Originally posted by Gazelle:
Now that PM Lee has already annouced his plan to help the lower and middle income group, I hope this will put an end to all the nonsense discussion on the 2% GST hike. In the thread,
Budget 2007 many people are questioning the purpose and intention behind the 2% GST hike, some even accused the government of robbing the poor to pamper the rich, I hope they will now have a clearer picture now.
Whatever PM Lee says will not change the current situation - that the GST hike, coupled with other parallel price inflations which are inter-related, is causing a direct impact to the costs of living, to say nothing of the delayed withdrawal of CFP funds, up from 65 to 67 now.
So working up to 67 is the plan now? What was it before...55? That's a progressive revision of 12 years since the CPF inception.
Our govt is really one-tracked in its thinking...ironically, they call for creative thinking and lament that we lack entrepreneurship. But when a few shine, they immediately step in to claim the credit.
Why must they insist on a failing idea? There are other means to control rising costs, apart from control CPF. They are looking at the fiscal approach; have they forgotten the monetary side?
With costs rising without checks, and the govt intrinsically endorsing every increase, from GST, to public transportation, to high rentals and HDB prices, how will our ever stagnant salaries keep up?
In case PM Lee didn't realise, we don't write our own cheques, and only a portion of the population are savvy enough to make astute investments to grow their own savings; the majority
WILL BE LEFT BEHIND - which brings back the umblical cord of reliance on the govt.
And he bawks on us bawking on his budget plan?
Ultimately, there are limits to how much nonsense the average man on the street will take; the ruling party can say this and say that, but it will all add up to BS if they fail to live up to their words.
Hopefully, some real action spawns as a result of PM Lee's rally.