The logic for high cost of living

last SG · 2006-07-06T10:57:34+00:00

Threadstarter missed out the exceptions....and then he neglected to mention that there are many of them...exceptions that is.

orwell76 SG

High cost of living is necessary in Singapore. With humans as the only resources in Singapore, therefore it's necessary that mantain high cost of living so that 90% of the population do not accumulate excess wealth.

Imagine if Singaporeans starts to accumulate wealth to pass down to the next generation, who wants to work? There will be insufficient labour to fill up the plants set up by foreign investors.

A high cost of living such as housing, healthcare and transport ensures that the workforce is docile. With loans, mortgages, and monthly expenses to repay, the population will be gainfully employed. No one can afford to slack.

Hence, it makes more economic sense to have subsidised high priced HDB flats so that both husband and wife needs to be working to repay the mortgage, at the same time more taxes can be collected if both are working.

Chelzea SG

Dats an oxymoron Rolling Eyes how can subsidised flats be highly priced?

orwell76 SG

In Singapore, We can.

ShutterBug SG

Looks like you’re one of the many they have successfully brain-washed.

oxford mushroom SG

Do you have a fridge at home? Do you have colour TV at home? Do you have a car at home? Do you have a computer at home? Have you ever taken holidays overseas? Do you own your own home? Do you expect to buy a 3-bedroom flat or better when you marry?

And you wonder why the cost of living is high in Singapore??

will4 SG

This is my opinion in living here, people tend to buy the latest gadget, get the latest car or prefer to live in private apartment. They make themselves stressed

as a result of trying to get these material thing.

dragg SG

must understand the difference between high cost of living and high standard of living.

will4 SG

The difference over these two thing? Neutral

Medicated Oil SG

Cost - things u need to pay every day eg food, transport, toilet.

Standard - when u choose LCD TV instead of CRT TV, when you eat Crystal Jade instead of Kopi Tiam.

Cost - set by greedy businessmen and high-paid but useless government.

Standard - controlled by your personal choice, whether u are willing to compromise.

In Singapore, cost of living have increased without sufficient justification except for getting more fat profits and bonus for the BOD and without any improvement in the basic service (Bus waiting time is getting longer)

robertteh SG

COST = FIXED (LAND, BUILDING, EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PAID BY TAXPAYERS VIA TAXES) + VARIABLE (CONSUMPTION, NON-CONSUMPTION)

There is no justification for government and corporatised GLCs to charge for FIXED cost as such item is already paid by taxpayers via taxes.

At one time the government has clarified that it will charge only CONSUMPTION and not fixed cost.

But HDB in pricing its flats is charging for both fixed and variable cost plus profits and government's hospitals and Utility GLCs are charging the same way.

No wonder all the taxes are accumulating to become surpluses from which government is able to increase ministers' salaries and bonuses.

dakkon_blackblade SG

I quite agree with that.

orwell76 SG

I posted the same thread in multiple forums:

The most interesting response I got is from someone in Sammyboy forum. This is what the person has to say. The person is very sharp as he or she can infer what I am trying to imply from opening post.

So we assume that the remaining 10% do not slack. Docile workers are not mobile enough for economy changes and in the long run, the country loses out from non-interest of potential investors. Docile workers do not make good entrepreneurs, and the lack of these will substantially decrease the growth in investment and job creation in the country.

In the end, the remaining 10% are placed in charge of the country in positions that really count... and they can afford to slack. Scary.

MohamedF SG

Here's a thought to ponder..... If SG keep cost of living high for citizens to work their butts of till they die, why they keep hiring foreign workers?

robertteh SG

Do people owe the corporatised transport companies annual profits, highest million-dollar salaries to their CEOs, and senior management who were elites seconded from the government, highest bonuses and guaranteed profits for the next fiscal year again after they have made huge profits over the past years.

Why can't there be more open competition instead of concentrating public transport companies only in GLCs which then raise their own salaries and increase their fares to pay for their own salaries and bonuses under monopoly.

How much was collected by the government from Vehicle Excise duties, Petrol taxes, Road Taxes, Transfer and Registration fees, COEs, ERPs.

Is there going to be a deficit in these taxes ? Can't one portion of such taxes be allocated to offset higher non-operational one-time costs incurred by the public transport operators and ask them in future not to charge the public for such items all over again.

Lands owned by public transport companies were originally paid by the public through taxes. So should they charge for such items in the fare structures?

Unless and until there is greater accountability and transparency, the public will not understand why transport companies are making or will be making losses due to recent oil hikes.

It it the same old problem with accountability and transparency and unless the government is willing to supply more information the public will be taken for another ride like the HDB's case of over-charging on its flat prices.

Lowclassman SG

Originally posted by orwell76:
High cost of living is necessary in Singapore. With humans as the only resources in Singapore, therefore it's necessary that mantain high cost of living so that 90% of the population do not accumulate excess wealth.

Imagine if Singaporeans starts to accumulate wealth to pass down to the next generation, who wants to work? There will be insufficient labour to fill up the plants set up by foreign investors.

A high cost of living such as housing, healthcare and transport ensures that the workforce is docile. With loans, mortgages, and monthly expenses to repay, the population will be gainfully employed. No one can afford to slack.

Hence, it makes more economic sense to have [b]subsidised high priced HDB flats so that both husband and wife needs to be working to repay the mortgage, at the same time more taxes can be collected if both are working.[/b]

What c o c k are you talking? Shocked

pearlie27 SG

some of us seemed to have miissed the sarcasm of orwell.

orwell76 SG

Thanks for taking notice. Smile

orwell76 SG

The poor are still very selective about their choice of profession.

robertteh SG

This sort of family (family income $700 pm) with 4 members and one bread winner is not uncommon. If we are earning $3,000 pm, we should thank ourselves for good fortune but do spare a thought for the unfortunate.

Life without compassion is not a meaningful life. For those who are elected to be our MPs, ministers who are paid millions in salaries to serve us they must be courageous to speak up and solve such problem and not pretend it does not exist or push it under the carpet. As for the press and media they are controlled and do not report such cases in the regular news.

30,000 families are now unable to keep up payment of their utility bills because utility bills are being charged based on creative accounting as done by NKF and public transport companies.

Such a problem shows failure of our leaders who have lost touched with the ground and are no longer serving the interest of the people at large. Their policies and actions only benefit the elites in securing their own careers at the expense of the general public.

king108 SG

Cool Sorry, I selectively quote..since it made sense to have both husband and wife to be working to repay mortage while still wanted to subsidise?

Just make sure each flat worth 1 million singapore dollar each will do. Laughing Everyone will be happily working for his life..