Tharman's HDB affordabiity story is just a technical example - here's why

[Confuseous]

My bone of contention is not with my ministers trying to help those with low incomes to own their homes. My angst is against the patronizing way my ministers have of telling me that they have the solutions. Because they have not, at least not in totality. The issue with the low income finding it difficult to own homes does not originate with the subsidies or lack thereof. It is the result of poor wages, high costs of living, and extremely pricey public housing.

Someone commented on facebook under this very topic: Why are there families with household incomes of only $1000 in the first place? That indeed is a valid question. When facing questions on the lack of affordability, we need assurances that our parliamentarians are looking at ways to better household incomes.

The next question that begs to be asked is if the pricing of HDB apartments fair. How much does it cost HDB to build these apartments? Currently BTO apartments are obviously discounted to market values. Are they really subsidized? Show us the figures!

There are legitimate concerns. The HDB flat is not the magic button that can solve our retirement issues, our healthcare worries. Nor is that easy to own and maintain one, given job uncertainties and high property prices.

Please don’t just show me a technical example of affordability in my face and wave me off! Or else I might be tempted to suggest we pay you in lottery tickets – a chance to earn a million or two tax free dollars – instead of the guaranteed salaries our leaders earn.

- http://speakspokewritewrote.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/hdb-magic/

 

[Leongsam]

Why are there families with household incomes of only $1000 in the first place? That indeed is a valid question. When facing questions on the lack of affordability, we need assurances that our parliamentarians are looking at ways to better household incomes.

Singapore has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world so the economy is obviously on a sound footing. There's therefore only one explanation why some some households can't earn more than $1000 per month and that is that they're genetically inferior and don't have the ability to earn anything more.

You can't blame the PAP for that. The govt has advised those who are not up to par not to procreate but these idiots choose to ignore this sound piece of advice.

 

[Sir_Fcuk]

You can't blame the PAP for that. The govt has advised those who are not up to par not to procreate but these idiots choose to ignore this sound piece of advice.

The aboriginals down under don't even work.... and seem to have more offspring than mice in the field. Centrelink pays each child AUD$1000/month.... !!!

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Right on! We should go a step further and send these inferior sinkies to concentration camps.....or exterminate them outright.

Singapore has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world so the economy is obviously on a sound footing. There's therefore only one explanation why some some households can't earn more than $1000 per month and that is that they're genetically inferior and don't have the ability to earn anything more.

You can't blame the PAP for that. The govt has advised those who are not up to par not to procreate but these idiots choose to ignore this sound piece of advice.

 

[neddy]

The aboriginals down under don't even work.... and seem to have more offspring than mice in the field. Centrelink pays each child AUD$1000/month.... !!!

That's OK. It is a slow burning process to kill them all through alcoholic & other health related genetic defects.
Many of them are helping themselves through petrol and solvent sniffing.

The investors are getting the money back through dividends from the beer and pharmaceutical companies .