When something that is reasonable becomes ridiculous, or when something that is reasonable becomes so reckless. I chanced upon an old CNA report interviewing Chok Tong on the unhappiness over foreigners buying properties and driving up the prices. The quote is below.
‘Another radical suggestion put forward was to bar foreigners from buying private property but SM Goh noted developers would just build more high-rise private apartments to counter it.
"At the moment, our policy will be, condominium, private sector. They want to buy, let them buy because they actually bring in money for Singapore. They may not actually stay there but they bring in money.
"They buy from locals, locals are happy to get the money but it's not actually adding to space. In fact, that's actually ideal. They buy here, they don't drive cars, they don't live here, we just get their money! They're buying air!" laughed SM Goh.’
Actually Chok Tong got a point. If the foreigners are willing to bring in good money to buy air, why not? Our developers will be very happy and Singaporeans too will be very happy if they can sell their HDB flats to them as well. Now what is the cause of this happy problem?
The cause is so stupid and the solution so simple. Just build more and make sure citizens can buy their flats and at a really affordable price. And if citizens can then sell to foreigners, and buy again from HDB, citizens happy, foreigners happy, govt also happy. Every transaction will bring extra revenue to the govt in terms of stamp duties. The lawyers will be happy with the conveyancing fee, the designers and renovator will also be happy with more works. The buying and selling will find its own equilibrium when demand and supply balances out. Then buying and selling will slow down under the same economic and market forces.
See, it only needs a joker to stop building and want to earn as much from the citizens as possible and the happy formula failed. Make from foreigners not enough, still want to squeeze every penny from the citizens and refuse to build to exaggerate the supply and demand tension to justify higher prices to charge the citizens.
Why don’t the govt just liberalise the sale of all properties to foreigners(with higher stamp duties and some conditions, esp landed) and they only need to ensure that all citizens will get their public flats at citizen prices. A new status quo will be reached when the supply is there for the citizens(with limits on how many they can buy) and the demand by foreigners will also be limited by this supply. But make sure don’t anyhow give citizenship to every foreigner to buy public flats from HDB at citizen price. Let them be PRs and pay PR price and non citizen price.
The whole shit boils down to citizens not being able to buy affordably priced flats. If this is catered for, who cares if non citizens want to buy what and how high private property prices can go? Give the people a roof and the kpkb will end. But some sectors would want to protect the prices of their private properties and this could be why lesser public flats were being built. If only they care and make sure public flats are easily available to citizens, they could have the cake and eat it too, as long as the inflow of foreigners did not go crazy.
12/15/2011
12/14/2011
Another sign of the declining US influence
For more than 50 years, the Americans supported the Israelis in keeping the PLO out of the United Nation. The stupid Arab world meekly accepted that the Americans were their overlord and could not do anything about it. So, while Israel was assisted by the Americans and the western world to become a full nation, the plight of the Palestinians was nothing better than homeless beggars. Their fate laid in the hands of the deceitful champion of human rights, the Americans. And the Americans made sure that the PLO would stay that way forever other than some lip service to defend their rights of existence without a country.
Yesterday the PLO’s flag finally was raised at the UNESCO, a significant moment to recognize them as a nation of people by the UN. Of course the Americans and the Israelis were furious. It is understandable why the Israelis behaved that way. Now the Evil Empire revealed its true colour and removed all its disguises about supporting the cause of the Palestinians. They were angry that the PLO is now recognized as a state by the UN. They were angry that despite their string pulling and coercion against their crony states, the latter voted against the American’s dictate to keep the PLO out of the UN.
The countries of the rest of the world are standing up against the hypocrisies of the Americans. They are not going to be pushed around anymore by the Americans. They are going to support what is right, and in this case the PLO, to give it recognition as a member nation.
It is victory to the free world against the evil Empire. The Empire will find that it is no longer the trusted power. The deceit and deception have gone on for too long. Wither Pax Americana?
Yesterday the PLO’s flag finally was raised at the UNESCO, a significant moment to recognize them as a nation of people by the UN. Of course the Americans and the Israelis were furious. It is understandable why the Israelis behaved that way. Now the Evil Empire revealed its true colour and removed all its disguises about supporting the cause of the Palestinians. They were angry that the PLO is now recognized as a state by the UN. They were angry that despite their string pulling and coercion against their crony states, the latter voted against the American’s dictate to keep the PLO out of the UN.
The countries of the rest of the world are standing up against the hypocrisies of the Americans. They are not going to be pushed around anymore by the Americans. They are going to support what is right, and in this case the PLO, to give it recognition as a member nation.
It is victory to the free world against the evil Empire. The Empire will find that it is no longer the trusted power. The deceit and deception have gone on for too long. Wither Pax Americana?
Article from Musings from the Lion City
'Wednesday, December 14, 2011Stranger Than Fiction
So America flew a spy drone over Iran. So Iran bought the spy drone down. Now America…asked the Iranians to return the spy drone that was used to spy on them?
I thought this was a joke when I first read it but evidentially it’s true. President Obama himself said that the United States had asked Iran to give the downed American reconnaissance plane back.
Fact is truly stranger than fiction. The Iranians has rejected the request with its state media poking fun at the American’s expense. I agree with them.
What is God’s name made the American believed for a second the Iranians (and the rest of the world) won’t laugh their guts out upon hearing the request? Hell, I am.'
I actually wanted to write something but Musings from the Lion City has beat me to it. The American arrogance is funnily silly. But to the Americans and the west, it is not. They have the right to send spy planes inside people's country and the right to demand that it be returned if taken down. If not, this will be a justifiable excuse to attack Iran, not just imposed sanctions.
So is this anti American? : )
So America flew a spy drone over Iran. So Iran bought the spy drone down. Now America…asked the Iranians to return the spy drone that was used to spy on them?
I thought this was a joke when I first read it but evidentially it’s true. President Obama himself said that the United States had asked Iran to give the downed American reconnaissance plane back.
Fact is truly stranger than fiction. The Iranians has rejected the request with its state media poking fun at the American’s expense. I agree with them.
What is God’s name made the American believed for a second the Iranians (and the rest of the world) won’t laugh their guts out upon hearing the request? Hell, I am.'
I actually wanted to write something but Musings from the Lion City has beat me to it. The American arrogance is funnily silly. But to the Americans and the west, it is not. They have the right to send spy planes inside people's country and the right to demand that it be returned if taken down. If not, this will be a justifiable excuse to attack Iran, not just imposed sanctions.
So is this anti American? : )
The Emperor had measles
During the dying years of the Qing Dynasty, Dowager Qi Xi usurped the throne and was the de facto emperor. She placed little children as emperors and did not allow them to run the country the way they wanted. The emperors were allowed to happily spend their time in the brothels and surrounded by pretty women while the Dowager ran the Empire to protect her position.
One of the emperors had syphilis but the Imperial physicians would not dare say so and diagnosed it as measles, and treated it as measles. Of course the disease would take the emperor away in the course of time. The Empire continued for several more decades, appearing good but rotting and dying through neglect and mismanagement and the illusion that everything was just fine.
We used to have a healthy and vibrant stock market. Many people made money, some became billionaire and millionaires. The industry provided many jobs, good jobs with good incomes. Many still believe that the industry is healthy and looking pretty good.
My understanding is that the industry is suffering from financial syphilis. The open sores are there but no one wants to see them. So everyday is still a party. But the ugly truths cannot be hidden for long. Some broking houses have started to take remedial actions to cut operating costs. They need real incomes to support the operation, rental and payroll, operating costs etc etc must be paid in real money. With dwindling commission, the operation cannot go on like before.
The first sign of trouble would come when backroom staff is cut. Retrenchment is the best proof that the industry is blowing in the wind. Just wait for it to happen. Next to go with be the remisiers. If the remisiers cannot generate enough business to cover their operating cost, they too will walk out voluntarily. And this is not going to be the end. As the revenue from commission keeps evaporating into thin air, don’t believe in the fictitious volumes chalked up by the machines, the slide down will gather speed. Broking houses will do M&A for different reasons, down sizing and selling off whatever is left to other houses that still think they can continue to operate and make profits in a dying industry.
Every action will be taken to treat the sores. But no one would want to know anything about the syphilis and how to get rid of it, how to cut the gangrenous foot that is rotting away, how to put the patient through a regime of chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells. As long as no one bothers, there is no problem really. Where got syphilis? Everything is just doing fine.
How many white rabbits can a magician pull from his little hat?
One of the emperors had syphilis but the Imperial physicians would not dare say so and diagnosed it as measles, and treated it as measles. Of course the disease would take the emperor away in the course of time. The Empire continued for several more decades, appearing good but rotting and dying through neglect and mismanagement and the illusion that everything was just fine.
We used to have a healthy and vibrant stock market. Many people made money, some became billionaire and millionaires. The industry provided many jobs, good jobs with good incomes. Many still believe that the industry is healthy and looking pretty good.
My understanding is that the industry is suffering from financial syphilis. The open sores are there but no one wants to see them. So everyday is still a party. But the ugly truths cannot be hidden for long. Some broking houses have started to take remedial actions to cut operating costs. They need real incomes to support the operation, rental and payroll, operating costs etc etc must be paid in real money. With dwindling commission, the operation cannot go on like before.
The first sign of trouble would come when backroom staff is cut. Retrenchment is the best proof that the industry is blowing in the wind. Just wait for it to happen. Next to go with be the remisiers. If the remisiers cannot generate enough business to cover their operating cost, they too will walk out voluntarily. And this is not going to be the end. As the revenue from commission keeps evaporating into thin air, don’t believe in the fictitious volumes chalked up by the machines, the slide down will gather speed. Broking houses will do M&A for different reasons, down sizing and selling off whatever is left to other houses that still think they can continue to operate and make profits in a dying industry.
Every action will be taken to treat the sores. But no one would want to know anything about the syphilis and how to get rid of it, how to cut the gangrenous foot that is rotting away, how to put the patient through a regime of chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells. As long as no one bothers, there is no problem really. Where got syphilis? Everything is just doing fine.
How many white rabbits can a magician pull from his little hat?
More job opportunities for Singaporeans
Singaporeans that are losing their jobs to foreign talents need fear not. Singaporeans graduates having difficulties finding jobs, need fear not. I read today’s papers and am very encouraged by the news that jobs are plentiful for Singaporeans, in China. China needs a lot of foreign workers to feed its 9.1% rate of growth economy.
The Europeans are forming queues on the road to China. Employment agencies are getting requests by rich and wealthy Chinese for butlers and English butler associations are training more butlers for the Chinese markets.
Young graduates from Europe and America are also heading to China. China also needs a lot of school bus and taxi drivers. And the top job that is in great demand is English Language tutor. I am thinking of applying for it.
The problems faced by the European job applicants are tremendous, culture shock and language skills and unfamiliar with the Chinese way of life and customs. Singaporeans, particularly the Singaporean Chinese or Chinese Singaporeans, would have special advantage against the Europeans. They can easily blend in, smoothly, no need programmes to integrate like we do to our foreign workers.
Singaporean foreign workers going to China can integrate instantly, smoothly, to the Chinese society. Those employment agencies should quickly seize this opportunity to set up shops in China to provide them with true blue Singaporean foreign workers. Heard of reverse engineering? Now we are reversing the trend of employment. China’s foreign talent can come here to replace our local talents. Our displaced local talents can go to China to be foreign workers.
Fair exchange as their talents are more talented than ours. Our talents would be equivalent or good enough to be their foreign workers.
The Europeans are forming queues on the road to China. Employment agencies are getting requests by rich and wealthy Chinese for butlers and English butler associations are training more butlers for the Chinese markets.
Young graduates from Europe and America are also heading to China. China also needs a lot of school bus and taxi drivers. And the top job that is in great demand is English Language tutor. I am thinking of applying for it.
The problems faced by the European job applicants are tremendous, culture shock and language skills and unfamiliar with the Chinese way of life and customs. Singaporeans, particularly the Singaporean Chinese or Chinese Singaporeans, would have special advantage against the Europeans. They can easily blend in, smoothly, no need programmes to integrate like we do to our foreign workers.
Singaporean foreign workers going to China can integrate instantly, smoothly, to the Chinese society. Those employment agencies should quickly seize this opportunity to set up shops in China to provide them with true blue Singaporean foreign workers. Heard of reverse engineering? Now we are reversing the trend of employment. China’s foreign talent can come here to replace our local talents. Our displaced local talents can go to China to be foreign workers.
Fair exchange as their talents are more talented than ours. Our talents would be equivalent or good enough to be their foreign workers.
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