Originally posted by robertteh:
To avoid the scourge of welfarism, government sets up all
ministries and departments along the line of cost centres with each
expected to break even or making surpluses.
You are right, welfarism is a scourge. We must avoid it or end
up like New Orleans.
Hence, government charges fees to recover all costs plus rentals or
land costs and depreciations on assets and fixed equipment, paid
for by the taxpayers.
I agree with charging all the costs except land cost.
Hence the taxes paid by citizens are not put to use for benefits of
citizens but accumulated as surpluses and long-term reserves.
First of all, we do need reserves. Only fools don't keep
reserves.
Secondly, these surpluses go into public works or investments, they
are not kept sitting in a vault.
Under such tax-and-recover system of government, all ministries and
statutory boards will become corporations which used taxpayers'
monies to acquire lands becoming owners while charging for services
at full costs inclusive of rentals and land costs. For lands and
buildings already paid for by the public funds, such rentals or
land costs will amount to profiteering or double taxations if the
government charges for them again. It is to be noticed that every
few years when there is a revaluation of lands and buildings all
the ministries and statutory boards would be making many billions
again in the form of off-budget surpluses.
I don't understand what you mean by double taxation. I think you
have a wrong definition of it. Please explain yourself.
BTW, do you know that health care is subsidised in Singapore?
Do you know what will happen if you want to fully subsidise health
care? Have you ever noticed the health care system in UK and
Canada?
If we add the off-budget surpluses to the budget surpluses the
government is enriching itself at the expense of the people every
year because of creative accounting and all the double and triple
taxations.
Again you gotta define what you mean by double taxation. You
have not been clear about this one.
Thus, HDB in selling flats built on lands acquired by the public
should not charge for the land costs as to do so would amount to
profiteering or double taxation.
Why is that so?
If you don't charge land cost, land would either be misused or
Singapore would be bought over by foreigners.
Hospitals built on publicly acquired lands or buildings would be
profiteering if they charge for rentals and land costs in the
patient billings.
It is about time for government to stop double taxations to lessen
the burdens on citizens and improve their livelihood.
I don't think hospitals charge land cost.
But if they do, then I disagree with it.
You got to show us proof of your claims to be fair.
