ST: We can barely stay afloat, say low-income folk

last SG · 2007-12-02T13:06:08+00:00

Originally posted by ^tamago^: [b]How one family copes Mother of five scrimps and saves on food, household necessities and even electricity to stretch fami...

fymk SG

Yeah what to do? 66.6% let them into power.

Nothing you can do now except write something up with a solid plan and then hope someone up there actually listen .

I don't like the government but I am pretty sure that within their faction - there are some that may care.

LazerLordz SG

Cool

^tamago^ SG

I think to effect change by the conventional ways it will take decades when we are not the ones in control of the process, and when token acts and lip service are free-of-charge.

fymk SG

If you tell that to your MP , he/she may say ok then , you come up with a budget . And if your budget is negative - they will laugh at you .

First of all - look at the overall taxes collected - the total amount.
Then look at how they divided it - how much goes into industrial planning? How much goes into economic development? How much goes into defence? How much goes into health? How much goes into Government linked investments? How much goes into transportation?

The biggest hole is always healthcare and welfare . How will you deal with rising medical technological costs ? How would u replace equipment? How would you deal with maintaining those patented equipment? How much subsidies are given? How much to maintain skilled staff - you cannot underpay them or else they leave for greener pastures and you end up wasting more money to replace people while experienced people are leaving.

Don't look at the small picture. Build on what you already have and balance the profit as well as the losses for the benefit of everyone.

^tamago^ SG

Yes. Another point of contention. Profits were justified by saying that it is to motivate the operators to improve. But to motivate the operator, you need to motivate the staff. Ain't all salaries accounted for before the profit? Then how does having more money around motivate the staff when they could see that they are not getting what they have worked for while peasants keep paying more.

A portion of the profit went into purchase of new buses when their life spans are up, but sadly the extension of lifespans from 12 to 17 years only gives them extra revenue to combat inflation. Neutral

fymk SG

One can always hope for a change . I am hoping from another part of the world. Nothing I can do for anyone else except advocate migration if they feel they hate Singapore and want to leave. Join the quitter's club but there will be people left behind who cannot leave - so what can one do about them? Write and hope that someone back home up there in their ivory throne listen lor.

LazerLordz SG

What about a co-ownership scheme, where the operators are private, and the government invests in the infrastructure, buys the service and resells it to the public?

fymk SG

Risky - private operators want a sizeable profit margin after overhead costs - a large profit margin - to mitigate that , the government will tell the Singaporean workers to take a pay cut.

So back to square one again. Unless you have a plan to prevent the above from happening.

^tamago^ SG

Yes, but the Singaporean Government is also smart. They will not participate if it is not profitable to them and they will never ever subsidise your transport fares. So now you have 2 bodies waiting to suck money out of you.

Probably the only subsidy that is true to its purpose now of helping the poor is the education subsidy, offering low fees for children to study in mainstream government schools up to secondary level, even though it has also started to get a bit expensive for some parents.

kengkia SG

how to apply for job there? Smile

4getmenot SG

i would love to know just how much of the 2% increase in GST amounts to and what was it used for...if it ever was reported transparently... Rolling Eyes

^tamago^ SG

newspaper lor. but it's true they are so embroiled in some inflation issue Confused but at least the pay is better if u scratch and scrimp, and save all ur monies. Embarassed

FBI SG

when ppl receive no help anymore and everyone is going hungry and with nothing to lose.. Ppl will protest.

One cab driver told me this.

Demonight SG

People already have LESS than nothing to lose..The only way that people will protest is if their mindset is changed and they stop conforming to everything the govt says

MS SG

Perhaps we should be viewing it subjectively instead.

What do you think is corssing the minds of the rich and the low income during such struggles. The rich keeps getting richer with a very strong mentality and capability to play with the market and get themselves richer.
While the poor only sits behind and blames the government, everyone except themselves. Why don't the poor think of ways to get themselves richer legitimately? It is because this is beyond their capabilities.

Forget about the government. Forget the vision they laid. With the current situations do you all think they can even contribute to the basic sense of competency and integrity? Who raises their own pay despite sensible opposition? Who raises everything the moment they secured the power?

Rather, stand up yourselves and start thinking what is wrong with yourselves that you're enticed in this poverty trap whereby daily neccesities is even a problem?

The secular world is only survival of the fittest. Depend on the government who has proven itself with the current situation? I'd rather depend on God.

MS SG

Go read up about the French Revolution.
I really hope such a day will not need to come.

Lin Yu SG

well, it was meant to show how the $$$ was given to CCC etc.....to help the poor. unfortunately it became a double edged sword Laughing

kilua SG

The states times strategy is to allow for criticism 10% of the time. This is the time of the internet. so they know no one will read states times if they report pro PAP news everyday. They can also shut critics up when t hey publish some criticism.

Such everyday reporting of Pro PAP news is reserved for

1. Election time
2. Need to hardsell a policy like ministerial pay hike

Spartans SG

well said.

Bear Bear, give us 3 million annual salary and we will tell you the solution.

They proclaimed themselves as world class government deserving their extreme high salaries yet they need us to help them to come out with solution.

Let us be the ministers then if we are able to do so.

MS SG

Just forget about the PAP.

Think about how're you going to carve a niche for yourselves.

Stay in Singapore not because you got no choice. But your families and friends are still here. But if you don't, all you need is to go overseas and study and get a job there like my sis. Not returning anymore. Gotta start every from zero in Australia. Some racial discrimination. Heck, who says there's no discriminations here? But she felt that its a lot more worthwhile than to stay here. Many other reasons but not convenient to say in the internet in case of lackeys.

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