Control the costs, not more subsidies!

The writer hits the nail right on the head. Why tax the poor citizens with high GST then give them offset packages and vounchers to offset his sufferings for a few years! Isn’t that more works for the civil sevants unless the intention is create more jobs! Likewise whenever there is an increase in utility bills or school fees, this Government is always quick to announce 1) offset package to help the citizens 2) an increase in bursary and proclaim that “no student will be deprived of education due to cost”. But a small increase here and there will not kill the frog instantly, if I may draw the analogy, the poor frog just got boiled slowly in a cooking pot until such time before it realises it, it has been cooked.

Related links:

• PAP thinks greed is good but citizens differ – This link is probably one of the most complete articles in detailing the Ministers’ salaries (political appointment holders), the bloated civil service and its cascading impact and the enormous cost shouldered by the people of Singapore. It is not just the $46m as articulated by LKY back in 2007.

Letter from Peter Loon Seng Chee

Source: Todayonline Feb 21, 2012

There are steps in this year’s Budget to improve the lives of the elderly and the less well-equipped in dealing with the rising cost of living. The plans to lift incomes are also welcome.

The main question is: Will these incomes keep up with costs? I think more can be done to keep costs stable, especially those within the Government’s control.

For food prices, this could be achieved by controlling the rental process at hawker centres.

In public transport, the additional buses are welcome, but fares for buses, trains and taxis could also be kept low if taxi rentals were lowered and the costs of the new buses and trains are not passed on to commuters.

In public housing, the authorities should tighten controls on the sale of flats and release them at affordable prices.

If such essentials are left to the market and profit-driven private operators, there would always be a lag between wages and living costs.

If we constantly fight to stay afloat, we would never be gracious but entrenched in the mentality of fending only for ourselves.

Unhappy people are not productive, and they do not make babies, either.