Opposition candidates disappointing
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[quote]Originally posted by snow leopard:
they do, they can drive their own cars while public transportation is second choice. on the other hand, we have no choice but to take public transportation while driving becomes a luxury. their public transportation isn't inefficient, their subways are just as good as ours, though not as new given they had them much earlier than us. what's your problem with huge? daily commuting is primarily within cities. you don't find many people driving from New York to Chicago to work every day do you?
Well said. Now you are comparing Singapore with New York and Chicago. How many locals commute by cars within New York City? Most of them take subway right? Why???
what? westerners pay through their noses for cars? first time i hear anybody say this. is it because ang mohs have bigger noses that they pay a lot more thru their noses? exactly, what is a necessity to them is a luxury to us. what is affordable to most of them is unreachable by many here.
I am referring to poor westerners. You definitely did not mix around with poor locals. I think car ownership is utmost important to you. In Singapore, is car a necessity to you? What is a necessity to you does not mean a necessity to others.
their fuel price increase, ours have remained stagnant? so their govt has been subsidising until they can't afford to anymore. ours? no subsidies since day one.
It means our government knows very early that fuel subsidies donÂ’t work. Over there, where does fuel subsidy come from? Taxpayer money! How about those poor taxpayers that canÂ’t afford to drive subsidize those who drive?
exactly, it happens everywhere so your claim that fuel price is increasing elsewhere is merely the same thing as fuel price is increasing here.
Agree.
and elsewhere public transportation is unafforable? and what do you have to give up in return for our world class system? individual wish for car ownership? and is ours the only world class system? japan, hong kong, taiwan have second class systems?
What is the point of owning cars and canÂ’t afford to drive? Look at Tokyo, most locals take subway anyway.
for a tourist perhaps but not for the locals who have yearly passes that work out just the same.
Agree. Even with subsidies it works out just the same.
before you ask this question you should ask yourself given the monopoly it has, the huge customer base it enjoys because nobody can afford cars, is the local public transportation as efficient as it ought or should be?
Tell me which country public transportation is not monopolized by private entity or government? You need economy of scale to be viable and efficient. I would rather the monopoly falls into an entity that serve public interest. Yes, our local public transportation is efficient, though we are not 100% perfect.
that's a bit far fetched. please quantify your statement.
Easy, over there where does fuel subsidy come from? Taxpayer money! How about those poor taxpayers that canÂ’t afford to drive subsidize those who drive?
any different elsewhere?
Yes, refer to above.
simple. monopoly means only bread crumbs left for any aspiring local entrepreneur ...
If you are real entrepreneur, nothing can stop you.
examples? there are volumes of anti-trust cases in US and Europe ... small players are well protected and where the industry structure allows, thrives on fair competition. our anti-trust laws have only just started, even then, i don't think it would touch the GLCs ...
You are naive. Anti-trust laws and fair trade act are often manipulated to protect oneÂ’s interest. Fair trade act is used to protect a particular business entity, not consumers. Anti-trust law is often political driven, not consumer driven.
friend who rented a stall from a food court owned by a GLC, the rental was so high his daily earnings couldn't even cover rental, let alone supplies and he had to wind up his business in the end. in his case, 100% of the money he earned went to the govt. what about taxi drivers? easily 50% of their daily takings go straight to govt owned cab companies.
This is a business failure. Your friendÂ’s did not do his sum before jump into the business. Did the GLC point a gun at your friend to rent the stall?
i have no problems, do you? i didn't say i wish to see the govt fail elsewhere, on the contrary i said i wish to see the govt succeed elsewhere since you said anyone (including the govt) can succeed anywhere else.
somehow their success has been mostly local successes, built upon monopolistic rules and regulations that benefit themselves at the detriment of individual entreprises.
Local success??? Capital land? SingTel?
paying a price to learn is well and good, but please do so with your own money and not the people's money.
Where do you expect the money comes from??? Ministerial wealth?
yes the game is not over yet, and if you continue to play the way you have always been playing, someday there will be serious unrest ...
FYI, I am a Singaporean without any party connection. If more irresponsible opposition candidates vote into cabinet than there will be serious unrest. -
Ah.. but the report says that the opposition parties are contesting approx 57 seats out of all the seats available. There is a imminent possibility that they can replace the ruling party; however slim that chance maybe.
PAP currently holds 82 out of 84 seats, opposition have only 2 seats in parliament.
What are the dangers and benefits of having more opposition members?
What are the dangers and benefits of having no alternative political voices at all?
[/b]
I once had a coffee shop talk and most people want more opposition; but sadly, not in their estate. -
Originally posted by snow leopard:
we have to keep car prices up to control the population in Singapore. we have limit land space and road space.
their public transportation costs are not far off from ours, yet their cars are so much more affordable than ours. if they can keep costs on par with us without jacking up car prices, are we not being overcharged here?
no economy of scale?? Hong Kong has 7million, Tokyo has 12million and Taiwan has 22million. Let's take the closest and most similar; which is Hong Kong. They have 7 million. Is their public and private transport any different from ours? Their car price, car park prices, public MTR price, taxi prices... these are all no lower than what it cost in Singapore.
when we talk about public transportation, we're talking about the buses and trains we take everyday to work, school, play ... so even for a more populous country like japan, people don't travel from tokyo to osaka everyday for work. tokyo has its own public transportation system. osaka has its own. each city has its own system much like a city like ours. so there's no economies of scale on a national level to speak of when it comes to public transportation, only at the city level ...
yes wrong.. you are right if you are earning USD and spending SGD. But these people are earning USD and spending USD.
wrong? seems like you just proved me right. i said they earn much higher salaries that more than compensate for their higher taxes. their US65K-US90K is much higher than our average SGD35K-50K. their higher incomes therefore more than compensate for their higher taxes so that their take home of US40K-65K is still higher than our SGD35K-50K while our SGD35K-50K has to be further discounted for CPF. -
Firstly, it's not me who post that commentOriginally posted by LinYu:[quote]Originally posted by ObviousMan:
[b]My random thoughts on this topic:
I have never voted, but I must question the maturity of Singaporean voters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an example --- a comment found on James GomezÂ’s blog (Jan 06 Archives):
http://jamesgomeznews.blogspot.com
Anonymous said...
If I vote for the opposition and they win, my upgrading will be stopped.
So it is only logical for me to vote for the PAP. Yes, I have a choice, my choice is the PAP because I want my estate to be upgraded....and so do the majority of Singaporeans.
The PAP can put up any clown and I'll vote for him. What matters most is my upgrading.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How naive. Did potong Pasir had his rubbish stack 3 storey high like they described?
Secondly, I agree that it is immature and selfish to be thinking of upgrade as the only consideration of who to vote for. The person is probably politically blind and not aware of the current affairs happening around him/her.
That being said... people living in Potong Pasir has expressways bypass them, deprive goodies from government and even Chiam has to live with begging for budget from his opponent who lost to him in the last GE.
In addition, they have to pay 4 ERP charges to get into town... first one in bendemeer, second one for PIE, third for CTE and the last one is CBD. Walk into PP and you seem to take 5-10 years back into Singapore's history. Can't blame people for wanting upgrades.
The crux of the issue is... why would upgrading be part of political bargain? Upgrading should be the HDB/government's responsibility and not the ruling party's gift to the people. I like one comment from last GE when someone ask if it means that people living in opposition wards does not need to pay tax. Afterall, upgrading fees are subsidize by tax payers money. So it should be a benefit for all Singaporean regardless of where you stay. -
CSJ sent non--SDP member to represent him in Oppostion meeting
while SDP members were attending!!
Today Strait Times 16.02.2006.p H6.
1.CSJ send an non --SDP member YAP KENG HOE to represent him
to attend opposition parties meeting at which there are 3 SDP
members.Chairman may take action against CSJ.
Unbelievable,how can CSJ did that?
No common sense,no basic human relationship skill,
no rules of SDP lah.
2.SDP seems have some internal affairs.The Chairman said CSJ
focus a lot in foreign issues. -
CSJ critized PAP so much.Why PAP allow 5 of his books,incl the latest in 2005--
Simple... it's like you can't root out prostitution. You control it. Banning CSJ books would fanned anti-government sentiment while allowing people to read his nonsense would help the ruling party gain credibility.
The power of courage : effecting political change,avaliable in libraries?
It's just like Casino_king. If I'm PAP, I would love for him to come out to make his CSJ-liked speech; "The opposition and the other side must get the message that people will not be cowed, fooled or cheated from exercising their right to choose and if that means voting in idiots because good men are stopped from standing, I will."
It would definitely help swing those voters over to PAP.
You cannot blame the government and papers for making full use of this opportunity to slam the opposition and paint a bad image for all opposition. Anyone would. Blame that stupid CSJ who gave them the chance to do so.
That is why I say
1) kick CSJ out of any political party
2) be careful and selective over who you choose to put up for election -
Originally posted by exkiwi:
[quote]Originally posted by snow leopard:
Well said. Now you are comparing Singapore with New York and Chicago. How many locals commute by cars within New York City? Most of them take subway right? Why???
a resident in new york has the luxury of driving his own car or take the relatively efficient subway. the choice is theirs. here, most of us don't have the luxury of driving and are compelled to rely on public transportation. why?
I am referring to poor westerners. You definitely did not mix around with poor locals. I think car ownership is utmost important to you. In Singapore, is car a necessity to you? What is a necessity to you does not mean a necessity to others.
poor westerners pay thru their noses for cars. relatively well off singaporeans also pay thru their noses for cars. our so called well off are only as well off as their poor ...
car ownership may not be important to me. but the fact that the very people who put the system in place to exclude us from driving are themselves being chauffered around in cars paid by tax payers is plain injustice. what is or is not a necessity is drilled into us when we were young. we are brought up to think that cars are expensive luxuries and that we should be contented with whatever the govt provides. we do not even suspect that they are not providing us with the best we are entitled to.
It means our government knows very early that fuel subsidies donÂ’t work. Over there, where does fuel subsidy come from? Taxpayer money!
so the US govt doesn't know? or despite knowing it has to take into consideration the wishes of the people whereas here, the wishes of the people have largely been taken for granted? no govt subsidises fuel, they only differ in the amount of fuel taxes they charge their people. while US gasoline tax is low our fuel tax has been exhorbitantly high.
How about those poor taxpayers that canÂ’t afford to drive subsidize those who drive?
tell me about it. how does that come about?
What is the point of owning cars and canÂ’t afford to drive? Look at Tokyo, most locals take subway anyway.
but whenever they need to, they can and they do, like in times of emergencies, weekend trips ... remember reading in the news about a guy who lost his sibling because his pregnant mom couldn't hail a cab in time. what choice do we have?
Tell me which country public transportation is not monopolized by private entity or government? You need economy of scale to be viable and efficient. I would rather the monopoly falls into an entity that serve public interest. Yes, our local public transportation is efficient, though we are not 100% perfect.
but even as their cities provide public transportation that is comparable to ours, they don't go around boasting to their citizens that they have 'world class systems'. neither do they use them as an excuse to take away the citizens rights to own cars.
Easy, over there where does fuel subsidy come from? Taxpayer money!
you mean govt actually pays us to use gasoline? every dollar you spend on fuel, something like 50 cents go straight into the govt's pocket. what subsidies are you talking about?
How about those poor taxpayers that canÂ’t afford to drive subsidize those who drive?
tell me about it, how does that come about?
Yes, refer to above.
don't see anything above that supports your argument.
If you are real entrepreneur, nothing can stop you.
if you're the govt better still, even God won't stop you.
You are naive. Anti-trust laws and fair trade act are often manipulated to protect oneÂ’s interest. Fair trade act is used to protect a particular business entity, not consumers. Anti-trust law is often political driven, not consumer driven.
naive? who? you? read up your anti-trust cases please, don't you think you can bullshit your way thru. give me some examples of anti-trust cases in the west that are not driven by consumer interests?
This is a business failure. Your friendÂ’s did not do his sum before jump into the business. Did the GLC point a gun at your friend to rent the stall?
business failed because of blood sucking rentals by land owners (govt). the govt did not point a gun at me to stay in singapore, so i should quit singapore? just about every square inch of land is owned by the govt. if my friend, doesn't rent a stall from the govt, who does he rent from?
Local success??? Capital land? SingTel?
ntuc fairprice, comfort cab
Where do you expect the money comes from??? Ministerial wealth?
yes a little contribution from multi million dollar salaries will certainly help. basically, if the govt demonstrates shrewdness in its business endeavours, there would be no qualms about using the nation's funds to bring wealth. but if time and time again, the govt consistently makes stupendously stupid mistakes then we cannot allow them to continue wasting our nation's precious reserves. yes, ministerial performance thus far doesn't justify ministerial wealth ...
FYI, I am a Singaporean without any party connection. If more irresponsible opposition candidates vote into cabinet than there will be serious unrest.
your party allegiance is crystal clear. irresponsible? so far, opposition MPs like Low Thia Khiang and Chiam See Tong have been very responsible using their own money to ensure the well being of their estates. on the other hand, continued oppression by the ruling party may eventually lead to unrest. -
Originally posted by anonymouscoward:
we have to keep car prices up to control the population in Singapore. we have limit land space and road space.
yes but that involves sacrifices on the part of us citizens for not having to drive isn't it? so what do we get in return for our sacrifices? all the money from the exhorbitant COE and car import tariffs have already gone into the govt's pockets. what do we get in return?
no economy of scale?? Hong Kong has 7million, Tokyo has 12million and Taiwan has 22million. Let's take the closest and most similar; which is Hong Kong. They have 7 million. Is their public and private transport any different from ours? Their car price, car park prices, public MTR price, taxi prices... these are all no lower than what it cost in Singapore.
which is the relevant entity for comparison? taiwan or taipei? why not compare with taipei's 2.6 million? furthermore, there is a limit to how much transportation operations can be scaled, which is essentially the carrying capacity of roads. beyond a mininimum efficient size when roads and trains are fully utlilised, you cannot further increase scale without straining the system and worsening service levels. now we're already rubbing shoulders in MRTs, if you increase the population to 7 million, we would have our face hard pressed against train doors. i wonder if you really understand the implications of what you're saying.
are you saying cars are cheaper here in singapore than in hong kong?
yes wrong.. you are right if you are earning USD and spending SGD. But these people are earning USD and spending USD.
nope, not wrong. you don't seem to understand simple economics yet you have the cheek to lamblast the opposition for not knowing their economics. don't you know what purchasing power parity is?
supposing, i can either earn US$10 in US or earn SGD $10 in SG. let's say the conversion rate is 1 US$ = 2 SGD. if a big mac costs 1US$ in the USA, because of purchasing power parity, the same big mac has to cost SGD $2 here in SG. so while in the US, i'm only spending 1 US$ out of my 10 US$ for my big mac, here i am spending SGD $2 out of my SGD $10 paycheck. i'm twice as poor here as compared to my counterpart in US. -
Thursday 2006 March 16,
Singapore opposition leader(CSJ) found guilty of contempt
Why cant he play the games by the rules and keep inside the ring?
How can he serve his people in jail?Staying in jail hardly achieve
democracy.I am sorry for his family and parents.
2.US State Dept Country must thanks CSJ for his activities
in the past years.If not,they had to think hard what to write for Sg.
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999--2005
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
incl the latest March 8, 2006
3.
Chee Soon Juan (left) is approached and filmed by police officers, who asked him to leave the area, while he was trying to sell his book with an assistant (second left) in front of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) building while four activists staged a protest nearby, 11 August 2005
PAFP PHOTO/ROSLAN RAHMAN -
Originally posted by snow leopard:
a resident in new york has the luxury of driving his own car or take the relatively efficient subway. the choice is theirs. here, most of us don't have the luxury of driving and are compelled to rely on public transportation. why?
poor westerners pay thru their noses for cars. relatively well off singaporeans also pay thru their noses for cars. our so called well off are only as well off as their poor ...
car ownership may not be important to me. but the fact that the very people who put the system in place to exclude us from driving are themselves being chauffered around in cars paid by tax payers is plain injustice. what is or is not a necessity is drilled into us when we were young. we are brought up to think that cars are expensive luxuries and that we should be contented with whatever the govt provides. we do not even suspect that they are not providing us with the best we are entitled to.
Poor you, so obsess with car. You make the right choice to migrate States, their car is one of the cheapest in the World.
so the US govt doesn't know? or despite knowing it has to take into consideration the wishes of the people whereas here, the wishes of the people have largely been taken for granted? no govt subsidises fuel, they only differ in the amount of fuel taxes they charge their people. while US gasoline tax is low our fuel tax has been exhorbitantly high.
SoÂ…what happen when US govt run out of fuel and money to subsidize the people? Rage war? Rob?
but whenever they need to, they can and they do, like in times of emergencies, weekend trips ... remember reading in the news about a guy who lost his sibling because his pregnant mom couldn't hail a cab in time. what choice do we have?
I feel sorry for the guy. The choice is weekend cars and car sharing schemes. Cheap and good, I am considering it.
but even as their cities provide public transportation that is comparable to ours, they don't go around boasting to their citizens that they have 'world class systems'. neither do they use them as an excuse to take away the citizens rights to own cars.
Rubbish! Nobody can take my rights to own car!
you mean govt actually pays us to use gasoline? every dollar you spend on fuel, something like 50 cents go straight into the govt's pocket. what subsidies are you talking about?
??? I am confuse!
don't see anything above that supports your argument.
??? confuse!
if you're the govt better still, even God won't stop you.
God bless you.
naive? who? you? read up your anti-trust cases please, don't you think you can bull**%^ your way thru. give me some examples of anti-trust cases in the west that are not driven by consumer interests?
I thought you are better than that. Naive!
business failed because of blood sucking rentals by land owners (govt). the govt did not point a gun at me to stay in singapore, so i should quit singapore? just about every square inch of land is owned by the govt. if my friend, doesn't rent a stall from the govt, who does he rent from?
Tell me which land in other countries donÂ’t own by government or crown? Do you pay property tax in States? Unless you donÂ’t own property. Please ask your friend to read Classified ads. There are a few coffee shop stalls in my neighborhood for rent, only $600 a month including utilities. Sorry, I cannot get him one in Orchard Road for similar rent. And please donÂ’t accuse GLC ripping him off for not getting him $600 monthly rent stall in Orchard road.
yes a little contribution from multi million dollar salaries will certainly help. basically, if the govt demonstrates shrewdness in its business endeavours, there would be no qualms about using the nation's funds to bring wealth. but if time and time again, the govt consistently makes stupendously stupid mistakes then we cannot allow them to continue wasting our nation's precious reserves. yes, ministerial performance thus far doesn't justify ministerial wealth ...
Do you know how much money US Corporations loss in China ventures? How do you know the mistakes are stupendously stupid?
your party allegiance is crystal clear. irresponsible? so far, opposition MPs like Low Thia Khiang and Chiam See Tong have been very responsible using their own money to ensure the well being of their estates. on the other hand, continued oppression by the ruling party may eventually lead to unrest.
I have no objection on opposition. What we need is responsible opposition. I have no comments on Mr. Low and Mr. Chiam because they are not my MP. Oppression is a very strong word to use. None of the people I met feel oppress by the government. -
Originally posted by exkiwi:
Poor you, so obsess with car. You make the right choice to migrate States, their car is one of the cheapest in the World.
ran out of things to say and resorting to name calling again? much like salman?
SoÂ…what happen when US govt run out of fuel and money to subsidize the people? Rage war? Rob?
i quote what you wrote earlier "Their government realise they can't afford to subsidise anymore." so in your own words, they are already not "subsidising" anymore (although there is no such thing as subsidies, only more or less taxes) and thus far the only war i see they rage is against terrorism ...
I feel sorry for the guy. The choice is weekend cars and car sharing schemes. Cheap and good, I am considering it.
but if our weekend cars cost more than their "full week" cars, aren't we still being over charged here?
Rubbish! Nobody can take my rights to own car!
but they make you "pay thru your nose", remember?
??? I am confuse!
you have problem with comprehension?
??? confuse!
no wonder your arguments run round in circles leading to nowhere.
God bless you.
he doesn't need your reminder
I thought you are better than that. Naive!
as if i care what a naive person thinks of me. can't argue so you resort to name calling again? typically salman ...
Tell me which land in other countries donÂ’t own by government or crown?
tell me if they squeeze tenants as much as here.
Do you pay property tax in States? Unless you donÂ’t own property.
you mean you don't pay property tax in singapore? where u stay? underneath the flyover is it?
Please ask your friend to read Classified ads. There are a few coffee shop stalls in my neighborhood for rent, only $600 a month including utilities. Sorry, I cannot get him one in Orchard Road for similar rent. And please donÂ’t accuse GLC ripping him off for not getting him $600 monthly rent stall in Orchard road.
how many people patronise your neighbourhood stall? you sure it's a good location? how come still on classified ads, should've been grabbed long ago if it's a good deal right? even a food court stall in a neighbourhood shopping complex is also exhorbitant ...
Do you know how much money US Corporations loss in China ventures? How do you know the mistakes are stupendously stupid?
similarly do you know how much money US corporations made in china ventures? the track record shows - consistently huge dramatic losses by stupid decision makers.
I have no objection on opposition. What we need is responsible opposition. I have no comments on Mr. Low and Mr. Chiam because they are not my MP. Oppression is a very strong word to use. None of the people I met feel oppress by the government.
are you saying you're a frog in a well that cannot see beyond the boundaries of your own constituency? or are you simply brushing off the good examples of responsibility by Mr Low and Mr Chiam? -
Originally posted by snow leopard:
OMG, you are so narrow minded and self centered. You're the type of person that complains when you don't get to drive; complains it's too expensive to drive when you get to drive; and complains about the traffic jam when it's cheap to drive and own a car.
yes but that involves sacrifices on the part of us citizens for not having to drive isn't it? so what do we get in return for our sacrifices? all the money from the exhorbitant COE and car import tariffs have already gone into the govt's pockets. what do we get in return?
seriously, what solution do you have? widen the road? reclaim more land? what would you have done if you're the government.
a good opposition/government not only needs to be able to spot a problem but understands the problem and provide concrete suggestion/alternatives.
this is corny but JFK said," ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."
I wonder if you really understand the concept on economies of scale. I can't really be bother to explain these fundamentals. Suppose we have 7 million and we can now reduce the cost for public transport. You'll be complaining about having to squeeze into trains.
furthermore, there is a limit to how much transportation operations can be scaled, which is essentially the carrying capacity of roads. beyond a mininimum efficient size when roads and trains are fully utlilised, you cannot further increase scale without straining the system and worsening service levels. now we're already rubbing shoulders in MRTs, if you increase the population to 7 million, we would have our face hard pressed against train doors. i wonder if you really understand the implications of what you're saying.
are you saying cars are cheaper here in singapore than in hong kong?
And yes. The total cost of ownership for cars are cheaper here in Singapore than in Hong Kong.
So you think a BigMac meal cost US$4 because it cost about S$6 here? Then I conclude that not only have you not been to US, you are just plain stupid to think everything has constant cost regardless of where you are.
nope, not wrong. you don't seem to understand simple economics yet you have the cheek to lamblast the opposition for not knowing their economics. don't you know what purchasing power parity is?
supposing, i can either earn US$10 in US or earn SGD $10 in SG. let's say the conversion rate is 1 US$ = 2 SGD. if a big mac costs 1US$ in the USA, because of purchasing power parity, the same big mac has to cost SGD $2 here in SG. so while in the US, i'm only spending 1 US$ out of my 10 US$ for my big mac, here i am spending SGD $2 out of my SGD $10 paycheck. i'm twice as poor here as compared to my counterpart in US.
How much do you think a BigMac meal cost in Malaysia (I sure you must have been to Malaysia)? That's right RM$6! But wait, should it cost RM$12 since it cost $6 here???
Like I've said. If you're earning SGD and spending it all in US. Then yes. You are poorer. Likewise, if you take all your SGD and spend only in Malaysia, then you are wealthier. But if you take your SGD and spend it in SG, it's the same as a Malaysian taking his RM and spending it in Malaysia.
Please don't be a fool and make your statement without doing your homework. That's how most of our opposition get clipped.
I'm talking about relativity. -
Originally posted by anonymouscoward:
OMG, you are so narrow minded. You're the type of person that complains when you don't get to drive; complains it's too expensive to drive when you get to drive; and complains about the traffic jam when it's cheap to drive and own a car.
you are the one who is narrow minded because you cannot see beyond the limitations that are imposed on us. do not distort my arguments for i am here arguing for a fairer society and not for my individual driving rights.
seriously, what solution do you have? widen the road? reclaim more land?
seriously, you really want to hear solutions from me? not that i profess to have the best solutions but they certainly wouldn't fill govt coffers to the brim.
I wonder if you really understand the concept on economies of scale. I can't really be bother to explain these fundamentals. Suppose we have 7 million and we can now reduce the cost for public transport
i have the same doubts about you. you can't be bothered or you don't know how to? tell me your so-called "economies of scale" doesn't come at the expense of service levels.
You'll be complaining about having to squeeze into trains.
you'd be clapping your hands and saying "i love the squeezy feeling"?
And yes. The total cost of ownership for cars are cheaper here in Singapore than in Hong Kong.
figures please. show me your homework.
So you think a BigMac meal cost US$4 because it cost about S$6 here? Then I conclude that not only have you not been to US, you are just plain stupid to think everything has constant cost regardless of where you are.
$4.29 -- price of a Big Mac Extra Value Meal at a Seattle McDonald's (Big Mac, medium fries, medium soft drink)
http://www.grist.org/news/counter/2006/03/03/costs/
updated on: 03 Mar 2006
McDonald's Big Mac Meal
Price: Price: $3.59
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2002-09-30-foodchart.htm
updated on: 05/20/2005
from these two sources, the price of the big mac meal is indeed around US$4 although prices fluctuate from time to time.
i was in the US several years back. couldn't remember exactly how much i paid for my meal but it was probably around US$5.
i guess you better eat your words and call yourself stupid instead.
in any case, of the basket of goods that we consume everyday, some would be cheaper elsewhere, others would be more expensive. purchasing power parity means that if currencies are correctly priced (though they fluctuate from time to time), a big mac, apple ... would cost the same here or in the US and when goods cost the same after taking into account exchange rate differences but salaries here are actually lower than those in the US, then we actually earn less in real terms than our US counterparts.
How much do you think a BigMac meal cost in Malaysia (I sure you must have been to Malaysia)? That's right RM$6! But wait, should it cost RM$12 since it cost $6 here???
is the big mac the only thing you've eaten in malaysia? yes, goods in malaysia when denominated in SGD generally cost half as much as here but there are also other goods that have the same price across the causeway even after taking into consideration the exchange rate. i remember eating in one of the restaurants in JB that also has branches here in singapore thinking i would only be paying half price. the bill turned out to be just the same.
Please don't be a fool and make your statement without doing your homework. That's how most of our opposition get clipped.
i'm not the fool here, you are. you call that RM6 homework? -
Originally posted by snow leopard:
ran out of things to say and resorting to name calling again? much like salman?
Poor you. The only issue you concern is car.
i quote what you wrote earlier "Their government realise they can't afford to subsidise anymore." so in your own words, they are already not "subsidising" anymore (although there is no such thing as subsidies, only more or less taxes) and thus far the only war i see they rage is against terrorism ...
You are confused again
but if our weekend cars cost more than their "full week" cars, aren't we still being over charged here?
My goodness! Car again! What is you solution???
but they make you "pay thru your nose", remember?
Wrong! I have alternatives.
you have problem with comprehension?
Name calling!
no wonder your arguments run round in circles leading to nowhere.
Still confuse???
he doesn't need your reminder
Come on!
as if i care what a naive person thinks of me. can't argue so you resort to name calling again? typically salman ...
Name calling again!
tell me if they squeeze tenants as much as here.
Try renting shop in New York City, Sydney and Tokyo. I cannot help but to “NAME YOU” naive! Sorry.
you mean you don't pay property tax in singapore? where u stay? underneath the flyover is it?
I am confuse again! Name calling!
how many people patronise your neighbourhood stall? you sure it's a good location? how come still on classified ads, should've been grabbed long ago if it's a good deal right? even a food court stall in a neighbourhood shopping complex is also exhorbitant ...
Basic economics, demand and supply! In States, do you pay the same price for Toyota Camry and Mercedes E240??? Grow up! (Ops! Being accused name calling again. Bai Sae!)
similarly do you know how much money US corporations made in china ventures? the track record shows - consistently huge dramatic losses by stupid decision makers.
How much??? Show me figures please! What track record?
are you saying you're a frog in a well that cannot see beyond the boundaries of your own constituency? or are you simply brushing off the good examples of responsibility by Mr Low and Mr Chiam?
I protest! Name calling again! On the contrary, I rather experience myself than hear say hear say. (Sorry, I have the urge to use Singlish) -
you are the one who is narrow minded because you cannot see beyond the limitations that are imposed on us. do not distort my arguments for i am here arguing for a fairer society and not for my individual driving rights.
You are somewhat right that I'm don't see beyond our limitations because these limitations are factual. Rather than building castles in the air and demanding for a "fairer society", have you given thoughts to the other factors such as cost of investments, land limitations etc?
i have the same doubts about you. you can't be bothered or you don't know how to? tell me your so-called "economies of scale" doesn't come at the expense of service levels.
No it doesn't. In fact, it'll probably improve services and offerings rather than lower them. With the right critical mass, business can achieve their return on investments faster and direct additional funds into improving infrastructure, services and offerings.
you'd be clapping your hands and saying "i love the squeezy feeling"?
Fortunately, I drive. I take a bus or MRT when it's more convenient.
figures please. show me your homework.
The cost of parking space for my car in HongKong already cost more than the car itself.
from these two sources, the price of the big mac meal is indeed around US$4 although prices fluctuate from time to time.
i was in the US several years back. couldn't remember exactly how much i paid for my meal but it was probably around US$5.
i guess you better eat your words and call yourself stupid instead.
How much do you think a BigMac meal cost in NewYork? San Francisco? London? I've just return from San Jose and a BigMac meal there cost me US$5.25 before tax. In London, it cost me almost 6 pounds. Shall I mention prices in Hamburg? What happen to Malaysia's BigMac price then?
Even McDonald's cost differently between those located in heartland Singapore and in ShentonWay but they maintain around the $5-6 mark.
Just put up 2 links and you justify that price is constant?
Anyway, these are irrelevant. As I've said, there's only significant difference if you live in Malaysia and is paid in US dollars. -
Just put it simply, I will not be tricked by people who use dishonorably means to stop good people from standing and then tell me not to vote for those not good enough. I will surely vote for whoever dares to stand inspite of the all the dishorable acts done against his kind. So that the dishonorable people know that I am not so easily tricked.
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ONLY when there is a level and playing field will I consider who is better or worse. Otherwise vote for dishonorable people and fall into their trap? No way.
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Originally posted by anonymouscoward:
You are somewhat right that I'm don't see beyond our limitations because these limitations are factual. Rather than building castles in the air and demanding for a "fairer society", have you given thoughts to the other factors such as cost of investments, land limitations etc?
factual perhaps but the fact remains that these limitations imposed on us are so different from those imposed in other countries. so rather than building castles in the air, we are merely asking for a reality that people living elsewhere experience which we don't. you mean it's wrong for me to "demand" for a fairer society? based on your suggestions like "widen the road? reclaim more land?", i suppose your capacity for imagination is quite limited really and because of your own limitations you can't see beyond land limitations.
No it doesn't. In fact, it'll probably improve services and offerings rather than lower them.
let me ask you, during peak periods when the MRT is jam packed and people have to sometimes wait two trains before they can get on and get squashed inside and the frequency is already super rapid, how else can you accomodate more passengers within these busy periods? by improving the seats? offer more services like Internet on the train when we can't even breathe properly inside?
With the right critical mass, business can achieve their return on investments faster and direct additional funds into improving infrastructure, services and offerings.
your thinking is so simplistically governmental. there is a bottle neck in how much you can transport in a given space at a given time. you think you can squeeze in as many people as you like into the trains and buses? or would you rather have them hang on outside, Jackie Chan style? please think about practicality before spewing rhetoric like critical mass.
Fortunately, I drive. I take a bus or MRT when it's more convenient.
you have the cheek to ask people to squeeze themselves to death when you yourself don't take public transportation as often as the man on the street?
The cost of parking space for my car in HongKong already cost more than the car itself.
anything to substantiate what you're saying?
How much do you think a BigMac meal cost in NewYork? San Francisco? London? I've just return from San Jose and a BigMac meal there cost me US$5.25 before tax. In London, it cost me almost 6 pounds. Shall I mention prices in Hamburg? What happen to Malaysia's BigMac price then?
Even McDonald's cost differently between those located in heartland Singapore and in ShentonWay but they maintain around the $5-6 mark.
Just put up 2 links and you justify that price is constant?
you challenged me by saying it is not US$4. i showed you it is US$4, maybe not at all places but definitely at some of the places, the price of big mac meals is US$4.
you don't seem to get what i'm saying, i'm not arguing about price constancy. i'm not even concerned about big mac prices. i'm just using the big mac to illustrate that on average with purchasing power parity, things are going to cost the same in both places and when you have that and yet salaries are lower here, it simply means our purchasing power is not as strong as the other place and so we can only afford less.
Anyway, these are irrelevant. As I've said, there's only significant difference if you live in Malaysia and is paid in US dollars.
yes i agwee, you're not exactly relevant here but its ok.
let's us assume for a moment that you are right. that things have the same price tag (irregardless of their currencies) anywhere in the world. so a mac in US costs US$6. a mac in UK costs 6 pounds. a mac in SG costs SGD $6 and a mac in Malaysia costs RM6. going back to where we left off.
in US,
salaries = US40K-65K (after deducting 40% tax)
big mac = US6
let's take away the K to simplify calculations.
price of big mac as a percentage of salary = 6 / 40 to 6 / 65 = 15% to 9%
in SG,
salaries: SGD35K-50K (haven't deduct CPF and taxes yet)
big mac: SGD$6
similarly taking away the K,
price of big mac as percentage of salary = 6 / 35 to 6 / 50 = 17% to 12%
so i'm still right after all! their higher salaries more than compensates for their higher taxes so that even while they have to buy a US$6 big mac whereas we can buy an SGD$6 big mac, given their salaries, their big macs are actually more affordable than our big macs.
so you're wrong in saying that because they are spending US$, their situation is worse off.
on top of that, they don't have to "pay thru their noses" to own cars remember? -
One thing for sure.
The MRT is near breaking point during peak hours.
I cannot imagine what will happen when the population increases to 6 - 8 million.
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factual perhaps but the fact remains that these limitations imposed on us are so different from those imposed in other countries. so rather than building castles in the air, we are merely asking for a reality that people living elsewhere experience which we don't. you mean it's wrong for me to "demand" for a fairer society? based on your suggestions like "widen the road? reclaim more land?", i suppose your capacity for imagination is quite limited really and because of your own limitations you can't see beyond land limitations.
So you think it is right for you to demand the lifestyle of an American in a Singaporean state? I admire your imagination, it like the story of the 40 year old good-for-nothing who's still waiting to hit TOTO.
For me, I'm gald I learned that onbody owes me a living a long time ago and I work hard using whatever opportunity opened to me; Live within whatever limitations I cannot change. So far, it has proven to be a success formula.
let me ask you, during peak periods when the MRT is jam packed and people have to sometimes wait two trains before they can get on and get squashed inside and the frequency is already super rapid, how else can you accomodate more passengers within these busy periods? by improving the seats? offer more services like Internet on the train when we can't even breathe properly inside?
Improvement on infrastructure mean increasing the train frequency, increasing the number of trains, add more routes etc... I doubt you will ever understand unless you ran your own business.
you have the cheek to ask people to squeeze themselves to death when you yourself don't take public transportation as often as the man on the street?
I wasn't born rich.
anything to substantiate what you're saying?
Who are you that I should justify my claims? Do you own property and car in Hong Kong?
you challenged me by saying it is not US$4. i showed you it is US$4, maybe not at all places but definitely at some of the places, the price of big mac meals is US$4.
I didn't challenge you saying that a BigMac meal is not US$4. I challenge you because you used a ridiculous hypothesis that a burger in Singapore would cost S$2 if it cost US$1 in justifying that it'll cost more because you're earning SGD. I've said that price of specific items are irrelevant.
in US,
salaries = US40K-65K (after deducting 40% tax)
big mac = US6
let's take away the K to simplify calculations.
price of big mac as a percentage of salary = 6 / 40 to 6 / 65 = 15% to 9%
in SG,
salaries: SGD35K-50K (haven't deduct CPF and taxes yet)
big mac: SGD$6
similarly taking away the K,
price of big mac as percentage of salary = 6 / 35 to 6 / 50 = 17% to 12%
Why are you so fixated with specific numbers? It began with you saying that US citizens earns more a person of the same profession and calibre. I said that though that maybe true, both will be earning approximately the same after tax.
You should be comparing between someone who earns US100k but end up with about US60k after tax and someone who earns approx SGD60k after tax. Don't pluck numbers to suit your calculations. -
Try taking subways in Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York City during peak hours. Snow leopard will clear a row of seats for youOriginally posted by charlize:One thing for sure.
The MRT is near breaking point during peak hours.
I cannot imagine what will happen when the population increases to 6 - 8 million. -
anonymouscoward, good on you!
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Originally posted by casino_king:
Well said. Our issue is with the unbalanced, unaccountable system, and I will vote in chimps to correct the system if that is what it takes.
[b]ONLY when there is a level and playing field will I consider who is better or worse. Otherwise vote for dishonorable people and fall into their trap? No way.[/b] -
Are u a PAP spy?Originally posted by anonymouscoward:I was getting ready to vote for the opposition for the next coming GE. However, after looking at today's paper, I'm not so convinced that the opposition has provide a viable alternative to the PAP.
I mean, their candidates are really weak. There's a 28 year old system administrator standing for a single seat ward? I've nothing against SA and young person. I especially do not doubt his passion for the country but frankly, people need someone they can look up to for leadership and I doubt is he is credible enough.
The East Coast GRC candidates are totally disappointing... I think the opposition needs to do a few things...
1) For SDP, they need to get rid of CSJ. He's a serious liability.
2) Seek out potential members from the private and professional sector instead of waiting for someone to volunteer
For the GE, I was following on the Thailand election and I think their system is really cool... a few seats are allocated for parliment that is not contested. Citizen then get to vote for 2 things... their MP of choice and their government of choice. The winning government then gets the allocated seats for cabinet appoint. Still, I doubt if the PAP would allow such a thing.
BTW... whatever happen to the volunteer thingy that was going on earlier in this forum. Someone wanted to start a group of volunteer that would take no/little pay to servce Singapore. -
I'm someone who's relatistic enough to know that true democracy doesn't exist; and rational enough to know even if it does, it'll not put food on the table.Originally posted by drawer:Are u a PAP spy?
It's a good-to-have but I'll choose an efficient and effective government over one filled with chimps and idiots.