Straits Times agrees with Redbean

I read the ST Editorial today and it said that the paper agrees to a big bang approach on taxi fare hike to $7-$10 flag down rate and remove all the other charges. I too suggested this with as a tongue in cheek proposal. Looks like the taxi companies are going to adopt the little increments, bit by bit, so that it is not so painful approach. I think they should go for the big whack as people who can afford taxi fares can afford to absorb big hikes compare to the poorer mrt and bus commuters. Hey, as some have said, taxi is a luxury item. Fear not. Make them pay.

UNSW and EDB reached an agreement.

This is being reported in the msm today. After reading the article, could not find a clue what agreement was reached. Who pays what or concede to pay what, not a single thing was mentioned. Would the public get to know what was agreed? Or we are supposed to accept that an agreement was reached and need not have to know any details?

How will hikes help?

This is the heading of an article by Leong Wee Keat in Today paper. I think it will help a lot. First, some to the commuters will switch to mrt and buses. So there will be lesser demand for taxis. But this will not affect the taxi drivers' income as the hike will ensure that they get more per trip. As there will be less users, more will give up driving taxis. So road congestion will be lesser. And stock prices of MRT and Singapore Bus should go up accordingly. And more of these taxi drivers can return to the job market. Isn't that good?

Are our taxi drivers professional?

How much would it cost from the Chinese Embassy at Tanglin Road to Redhill MRT station? The distance is about 2 km. This auntie took a Comfort cab and had to pay $4.30 for the trip. The distance registered by the cab is 3.5km. Receipt details: Comfort Transportation GST No. M2-0113048-4, SH 8135A. Trip No. 121010323 Start 10/12/2007 10:32 End 10/12/2007 10:40 Meter Fare $4.30 Have a nice day. The auntie is still fuming mad for being taken for a ride.

More ups. Economy up, salary up.

Over the last few days childcare centre cost has gone up by $75 pm. And taxi fares up. Flag down fare up by 30c plus other charges also up. The comparison for a 9 km trip during peak hours is $14.35 against Hongkong's $14.30. Very compatible as if the commuters can switch to Hongkong cab if local cab is too expensive. A substitution idea. Then the mandatory comparison with Sydney at $28.70 and London at $51.60. So we are cheap, very cheap. How about comparing lemon to lemon? What is their average income compare to an average Singaporean?

1/3 full or 2/3 empty?

Zul Othman reported in Today on a poll conducted by Globescan and Synovate on press freedom versus social stability. The survey concluded that '48 per cent of Singaporeans feel controls on the media necessary.' Or is it 52% say it is not necessary? It also said, '...43 per cent felt a free press was very important.' So 57% must feel that press freedom is not important. And 'Some 42 per cent of Singaporeans gave a "good job" rating to govt-funded media in accuracy and honesty,...' What about the 58%? So, should we say one third full or two third empty?

Providence smiling at the Red Dot

While all the super talents were planning and strategising their moves to conquer the financial world, Providence was watching. What human beans intend, without the aid of Providence, will hardly get anywhere. But when Providence smiles, fortune comes a knocking at our door. We have spent a lot of money buying little banks and incurred the anger and minds of their petty leaders. They basically said, we want your money but not your presence. Or we don't like you. Leave your money here and get lost. Then the sub prime loan crisis came and many fell along the wayside. And Providence keeps smiling. The Red Dot is welcomed to work with the big international banks. The number one European bank, the UBS is offering the little Red Dot a majority share in the bank. And the little Red Dot did not even have to sweat for it. I don't think we even think of owning such a bank. But Providence smiles only on those who prepare themselves for it. We have positioned ourselves well and being in the right place and the right time counts. Also being seen as a decent and predictable entity, operating under the rule of the law and not the rule of the fist helps. Singapore should discard its little boy mentality and walk with the big boys in the international arena. Forget about wheeling and dealing with the kampong chieftains. Singapore can go places.