(Seeing through the FOG: http://urbanrant.blogspot.com)
Thank you for all the subsidies, Singaporeans are a lucky
bunch
I like the logic and reasoning of Mr. Mah. He is clearly a learned
and wise man.
I would also like to emulate the thought process of this leader and
see whether I can upgrade my thinking prowess a notch in the
process. I will never be able to match his brains, but I shall not
be accused for want of trying.
I am proposing the following for your consideration.
Tax market subsidy
My 1st theory is that the government is giving a tax market subsidy
to most Singaporeans. You see most Singaporeans do not pay income
tax anyway. But if you take the average tax rate of the taxpayers
in Singapore, you may arrive at the tax rate of say 8% (I am
guessing here).
For the majority of the Singaporean citizens and residents whose
yearly income is below S$20,000, there is no need to pay tax on the
income. These people are in fact enjoying a 8% tax market subsidy
from the government. This is a direct savings for this people and
is a way in which the government invests in social programs for the
population, especially if you are lower income.
Come to think of it, even you are paying the lowest tax rate of
3.5%, you are still getting a 4.5% subsidy. Thank you for the
subsidy.
Transportation market subsidy
My 2nd theory is with regards to road tax and petrol prices.
If you are driving a small car of below 1300 cc or riding a
motorbike with 250 cc or less in engine capacity, you have been
receiving (unknowingly) a lot of transportation market subsidy from
the government.
Imagine the people who drive a Mercedes S500 or a BMW 745. They are
paying a lot of road tax and petrol for their vehicle usage.
Compare that with the minuscule road tax amount you pay for the
Toyora Yaris or the Mazda 2 you drive, and you will soon realize
that our government has so benevolently given drivers like you a
subsidy for using our efficient road networks.
If you do not drive but ride a bike instead, you are even luckier
because the star shining down on you has given you a bigger
subsidy. Consider the $1 COE that you may have paid compared to the
S$15,000 that some other car drivers have paid, and you soon
realize that the government has also given you an outright S$14,999
subsidy. Thank you PAP government.
Thank you
The above are 2 merely obvious examples my small brain can think
of. The thing is that sometimes you take the kindness of our
government for granted and we all sometimes fail to see the
benevolence and wisdom of our leaders.
We should thank our lucky stars, because we, Singaporeans and
Singaporeans-lite (also known as PRs), should count our blessings
for these wonderful subsidies.
*** Source: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070123/5/singapore254067.html
***
Buyers enjoy subsidy when they buy new flats: Mah Bow Tan
Tuesday January 23, 10:17 AM
New flats are sold below prevailing market rates so buyers enjoy a
market subsidy when they buy the flats.
And these market rates are based on the resale prices of other
properties in the area, not the land and construction costs.
National Development Minister, Mah Bow Tan, said this in a
parliamentary written response to MP for Hong Kah GRC, Zaqy
Mohamed.
Mr Zaqy had asked how the HDB sets markets prices at subsidised
rates for new flats since both the land and the new flats are
priced by HDB.
According to Mr Mah, the market value of a property depends on the
resale prices of other similar properties in the area.
And these vary depending on the flat's location, floor area and
storey height. - CNA/ch
