Chan Chun Sing, the PM in the making

Today’s front page material on the ST, nearly half a page, plus another three quarter of the page inside, with beautiful photographs of Chan Chun Sing must be a very clear indicator that this is the PM PAP is preparing for the Singaporeans. No minister has been given so much coverage by the media other than him. And he is being rotated quickly around the ministries, army style, to get him familiar with their workings to give him an overall feel of the job. This must be familiar to Chan Chun Sing as well. Mindef did that to all its Overseas Scholars, especially SAF cum President Scholars, to rotate them around quickly before putting them in charge.

Now Chan Chun Sing is going to be the Labour Chief, a post held by several top notch ministers like Lim Chee Oon and Ong Teng Cheong. His career path is cut and he is warming to his destiny in time to come. He is full of confidence especially in the Huffington Affair. Who in the whole world would dare to write to a controversial American newspaper that could show you the middle finger and to tell the newspaper what it should do and could write about? I don’t think Obama would dare to do that. That separates the boys from the man. You need a man brave and confident enough to tell the Huffington Post off. Remember, the Huffington Post is not any media to trifle with.

And it was no holds bar when he talked about Chee Soon Juan as a failure and with questionable integrity and character. This is all about confidence that he is The One, the PM to be. If you are not The One, you would not have the audacity to stand up above the crowd to say and do those things.

Hsien Loong must be pleased with his performance and must have said job well done, and time to take on a new portfolio, as the Labour Chief. This is a man on a mission, a man that means business. He is the PM to be by all readings and signs given by the govt and the media. After this exposure in the Union, his next post will be somewhere up there, very likely the Minister of Defence cum Deputy PM. Just my guess. And this is likely to be soon after the next GE when the PAP scores another big victory and Chan Chun Sing being carried on the shoulders by the workers, a privilege LKY used to enjoy. He is a political titan in the making.

No need for nursing homes

There is this kopitiam talk that nursing homes will go out of business when Medishield Life is in operation. How so, the oldies are now working their feeble minds on how to capitalize on this piece of ingenius legislation. Many of them would not be able to pay for the costly nursing homes and the medical fees that they will incur. Medishield Life is a life saver that comes right on time and would be something to celebrate for during SG50.

You people still wondering what I am talking about. See, the Silver Brigade may be retired, but their minds are still functioning well, though a bit slow. With a few days to contemplate on this compassionate and caring scheme, they have worked everything out and are now smiling. They are going to say a big thank you to the govt and the committee members for coming out with this wonderful scheme.

They are going to tell Redbean that his thinking is all wrong. They will go to see their MPs on this scheme but would want their MPs to vote for the scheme lock, stock and barrel. They would want the Parliament to pass this bill especially on the part of jailing those who refuse to pay. And they would object to Redbean’s suggestion that there should be a cut off age where seniors need not have to pay. There shall be no cut off age and seniors shall continue to pay until they die, with no subsidies.

And when the bill is passed, all of them would not want to pay a single cent for the Medishield Life. And they will be invited to stay in the big bungalow in Changi, free lodging, food and medical, for life. With high cost of living, housing, medical and security, Changi Resort is the ideal abode for the Silver Brigade. Why waste such a big piece of real estate on the criminals? Boon Wan would have his nursing homes problem in JB solved instantly. In fact he would have to build a bigger Changi Resort, an entire estate, for the Silver Brigade, half a million of them at least.

How come I did not think of this? And all their children will visit them regularly to show them their tender loving care, without having to pay for their Medishield Life premiums and no need to feed them, clothe them, house them and no need to pay for their medical bills.

Changi will become a famous resort for the Silver Brigade to retire, another Jewel in the making. With the money saved, the children and grandchildren will have more disposable income to shower luxuries on their parents and grand parents when they visit them in Changi. And they will be so grateful to the govt that they will only vote one way in the next GE.

Sorry opposition parties, you would not stand a chance with this Medishield Life Scheme. The PAP is going to sweep every seat and GRC at stake. It will be a walkover! Brilliant, just simply brilliant and deserving of every million paid to them.

Who needs nursing homes anymore? Where can you find nursing that is so safe, with 24 hour security services and doctors and psychiatrists in attendance, and preachers telling them stories about heaven and paradise?

Beware of professional robbers

Case One. Victim had some pain on the neck. The specialist recommended 4 injections. Husband of victim was cautious, asked for second opinion. Was advised to take some medication. After the medication the pain was gone. Cost less than $100.
 
If victim would have taken the specialist’s advice, each injection costs $16,000, 4 injections would have cost $64,000. And this did not include other consultation fees, and the pain for going through the injection regime, all for nothing.
 
Case Two. Victim had shoulder pain. Specialist recommended injections and operation. Total cost easily $50,000. Victim bought Elliment lotion to apply. After a couple of months, pain gone. Imagine the savings and the pain to go through the operation. Imagine someone laughing to the bank and the victim feeling stupid without knowing why.
 
Case Three. Specialist confirmed one artery was 25% blocked. Recommended stent insertion. Cost about $10k to $30k. Victim went on a diet of apple cider, ginger, lemon and honey. After 3 months went for review. Blockage gone.
 
What is the moral of these stories, all genuine? Don’t be suckers to the professional robbers. Be very careful and save your money. Always go for second or third opinion with a reputable professional that is recommended by people you know.

Let Singaporeans own MRT and Public Transport

Time to Nationalise MRT and Public Buses

By MIKOspace

Thinking the Possible ….

A year of bumper profits for SMRT.  Global oil prices have dropped by more than 50% in the last 6 months and would fall further in 2015 and not expected to recover much over the next few years. Gas prices have begun to follow the decline and the costs of grid electricity generation by our gas-power power stations would reduce even further.  Public transports especially buses and taxis would have their fuel bills greatly reduced. The fuel costs of MRT trains, mostly using grid electricity, should also fall according.

In the light of mostly good news for MRT and public transport operators, 2015 should also have been a great year for MRT and public bus commuters.  But, HOLD Your BRAKES, People … !

Remember January 2014 last year? That’s when SMRT announced that its profit had fallen by more than 40% and therefore it had to raise its fare, which it did by 3.2% last year in 2014.

Then suddenly in January 2015, SBS and SMRT both apply for fare hikes citing rising costs and lower profits. And without showing any statistics for its pleading of rising costs, public transport fares will increase 2.8% by April 2015.  This is truly unbelievable!

Just three months ago in October 2014, SMRT actually reported that its PATMI (profit after tax and minority interests) for the 2nd quarter (July-Sep 2014) of the current financial year rose sharply by 75.5% year-on-year to S$25.3 million!  Its operating profit for the same quarter also increased 66.5% compared to a year ago to S$33.3 million!

With fuel costs sharply down and huge bumper profits, whither rising costs, SMRT?  And SBS, have you not heard that oil prices has dropped by more than 50% in the last 6 months?

Of course from a strictly business profit-making perspective without any social consideration, the commuter “cows” can still be squeezed and milked for more revenue, when one can usually get away without any consequences.  This is especially so when bus and MRT commuters are captive customers and have any viable alternatives other than bicycling or expensive motoring.

This is perhaps the BEST time to consider again The Big Question: Should the MRT and public buses be Nationalised for the Greater Social Good?  The answer is a resounding “Yes”!

The Case for Nationalisation has never been stronger and is overwhelmingly compelling now given the profiteering tendency of the MRT and public bus companies.

The usual counter-argument that private companies are more efficient is no longer tenable in the light of the latest arbitrary, non-transparent and unreasonable public transport fare hike. 

Using S$7.5million of public funds to subsidise already highly profitable private companies is NOT efficient, and a really BAD idea.

In the Nationalised MRT and public bus companies, the use of public social assets does not have to be charged at all.  This boosts profits immediately as the accounting system is re-calibrated to reflect the social investments, and thereby lowers overall costs to boost profits even at lower fare levels.  Social equity and justice is restored and preserved. Profit-sharing with commuters can reduce their transport cost (MRT and public bus) which is currently about $250-$450 per month per person. This constitutes about 15%-35% of the individual monthly salary of most commuters and increases their income by the same quantum.  

Returning Profits to Singaporean Commuters  

Under a Commuters Profit-Sharing (CPS) Scheme, Singaporean commuters (including fare-paying children) can register up to two MRT Transit Farecards or Cashcards in their name.  Such commuter information is used to add back profit-sharing amounts, via the Fare Machine, into their respect Farecards or Cashcards at the end of each financial year.  The profits of nationalised  MRT and public bus companies at the end of the financial year can be proportionally shared in the 30:30:40 ratios.

More ...... 

   

Read Complete Article:

Should Singapore Nationalise our Transport Companies?

http://miko-wisdom.blogspot.sg/2015/01/should-singapore-nationalise-our-public.html

Medishield Life – A life time living tax

With all its good intent and purpose, there is a sinister side to the Medishield Life Scheme. It is all good for what it sets out to do but it can be deadly to many people it is supposed to help. Just like the minimum sums schemes, the intent was good but the effect can be very painful and can even kill. What is the point of dipping into the bank accounts of the citizens to take their money and telling them they can live well when they are 99 or 100 years but they would starve to death tomorrow?

The Medishield has this wicked element in the scheme. It is a life tax from birth to death. One has to start paying from the day one starts breathing to the day one stops breathing. Not paying is a criminal offence. The parents would have to pay for their children and would have to pay for their parents as well, a real sandwich that must pay for three generations of living family members. Not many senior citizens would have the money to pay after 60, let alone at 80, 90 or 100 and above. Many would be jobless way before 60. How are they going to pay for a life time of premiums, particularly in the late years when they have no income?

Who in his sound mind would expect the retired, the jobless, to pay for Medishield Life premiums when they don’t even have enough to eat? Do they think everyone is a LKY or a Nathan or a Pillay and can afford to pay forever? Anyone with designs on the few dollars left in the pockets of the seniors, for whatever farcical excuses or good, is wicked and mean. It is a very vicious intent to rob the old. Leave the old and feeble alone, they need help, all kinds of help, especially financial help. How can any sensible and good people, with a good heart, forget about those with bad hearts, designed a scheme to take money from the oldies until they die?

The sandwiched parents/children and the Silver Brigade must stand up to resist this demonic attempt to take money from the oldies. They have to do it now before it becomes a law in the hands of the heartless politicians and civil servants. They must go to their MPs to tell them that this is very wrong and unacceptable. Putting a financial burden on the very old and feeble is unthinkable in a civilised society.

What have their parents been teaching them about taking care of those that need to be taken care off? Taking care of them is not using the mouth and then dipping the hands into their pockets. A govt of wise and caring people must know, it is not rocket science, that old people have no money unless they are the likes of LKY and Nathan.  The govt must provide for their medical care. It is a debt to these seniors, it is being caring and grateful, being human, not money grabbing assholes.

All the MPs that are human, with a little human milk of kindness in them, must not allow this life tax on the oldies to get pass. It is time they do something that will be good for their own hearts. Stop robbing the oldies.