Singaporeans are the most heavily taxed
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All that before you consider the fact such a scenario is actually the brainchild of this regime, whose brand of state-orchaestrated tyranny would dictate that they regulate these essential services and restrict the operators to firms in which the regime has a stake.Originally posted by ngejay:The reason why citizens of any country pay taxes is so that the govt can use the tax revenue to build infrastructure, and create and maintain essential services like security and defence for the people. That is the purpose of taxation.
In Singapore, essential services that the govt is actually supposed to provide are increasingly being privatized or corporatized in some form or other. Now instead of the govt using taxpayer's money to provide essential services for the people, it is pushed to the private corporations and GLCs which are increasingly becoming autonomous.
These private corporations will naturally care about profits and the bottom line. Hence the provision of essential infrastructure and services now becomes a transaction between customer and company, rather than an alliance between citizen and government. That is why the cost of living is rising to much, why these companies providing essential services can push costs to consumers on the pretext of rising raw materials costs.
E-Jay
If a free market economy had indeed been adopted when it comes to determining who should be given the licence(s) to run your public transport services, telecom services or gaming-related businesses, you'd hardly encounter the scenario you described.
So is the plight of the average joe simply a result of the regime delegating these essential services to organisations run by the minions, relatives and allies of the despots? Or should we extrapolate further and regard the regime as being the mastermind orchaestrating an economic model out for exploitation, instead of simply being a player succumbing to the flow of a flawed economic system? -
Your written expression of English is good, almost musical. I see your reasoning which makes sense. Except that, I wonder, whether you have ever been to Singapore? Our infrastructure is well maintained, streets are safe, neighborhoods get for themselves each a shopping mall, children's teachers are well qualified etc, all these cost money and this money is from the state.Originally posted by walesa:All that before you consider the fact such a scenario is actually the brainchild of this regime, whose brand of state-orchaestrated tyranny would dictate that they regulate these essential services and restrict the operators to firms in which the regime has a stake.
If a free market economy had indeed been adopted when it comes to determining who should be given the licence(s) to run your public transport services, telecom services or gaming-related businesses, you'd hardly encounter the scenario you described.
So is the plight of the average joe simply a result of the regime delegating these essential services to organisations run by the minions, relatives and allies of the despots? Or should we extrapolate further and regard the regime as being the mastermind orchaestrating an economic model out for exploitation, instead of simply being a player succumbing to the flow of a flawed economic system? -
Actually what he said is quite true.Originally posted by Daddy!!:Your written expression of English is good, almost musical. I see your reasoning which makes sense. Except that, I wonder, whether you have ever been to Singapore? Our infrastructure is well maintained, streets are safe, neighborhoods get for themselves each a shopping mall, children's teachers are well qualified etc, all these cost money and this money is from the state. -
perhaps it is the right time to write about a hard fact.
take the sub prime mortgage problem in the US as example, ECB and US Fed Reserve can pump in money as much as they want to rescue the banks. The impact on their currencies Euro and US dollar is almost nothing. If there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore and if MAS were to pump in money, Singapore dollar would most likely crash, during which the country's reserve will need to be used to "defend" its currency. that is why, i guess, the govt of singapore is very focused on accumulating reserve because the country needs it to survive, to support the singapore dollar. if this is a good guess, we can also see that US and Europe are much bigger powers and that they can have choices which include choosing liberal democracy without fears. -
Why not compare with Switzerland, Norway, Sweden or Germany?Originally posted by Daddy!!:perhaps it is the right time to write about a hard fact.
take the sub prime mortgage problem in the US as example, ECB and US Fed Reserve can pump in money as much as they want to rescue the banks. The impact on their currencies Euro and US dollar is almost nothing. If there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore and if MAS were to pump in money, Singapore dollar would most likely crash, during which the country's reserve will need to be used to "defend" its currency. that is why, i guess, the govt of singapore is very focused on accumulating reserve because the country needs it to survive, to support the singapore dollar. if this is a good guess, we can also see that US and Europe are much bigger powers and that they can have choices which include choosing liberal democracy without fears.
If there was ever a mortgage crisis in Singapore and the government doesn't pump in money to support the banks. The whole banking system will crash, because in mortgage crisis, there will be alot of bad loans, all these loans will be written off by the banks, causing heavy losses for banks. This might even initiated a run on the bank, because depositors having received information that the government no longer supports the bank, fear for the recovery of their hard earned savings. If you know nuts, don't even start babbling because it will show your stupidity.
This goes to show the intelligence of the pro PAP supporters, how they have been constantly manipulated, hoodwinked and shod shackled by the ruling elites.
If you don't have any intelligence to think for yourself, you will be constantly fooled by others smarter than you.
Suggest you take an online course in "Economics 101" first before you continue blabbing bollocks. -
While I appreciate your acknowledging my command of English, I think that's less important than the substance of what I've been trying to highlight.Originally posted by Daddy!!:Your written expression of English is good, almost musical. I see your reasoning which makes sense. Except that, I wonder, whether you have ever been to Singapore? Our infrastructure is well maintained, streets are safe, neighborhoods get for themselves each a shopping mall, children's teachers are well qualified etc, all these cost money and this money is from the state.
As a matter of fact, I have lived in Singapore and still shuttle to and from Singapore ever so often. If you should be in doubt, I too have attended school here. It would be nice if you'd judge the quality of my comments for what it is without making inferences and assumptions as to my background for ultimately, that's what truly matters.
That said, my education and work too have taken me to places as diverse as the US, Scandinavia, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Hong Kong and China to name a few. My vacations have also taken me from places that span the globe from Latin America to North Korea.
As to your points, let's put it this way : have you really seen what some other countries offer their citizens? Look at the Nordic countries and the UK - developed first-world countries with a population not substantially bigger (well, at least for the Nordic countries) than Singapore's. Are you aware education and healthcare are virtually free in these countries? Surely, given the fact that the life expectancies of these countries would match Singapore's at a canter and that their economies would easily put Singapore's to shame, you wouldn't doubt these countries too have quality teachers and an advanced healthcare system which is actually more comprehensive than Singapore's? Or are you telling me you're actually getting a better deal having a staggered income tax system that's capped at 21% (for the highest tier) without actually having any tangible benefits available to you? Mind, the Nordic countries are no more dangerous than Singapore.
That said, and as I have already mentioned in some other thread, if security is of utmost concern to you, why not consider North Korea as the model to follow? After all, along with Switzerland and the Nordic countries, it's just about as safe as I have experienced. So how much of your civil liberties and personal freedom are you prepared to trade for your so-called security? More importantly, are civil liberties and security as mutually exclusive as this regime would have you believe? The bottomline is, contrary to the propaganda this regime has a knack of churning out, not everyone is obssessed with security at the expense of individual rights and freedoms - to many, civil liberties, labour rights and personal freedoms are no less important.
After all, I'm not sure if many would actually prefer living somewhere with a low crime-rate but needing to worry about collecting cans and cardboards in their twilight years just to make ends meet (and that might not even be sufficient) for day-to-day survival without the slightest social safety net to fall back on. -
Your argument doesn't even stand up to the principles of economics.Originally posted by Daddy!!:perhaps it is the right time to write about a hard fact.
take the sub prime mortgage problem in the US as example, ECB and US Fed Reserve can pump in money as much as they want to rescue the banks. The impact on their currencies Euro and US dollar is almost nothing. If there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore and if MAS were to pump in money, Singapore dollar would most likely crash, during which the country's reserve will need to be used to "defend" its currency. that is why, i guess, the govt of singapore is very focused on accumulating reserve because the country needs it to survive, to support the singapore dollar. if this is a good guess, we can also see that US and Europe are much bigger powers and that they can have choices which include choosing liberal democracy without fears.
Are you aware the MAS actually has safeguards in place to protect the SGD on a scale not found anywhere in economies in the free world? That's effectively a buffer deployed by this regime to safeguard any speculative "attacks" (no prizes for guessing where the extension of such a measure stems from, given the xenophobic despot's obstinate worries) or any external volatility that might affect the currency. Should such precautionary measures be insufficient, that's where the second line of defence comes in with the bulk of the reserves providing the basis to restore the imbalance for this regime knows the intrinsic implications between having a sustainable economy and its very survival.
Should you not understand what I've been harping about above, I'm sure maurizio13 will have no problems enlightening you on that. -
Some hidden "taxes" u guys also not aware ....
ERP ? Every single car just $0.50 will do , going into a gantry , what u think the amount was to be in yearly basis ?
What about property taxes ? Private or HDB ?
What about town council charges for those staying a HDB flat ?
What about the import taxes on cars ?
what about road taxes ?
What about diesel taxes for taxis ?
What about traffic offenses ?
What about car-park offenses ?
What about resaling of flats levy ?
what about the stamp fee on private property ?
When i imagine the amount of money PAP Garmen has ..... and yet they still think of ways to balance the budget .... feeling suck most times . -
sg is the place to earn money not retire...
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It's a place to retire if you are the MM, SM, PM or you're filthy rich.Originally posted by Stoat:sg is the place to earn money not retire... -
i agree but looking back, they too are the victims of the taxes increase.Originally posted by dragg:boycott those hawkers.
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Shin Corp.Originally posted by FireIce:i have no idea our taxed money gone to where, when we need to pay to use the roads, pay to attend school, expensive medical treatments, forever rising public transport fares and so many other stuff we have to pay and pay.......... -
Global Crossing, Virgin Atlantic and Suzhou Industrial Park.Originally posted by Slipshade:Shin Corp. 
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Didn't they say they would help the poor by introducing some new schemes or something (some HOPE thing)? Yet i wonder how many of them are actually helped..Originally posted by Poolman:Some hidden "taxes" u guys also not aware ....
ERP ? Every single car just $0.50 will do , going into a gantry , what u think the amount was to be in yearly basis ?
What about property taxes ? Private or HDB ?
What about town council charges for those staying a HDB flat ?
What about the import taxes on cars ?
what about road taxes ?
What about diesel taxes for taxis ?
What about traffic offenses ?
What about car-park offenses ?
What about resaling of flats levy ?
what about the stamp fee on private property ?
When i imagine the amount of money PAP Garmen has ..... and yet they still think of ways to balance the budget .... feeling suck most times .
And eh, didn't they also say the CPF cut will be restored? Why isn't it happening when our economy is at the greatest?
Oh theres too much to say.. one should actually collect all these info and post them somewhere. No wait, isn't that what forums are for? -
singapore is the only country i know the only way government earn their $$$ is by squeezing $$$ from their citizens...Originally posted by Poolman:Some hidden "taxes" u guys also not aware ....
ERP ? Every single car just $0.50 will do , going into a gantry , what u think the amount was to be in yearly basis ?
What about property taxes ? Private or HDB ?
What about town council charges for those staying a HDB flat ?
What about the import taxes on cars ?
what about road taxes ?
What about diesel taxes for taxis ?
What about traffic offenses ?
What about car-park offenses ?
What about resaling of flats levy ?
what about the stamp fee on private property ?
When i imagine the amount of money PAP Garmen has ..... and yet they still think of ways to balance the budget .... feeling suck most times .
when they want to increase their revenue, they never have second thoughts... the best and easiest way is to get from citizens, why not attract foreign investment, reduce civil servants' salary...
btw, where can i buy SMRT and SBS shares? I want to be their shareholders... definitely earn one... not enough profits... increase bus and MRT fares... suck blood from commuters... since no one can stop them from increasing the fares... so definitely earn one... can anyone suggest... heard can take free transport too... shareholders got privileges -
bubbletea now cost $1.50 per cup. it used to be $1.20. i didn't know gst increase was 25%.Originally posted by niwde1980:anyone notice that meepok increase by $0.50 at some hawker center ? and many other things also increase but our pay still maintain... how leh
cb. obviously these people take the chance to round off their prices. -
Originally posted by maurizio13:
M13, you are repeating and rewriting what I wrote about MAS pumping in money if there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore, dude. I really cannot follow what you are trying to say. By saying I am un-intelligent, you are double shooting yourself. what a joke you are.
Why not compare with Switzerland, Norway, Sweden or Germany?
If there was ever a mortgage crisis in Singapore and the government doesn't pump in money to support the banks. The whole banking system will crash, because in mortgage crisis, there will be alot of bad loans, all these loans will be written off by the banks, causing heavy losses for banks. This might even initiated a run on the bank, because depositors having received information that the government no longer supports the bank, fear for the recovery of their hard earned savings. If you know nuts, don't even start babbling because it will show your stupidity.
This goes to show the intelligence of the pro PAP supporters, how they have been constantly manipulated, hoodwinked and shod shackled by the ruling elites.
If you don't have any intelligence to think for yourself, you will be constantly fooled by others smarter than you.
Suggest you take an online course in [b]"Economics 101" first before you continue blabbing bollocks.[/b]
I repeat what i wrote. Open your eyes widely and read again BELOW. Honestly, do you want me to teach you about what is being written by myself?
Take the sub prime mortgage problem in the US as example, ECB and US Fed Reserve can pump in money as much as they want to rescue the banks. The impact on their currencies Euro and US dollar is almost nothing. If there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore and if MAS were to pump in money, Singapore dollar would most likely crash, during which the country's reserve will need to be used to "defend" its currency. that is why, i guess, the govt of singapore is very focused on accumulating reserve because the country needs it to survive, to support the singapore dollar. if this is a good guess, we can also see that US and Europe are much bigger powers and that they can have choices which include choosing liberal democracy without fears. -
Which part of what i wrote that you are disputing? You are writing about the same as I did especially the second line of defence that you wrote, about using the reserve.Originally posted by walesa:Your argument doesn't even stand up to the principles of economics.
Are you aware the MAS actually has safeguards in place to protect the SGD on a scale not found anywhere in economies in the free world? That's effectively a buffer deployed by this regime to safeguard any speculative "attacks" (no prizes for guessing where the extension of such a measure stems from, given the xenophobic despot's obstinate worries) or any external volatility that might affect the currency. Should such precautionary measures be insufficient, that's where the second line of defence comes in with the bulk of the reserves providing the basis to restore the imbalance for this regime knows the intrinsic implications between having a sustainable economy and its very survival.
Should you not understand what I've been harping about above, I'm sure maurizio13 will have no problems enlightening you on that. -
Our tax IS used for our infrastructire, the upgrading of lifts, etc. and we should be grateful, cause Phillippines need to pay 14% tax and their salary is VERY low. That's the reason why they come here to work. Do you want to be like them?Originally posted by FireIce:other countries' taxes are being used back on the infrastructure, free education, subsidised medical (or even free), welfare, etc...........
i have no idea our taxed money gone to where, when we need to pay to use the roads, pay to attend school, expensive medical treatments, forever rising public transport fares and so many other stuff we have to pay and pay.......... -
Daddy!!, maybe you should just STFU, in this forum, nobody likes a Pro pap supporter, in singapore, we don't own our darn flat, the government will recover it back by 99 years, in america, they OWN their flat,
you are just another smart aleck, thinks that you know something, that we already know, where does the state money comes from? without the citizen, THEY ARE NOTHING, we can always vote for another government to replace them, but if the government piss us any further, you shall see what will happen in the next elections.
it is from our pocket, since we already use our hard earn money to buy a hdb flat (a box) and there is 99 lease on it? -
cooked food outside is much cheaper here compared to most other first world countries though....
Which other first world country can you get a decently full meal for <2 euros -
Where do u think other countries get their money from other their own citizen's? These countries also venture in business too, not only depend on their citizen's money.Originally posted by allentyb:
Daddy!!, maybe you should just STFU, in this forum, nobody likes a Pro pap supporter, in singapore, we don't own our darn flat, the government will recover it back by 99 years, in america, they OWN their flat,
you are just another smart aleck, thinks that you know something, that we already know, where does the state money comes from? without the citizen, THEY ARE NOTHING, we can always vote for another government to replace them, but if the government piss us any further, you shall see what will happen in the next elections.
it is from our pocket, since we already use our hard earn money to buy a hdb flat (a box) and there is 99 lease on it? -
Originally posted by Daddy!!:Which part of what i wrote that you are disputing? You are writing about the same as I did especially the second line of defence that you wrote, about using the reserve.
Read the part in red. What bollocks are you on about?Originally posted by Daddy!!:perhaps it is the right time to write about a hard fact.
take the sub prime mortgage problem in the US as example, ECB and US Fed Reserve can pump in money as much as they want to rescue the banks. The impact on their currencies Euro and US dollar is almost nothing. If there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore and if MAS were to pump in money, Singapore dollar would most likely crash, during which the country's reserve will need to be used to "defend" its currency. that is why, i guess, the govt of singapore is very focused on accumulating reserve because the country needs it to survive, to support the singapore dollar. if this is a good guess, we can also see that US and Europe are much bigger powers and that they can have choices which include choosing liberal democracy without fears.
Is the Singapore model the only way to safeguard the national currency? So I suppose, given the fact the Federal Reserves and the Bank of England not pursuing the same policy as the MAS would render the USD and the sterling pound to be indefensible should their currency (which are far more susceptible to external influence to begin with) become too volatile?
So am I supposed to extrapolate the regime's brand of spin suggesting liberal democracies and "small powers" are mutually exclusive? Why don't you try explaining the prosperity behind the success of the Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Finns and the Swiss? -
What drivel are you on about? If the ECB and US Fed Reserves can "pump in as much as they want to rescue the banks", yet the "impact on their currencies is almost nothing"? Which economic model have your derived your warped notions from - the Gazelle school of economics?Originally posted by Daddy!!:Take the sub prime mortgage problem in the US as example, ECB and US Fed Reserve can pump in money as much as they want to rescue the banks. The impact on their currencies Euro and US dollar is almost nothing. If there is a mortgage crisis in Singapore and if MAS were to pump in money, Singapore dollar would most likely crash, during which the country's reserve will need to be used to "defend" its currency. that is why, i guess, the govt of singapore is very focused on accumulating reserve because the country needs it to survive, to support the singapore dollar.
As a matter of fact, the US, EU and other liberal democracies have greater latitude and leeway to pursue such measures stem very much from the structure of their political system which provides for a financial system and economic model capable of handling and dealing with various financial instruments on a grander scale. This regime, on the other hand, operates on a limited imitation of the models observed in those liberal democracies for this regime knows full well a completely free market economy in the mould of a liberal democracy is incompatible with their brand of fascist tyranny and shameless profiteering which ensures the bulk of state revenues return to the monopolies that generate the bulk of income for this regime.
I don't know how much more shallow you could get with such a silly analogy.Originally posted by Daddy!!:if this is a good guess, we can also see that US and Europe are much bigger powers and that they can have choices which include choosing liberal democracy without fears. -
I suppose the picture would be massively different if we considered everything in its overall scheme of things, wouldn't it?Originally posted by eagle:cooked food outside is much cheaper here compared to most other first world countries though....
Which other first world country can you get a decently full meal for <2 euros
Why not name me one another first world country where the average wages of skilled labour is as derisory as Singapore's?