Did the 4% GST really affected us?
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long term planning my fren, many many years ago, when they start collecting taxes, did they foresee that today, we will have an economic slump? and if our government did not have all those so called reserves, would we have come out of this economic slump better than most countries? dun look at thing so short term lah, the increment, if u ask me to explain to you in details, i cant, they have all the details, but i am absolutely sure its for a long term effect on us.
I am glad you know its a time of saving in times of retrenchment. But instead of putting the blame on the government, why not check our own lifestyle to see where we can save? aircon, excessive use of electricity, tv, internet, handphone, cigarettes, taking taxis and many other stuff. shouldnt we consider cutting down on such expenses? i have a fren whose whole family agree to cut down on electrical bills. they stop using the aircons and the bills went down by more than half! so before you blame the government for everything, think that they were the one who gave you an environment to be so comfortable in, you are not the only one who suffer, as i mentioned i come from an average family too, many people suffer but quit complaining, cos are you dying of poverty? i guess not cos you still have time to come on the net and still have internet connection. shows ur life aint that jia lat yet. -
i'm not sure actually. but i tink if the money doesn't flow, the economy will screw even worse.
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but pple nowadays are more careful in their spendings liao...even for CNY, the business for the shops did not seem to improve much at all as compared to last years...
it is just a vicious cycle...what has the world come to???
Globalisation... -
i tink must be balanced la. save before spending.. i need to do that. haha
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Originally posted by gasband:long term planning my fren, many many years ago, when they start collecting taxes, did they foresee that today, we will have an economic slump? .
Did the Government foresee that we will have an economic slump? NO They went ahead in the early 1980's to implement CPF to hit a high of 40 percent - from both Employer's and Employee's contribution. CPF was a "sacred cow" that no one was allowed to question - until the economic slump of 1987. Several economists warned that the bubble will burst in 1985, and it will burst again in 1992, 1997 - and books were written about it; and did our Government take heed ? NOand if our government did not have all those so called reserves, would we have come out of this economic slump better than most countries? .
YES - Whatever goes up must come down - and vice versa. Economic cycles takes it own natural course, and its recovery stage would have been inevitable, except that it could be accelerated by "divine intervention" - such as killing the "sacred cows", reducing the vain attempt at achieving 40 percent CPF savings that hurt the economy so badly. It is Government's policies that can either screw the economy down or upward; but it is the Human Effort of the Citizens that make recoveries from Economic Slumps possible. It is the Citizens' effort that make the economy workdun look at thing so short term lah, the increment, if u ask me to explain to you in details, i cant, they have all the details, but i am absolutely sure its for a long term effect on us..
That is the problem with our role as Citizen, whose responsibilities are reduced to being an Economic Digit in the wheel of Singapore's Economic Life. None of us have enough details to understand what is in it for us. Even the late ex-President Ong Teng Cheong could not, as much as he tried to comprehend the full picture of our Economic Wealth. You certainly can be absolutely sure that whatever is done, will certainly have long term effects on us - negatively or positively, time has already begun to reveal our true economic strength.I am glad you know its a time of saving in times of retrenchment. But instead of putting the blame on the government, why not check our own lifestyle to see where we can save? aircon, excessive use of electricity, tv, internet, handphone, cigarettes, taking taxis and many other stuff. shouldnt we consider cutting down on such expenses?.
Have you try to cut down on the amount of food that you consume, without losing the energetic efficiency that you have always had ? how do you cut your consumption cost, when cost for the same amount of consumption has gone up by 33.333 Percent -when GST goes up from 3 Percent to GST 4 Percent in 2003; and by 25 Percent more - when GST goes up from 4 Percent to 5 Percent in 2004 ? When you are seriously sick, and you must be hospitalized, will you cut or reduce the amount of surgery that you need - so as to reduce your costs as a result of hospital fees being increased ? What will happen to the economy, when everyone reduce their consumption? What will happen to the taxi drivers, when less people take taxi; or when tv advertisements are reduced, as less people watch tv; or when handphone sales and usage time drops; or when expenditures on lifestyle needs are reduced, affecting fashion boutques, department stores, supply and manufacturing chain ? With a reduction in consumption, who shall we blame when the economy contracts, factories shut down, department stores retrench, unemployment goes up ?i have a fren whose whole family agree to cut down on electrical bills. they stop using the aircons and the bills went down by more than half!
Certainly the bills will be reduced by half, if you do not switch on those electrical appliances for half the time that you normally would use. However, those bills that you expect to be reduced by half may NOT happen, when the unit rates of electricity goes up, and GST is applied. -
Originally posted by gasbandso before you blame the government for everything, think that they were the one who gave you an environment to be so comfortable in, Sadly, you are Wrong, Our Government sets the policies and take huge pride for the environment that we have - only when it is GOOD[/color]. Our Government NEVER takes responsibility for policies that result in an environment that is BAD When "white collar" or "blue collar" workers are retrenched, they are encouraged to take on other jobs. Regretably, we see the injustice being done, when a "white collar" bank manager is not being retrained to take on a supervisory position, while a Foreign Caucasian is allowed to take on a Middle Management Job.
you are not the only one who suffer, as i mentioned i come from an average family too, many people suffer but quit complaining, cos are you dying of poverty?.
WRONG again..!!! Many people suffer and quit complaining because their complaints have fallen on deaf ears, and their problems are being explained into non-existence. Condescending attitudes that reduces a Citizen to being a "carpet beggar" can demean the human spirit. Our Government will only open their ears when the election votes suddenly drop to 60 Percent, or when more Opposition Members get close margins to winning or actually taking a few more seats in Parliament.i guess not cos you still have time to come on the net and still have internet connection. shows ur life aint that jia lat yet.
WRONG again As responsible Citizens, we should call "a spade" as "a spade", and NOT allow "the spade" to be used as "a hoe" to dig OUR graves when we die of poverty. I will not allow myself the opportunity to die in poverty, and before that allow myself to be comforted with someone else's explanation that the Economy is bad because of External Factors which result in my poverty. If we are made to be responsible for our actions, the Government should also be held accountable to its failings. -
OK atobe u rite, i wrong. thanks for ur enlightenment lah. quik go enlighten the government, u take over our country sure damn good and prosperous.
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_____________________________________________________Originally posted by gasband:OK atobe u rite, i wrong. thanks for ur enlightenment lah. quik go enlighten the government, u take over our country sure damn good and prosperous.
Thanks 'gasband' for your "confidence", but are you sure that you will give me a chance with your vote if I were to be nominated to stand; or will you be just another Singaporean who complains and live with the status quo - AFRAID to Change ? -
i should be asking u that? i neber complain for your info, its u whos got so much to complain mah, so show us that you are not just a say-er, do something lah, then we know u are for real lor.
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_____________________________________________________Originally posted by gasband:i should be asking u that? i neber complain for your info, its u whos got so much to complain mah, so show us that you are not just a say-er, do something lah, then we know u are for real lor.
There lies the problem - NON COMMITMENT.
Even our Singapore Government has also raised their concern about Singaporeans NOT having the "FIRE" in them.
The fact that I dare to post an HONEST ALTERNATIVE VIEW is quite different from your preferred safe non-commital position as an "unappreciated By-stander".
A person's "ALTERNATIVE VIEW" is not necessarily a "COMPLAINT".
In your first posting, you have offered your 'alternative views' to that of mine; and I have responded to points which you have incorrectly noted from my posting.
The personal views in my posts may differ from yours, am I complaining about your views too ?
There are too many people who prefer NOT to commit themselves in any firm position, but prefer to be "fence sitters", and just like the bamboo bending with the wind.
Whichever way the wind blows, the "fence sitters" will benefit whatever scraps that fall their way.
They will only feel the pain, when the wind blows too hard, and make them bend too much; until too late, when the wind breaks the bamboo in an unpredicted violent storm.
To put your agony to rest, my answer to your question will be:
Just like you, I am from a poor Singaporean Heartlander Family, and I will not be able to afford the high costs of electioneering that have been made more expensive - by the Ruling Party - with each election .
I will run for Government Office, when I get enough financial support from the Public who dare to support an "Alternative Choice".
I wil run for Government Office, when I get like-minded Singaporeans with similar honesty and courage to stand up for their personal views, and dare to have reasoned independent alternative thinking, and willing to form an alternative platform for the interest of Singapore.
Will you give yourself the opportunity to give your support for an Alternative Choice , when one is offered ? -
you want people to support u, can! show us that you can make our lives better lah. ALTERNATIVE CHOICE does NOT mean BETTER choice. U wan the PUBLIC to give u money, give u this and that so that u can show us something which we aint even sure of?
CMON use your own ability to show us that ur choice is better than our current choice. Lee Kuan Yew did not become what he was today becos he w as more handsome or super damn rich than others, he worked hard at it and becos he was convicted.
YOU? go get your own resources a nd show us what u can do.
How do you expect us to believe a person who cant even get resources to support his own convictions, to get resources to give us a good life?
cheers. -
Originally posted by Atobe:
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There lies the problem - [b]NON COMMITMENT.
Even our Singapore Government has also raised their concern about Singaporeans NOT having the "FIRE" in them.
The fact that I dare to post an HONEST ALTERNATIVE VIEW is quite different from your preferred safe non-commital position as an "unappreciated By-stander".
i think can, well probably can, as long as we don't defame you-know-who. but there lies the conundrum? the one who can get lawyers is the one who dictate what is slander and libel.
A person's "ALTERNATIVE VIEW" is not necessarily a "COMPLAINT". i agree. that is somthing the government and most of us forget. the infamous catherine lim example in the 1990s where she got bashed for voicing valid substantiated views is a clear example of a thin-skinned petty government. and there's nothing illegal about a complaint anyway.
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There are too many people who prefer NOT to commit themselves in any firm position, but prefer to be "fence sitters", and just like the bamboo bending with the wind.
Whichever way the wind blows, the "fence sitters" will benefit whatever scraps that fall their way. that unfortunately sums up most of us, me included. scared to commit on a controversial issue is slightly different from not commenting because i don't know enough to aruge with sense.
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Originally posted by Atobe:
cool down bro.... Sadly, you are [b]Wrong, WRONG again..!!! WRONG again
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you're taking things too emotionally serious....
relac okay?
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____________________________________________________Originally posted by Silenthunter:cool down bro....
you're taking things too emotionally serious....
relac okay?
My apologies to "gasband" - as I did not meant to convey a message filled with emotion, did not realise that the "Red" looked truly "bloody red".
Have edited the color to Green, hope that it looks cooler.
Also cannot understand why the letters get bigger towards the end. -
Hey atobe, no offence taken, its just an online discussion, and me like you have many points against the current situation, lets just say we have our different ways of dealing with it. cheers.