odex not the licence holder

The court has ruled that Odex is not the licence holder and thus has no right to sue those downloaders, or something to this effect. Does it mean that Odex must now refund those money it claimed and collected from the parents of those children?

Annuity scheme not enough

Come to think of it, like they said, send the buddha to the West, all the way. At 85, these people need more than just three meals a day. Many will need nursing care or be kept in nursing homes. Many will need hospitalisation, wheelchairs, cataract operations, heart bypass, or a maid to push them around and to feed them. Conservatively, maybe $1,500 pm will be needed on top of the annuity. Working the number to 10 years, assuming that by 95, they will call it a day, they will need $180k. Would any of you think it is prudent and good that the oldies should have $180k at 85 to start with? The $120k minumum sum should be retained and only be allowed to be withdrawn at 85. It will fit in nicely to make life very comfortable for the oldies. Any good measure and with good intention must be done properly. No half measures. Want to do it, do it all the way.