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LoginDPM: 1st-world social safety net' means 1st-world taxes too
42 posts
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Mar 1, 2012 - Straits Times
By Tessa WongFinance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted in Parliament on Thursday that some MPs had called for higher healthcare expenditure, but said that this would require higher taxes.
As it is, the Government is already increasing its healthcare expenditure from the current 1.5 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product to 3.5 per cent by 2030, he said. If Singapore's spending on healthcare go up to 6 per cent of the GDP - which is what Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries spend - then it has to raise taxes too, he said.
Mr Tharman said he did not like the term 'first world social safety net' used by opposition MP Low Thia Khiang to describe the Budget earlier in the debate.
If Singapore had a first world social safety net, then this may mean first world taxes, said Mr Tharman.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Mar 1, 2012 - Straits Times
By Tessa WongFinance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted in Parliament on Thursday that some MPs had called for higher healthcare expenditure, but said that this would require higher taxes.
As it is, the Government is already increasing its healthcare expenditure from the current 1.5 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product to 3.5 per cent by 2030, he said. If Singapore's spending on healthcare go up to 6 per cent of the GDP - which is what Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries spend - then it has to raise taxes too, he said.
Mr Tharman said he did not like the term 'first world social safety net' used by opposition MP Low Thia Khiang to describe the Budget earlier in the debate.
If Singapore had a first world social safety net, then this may mean first world taxes, said Mr Tharman.
It's just a crying shame if even with the revenue from two casinos and stamp duties from continuous property speculation( thus revenue from stamp duties) we are spending so little for health care for our elderly people. Where does the rest go to? what';s the break down? How much of the total pie spent on remuneration of the civil servants? how much on defence? How much on miscellaneous? Do we need a 3rd casino to improve health care for the old?
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That is my stand also.
We have paid so much tax and reaped so much revenue from all the ERP and casinos.
The money should be re-invested into the welfare of the people and not into the few talents in the house.
If they can waste three days to demand for their high salary (That is is not an important national agenda also), why the delay and excuse in the past weeks into improving the people healthcare ?
Why the excuse on paying for the buses using the people money ? (Can he guaranteed NO fare increase for the next 10 years since it is the REASON for paying for the bus ?)
Why they can spend $36 million sponsoring FTs who mocked sg pple as dogs and not used the money to improve the situation in sg ?
Why they can allow a place to operate without a MP if they claimed to be a 1st world government during the election ?
Who is really the "poor" that they are helping ?
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Mar 1, 2012 - Straits Times
By Tessa WongFinance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted in Parliament on Thursday that some MPs had called for higher healthcare expenditure, but said that this would require higher taxes.
As it is, the Government is already increasing its healthcare expenditure from the current 1.5 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product to 3.5 per cent by 2030, he said. If Singapore's spending on healthcare go up to 6 per cent of the GDP - which is what Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries spend - then it has to raise taxes too, he said.
Mr Tharman said he did not like the term 'first world social safety net' used by opposition MP Low Thia Khiang to describe the Budget earlier in the debate.
If Singapore had a first world social safety net, then this may mean first world taxes, said Mr Tharman.
If you cannot handle or bring the health care cost down, one word - Incapable. Get out of paliament.
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
That is my stand also.
We have paid so much tax and reaped so much revenue from all the ERP and casinos.
The money should be re-invested into the welfare of the people and not into the few talents in the house.
If they can waste three days to demand for their high salary (That is is not an important national agenda also), why the delay and excuse in the past weeks into improving the people healthcare ?
Why the excuse on paying for the buses using the people money ? (Can he guaranteed NO fare increase for the next 10 years since it is the REASON for paying for the bus ?)
Why they can spend $36 million sponsoring FTs who mocked sg pple as dogs and not used the money to improve the situation in sg ?
Why they can allow a place to operate without a MP if they claimed to be a 1st world government during the election ?
Who is really the "poor" that they are helping ?
They only want to keep the money in reserve. Keep and keep for raining day. F them
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
That is my stand also.
We have paid so much tax and reaped so much revenue from all the ERP and casinos.
The money should be re-invested into the welfare of the people and not into the few talents in the house.
If they can waste three days to demand for their high salary (That is is not an important national agenda also), why the delay and excuse in the past weeks into improving the people healthcare ?
Why the excuse on paying for the buses using the people money ? (Can he guaranteed NO fare increase for the next 10 years since it is the REASON for paying for the bus ?)
Why they can spend $36 million sponsoring FTs who mocked sg pple as dogs and not used the money to improve the situation in sg ?
Why they can allow a place to operate without a MP if they claimed to be a 1st world government during the election ?
Who is really the "poor" that they are helping ?
When he took over as Finance Minister , I had great hopes that more will be done for the old and sick. Afterall I was told that his father was a doctor and a very compassionate one at that. When government leaders fall sick , they get the best treatment in first class wards. Maybe they should simply spend one night or two of their one or two weeks stay in hospital ( if they have the chance) to stay in a 3rd class ward(incognito if that is possible even) to observe the patients and their families, and what they go thro. And even then, do not forget that there are others out there who delay seeking treatment at the hospital because they are afraid they cannot afford the cost! Oh by the way, for those who do not know , 3rd class wards are still paying wards though subsidized - no free lunch ok!Edited by Bikeforceful 04 Mar `12, 3:09PM
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