Singapore Democratic Party unveil alternative Budget for PAP

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SDP unveils alternative Budget
By Leong Wee Keat | Posted: 16 February 2011 1655 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has unveiled an alternative Budget, the first time an opposition party is presenting to the government's financial policy for the year ahead.

Titled "Empowering The Nation", the SDP sets out three priorities - lowering the cost of living, enhancing job creation for Singaporeans and enhancing the well-being of the people, as opposed to the welfare of the State.

Among its proposals, the SDP is proposing a graduated GST to take into account essential goods versus luxury goods.

The proposed GST will range from 0 for essential goods and services such as food and medical care, to a maximum of 10 per cent for non-essential goods such as luxury items, costing more than S$500 each.

The SDP also suggested implementing a scheme for employers to demonstrate that if they want to hire a foreign worker, they must show that this worker cannot be found among Singaporeans before being allowed to.

The SDP estimates a slight 1.81 per cent increase in government expenditure, compared to that of last year, bringing the spending to S$46.8 billion.

The party took three months to draft its alternative budget, which was presented in a 26-page budget report.

-CNA/wk

 

[Leongsam]

The SDP seems to a clone of the NZ labour party.

Both come up with ridiculous policies which show a total lack of understanding of economic fundamentals.

Both show a shocking naivete regarding the enormous amount of red tape involved in enforcing rules which distort the free market.

Both seek to penalise the hard working and successful members of society while rewarding the losers and the freeloaders.

Singapore under the SDP would be an absolute disaster. The PAP is by no means perfect but the SDP is on another planet altogether when it comes to incompetence.

Just take "medical care" as an example.... 0% GST for ALL medical care? Would that include tummy tucks and liposuction? Who decides what's cosmetic and what's essential? There would be such rampant abuse the whole system would be bogged down for years dealing with the issue. 1000 bureaucrats would work full time just sorting out the classifications.

 

[iFARKurMADER]

The SDP seems to a clone of the NZ labour party.

Both come up with ridiculous policies which show a total lack of understanding of economic fundamentals.

Both show a shocking naivete regarding the enormous amount of red tape involved in enforcing rules which distort the free market.

Both seek to penalise the hard working and successful members of society while rewarding the losers and the freeloaders.

Singapore under the SDP would be an absolute disaster. The PAP is by no means perfect but the SDP is on another planet altogether when it comes to incompetence.

Just take "medical care" as an example.... 0% GST for ALL medical care? Would that include tummy tucks and liposuction? Who decides what's cosmetic and what's essential? There would be such rampant abuse the whole system would be bogged down for years dealing with the issue. 1000 bureaucrats would work full time just sorting out the classifications.

can tummy tucks and liposuction be classified as "medical care"? i dun go hospital often so i am not sure, but i do see these offered more in plastic surgeons clinics

 

[Leongsam]

can tummy tucks and liposuction be classified as "medical care"? i dun go hospital often so i am not sure, but i do see these offered more in plastic surgeons clinics

If liposuction is part and parcel of treatment for a life threatening condition such as gross obesity, it would be classified as medical care.

If it's done just for cosmetic reasons and there are no underlying health risks, then it falls into the "cosmetic surgery" category.

The medical industry will respond to the different GST levels for different procedures simply by reclassifying cases to work the system to their advantage. Auditors then need to be hired to keep check of abuse. The cat and mouse game can reach astronomical proportions and the poor taxpayer ends up paying for the cost of the red tape.

This is not speculation. I see it all the time where I am.

 

[Semaj2357]

If liposuction is part and parcel of treatment for a life threatening condition such as gross obesity, it would be classified as medical care.

If it's done just for cosmetic reasons and there are no underlying health risks, then it falls into the "cosmetic surgery" category.......This is not speculation. I see it all the time where I am.

Yes, especially where countries have medical persons known as dental technicians

 

[Ramseth]

Just take "medical care" as an example.... 0% GST for ALL medical care? Would that include tummy tucks and liposuction? Who decides what's cosmetic and what's essential?

If liposuction is part and parcel of treatment for a life threatening condition such as gross obesity, it would be classified as medical care.

If it's done just for cosmetic reasons and there are no underlying health risks, then it falls into the "cosmetic surgery" category.

You're contradicting yourself by explaining yourself. Comestic medication and surgery have been well defined long ago since health insurance was invented.

 

[Leongsam]

You're contradicting yourself by explaining yourself. Comestic medication and surgery have been well defined long ago since health insurance was invented.

My point exactly. My neighbor had a mole removed for cosmetic reasons. The surgeon asked who his health insurance provider was. He said "Southern Cross".

The surgeon responded by reclassifying the harmless benign mole as "dysplastic nevus". The bill was NZD1200 all paid for by the insurance company. Neighbor was happy because he didn't have to pay a cent. Surgeon was happy as he collected a whopping 4 figure amount directly from the insurance company.

BTW NZ has a flat GST rate across all goods and services. The govt of the day was smart enough to realise that different GST rates for different categories would be an administrative nightmare.

 

[tanwahtiu]

The SDP seems to a clone of the NZ labour party.

Both come up with ridiculous policies which show a total lack of understanding of economic fundamentals.

Both show a shocking naivete regarding the enormous amount of red tape involved in enforcing rules which distort the free market.

Both seek to penalise the hard working and successful members of society while rewarding the losers and the freeloaders.

Singapore under the SDP would be an absolute disaster. The PAP is by no means perfect but the SDP is on another planet altogether when it comes to incompetence.

Just take "medical care" as an example.... 0% GST for ALL medical care? Would that include tummy tucks and liposuction? Who decides what's cosmetic and what's essential? There would be such rampant abuse the whole system would be bogged down for years dealing with the issue. 1000 bureaucrats would work full time just sorting out the classifications.

They shd also include 0 GST for purchasing pornos from Sam sex sites.

 

[shelltox]

where are they going to find the $$$, borrowfrom ov erseas