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http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/09/04/the-poor-in-singapore-are-on-a-train-to-greece/
[h=2]The poor in Singapore are on a train to Greece[/h]
September 4th, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
SDP members campaigning in Bukit Batok
There
was a public outrage when a man who couldn’t manage the YOG budget cast doubt on
the Singapore Democratic Party’s economic plan. That man was none other the PAP
candidate helming Holland-Buikit Timah GRC, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. His poignant
remarks that SDP would lead Singapore on the path of bankruptcy rang a little
hollow.
Greece is often regarded as the birthplace of democracy and some would in
fact relish and welcome the fact that SDP would bring us further down this path
of democracy. As for bankruptcy, we have no doubt that the PAP, a party that is
bankrupt of ideas, would leave the majority of its people impoverished while the
privileged elite of this land lives in a lap of luxury.
At 0.412, we have one of the highest Gini coefficients after taxes and
subsidies amongst the developed nations of the world. The other developed
nations like USA, UK, Australia, Japan and Germany, have a more equitable
transfer programme through a progressive taxation policy, have recorded an
average of 0.33 for their Gini coefficient.
Looking at SDP’s election manifesto, it is clear that the party is striving
for a more equitable distribution of income and we are likely to see more
transfers from the rich corporates to the poor families in Singapore. The rich
corporations here are either GLCs or MNCs, and SMEs often struggle to survive.
There is no trickle down in Singapore. In fact, money defies the force of
gravity and it trickles up as exorbitant income, in the name of no-corruption,
into our ministers’ pay packets.
It reeks of sheer arrogance when PAP talks down to the poorer segments of our
society, chastising them for not being able to hold down a job, for falling ill
due to lack of exercise and for falls in productivity levels. But critics often
say that local Singaporean can’t hold down a job due to the import of cheap
foreign labour and for those who have a job, they do not have time to engage in
recreational activities. And the falls in productivity is because of our
over-reliance of cheap foreign labour often substituting technology.
The intellectuals in Singapore seem to think that we are confronted with hard
economic choices – tinkering with the success formula of the past means that we
need to forgo economic growth for a more equitable society. They somehow equate
a step towards welfarism as a step towards bankruptcy that would lead to our
overall decline. This only reflects the psyche of our elite – they simply do not
want to share the pie. And why should they?
The top 25 highest paid politicians are in Singapore. They have a vested
interest in this system. It pays them well and they have no intention of parting
with their legitimately earned income any time soon.
The best way to achieve equitable income distribution in a mature economy
like ours, is through a comprehensive taxation and transfer programme. Budgeting
is a yearly affair and I’m sure whoever is charged with the reigns of this
country will take into account of the various inputs from the ministries before
finalizing the budget. It’s not like party manifestos are automatically adopted
by the parliament. What is important is to consider the ethos and the principles
governing each party. In that respect, the SDP carries certain values.
Leaving behind a segment of our society ultimately leads to instability and
revolution. It is troubling to see PAP sweep these issues under the carpet. Our
social programmes are far from being adequate. Their reluctance to address these
issues cast doubt about their ability to manage the different segments of our
society. It seems like the PAP is happy to see the poor on a train to Greece and
their acquiescence in this case is appalling.
Kumaran
Pillai
* This article first appeared on Kumaran
Pillai’s Facebook page. Kumaran is a former Chief Editor of The Online
Citizen.
[h=2]The poor in Singapore are on a train to Greece[/h]
September 4th, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
SDP members campaigning in Bukit Batok
There
was a public outrage when a man who couldn’t manage the YOG budget cast doubt on
the Singapore Democratic Party’s economic plan. That man was none other the PAP
candidate helming Holland-Buikit Timah GRC, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. His poignant
remarks that SDP would lead Singapore on the path of bankruptcy rang a little
hollow.
Greece is often regarded as the birthplace of democracy and some would in
fact relish and welcome the fact that SDP would bring us further down this path
of democracy. As for bankruptcy, we have no doubt that the PAP, a party that is
bankrupt of ideas, would leave the majority of its people impoverished while the
privileged elite of this land lives in a lap of luxury.
At 0.412, we have one of the highest Gini coefficients after taxes and
subsidies amongst the developed nations of the world. The other developed
nations like USA, UK, Australia, Japan and Germany, have a more equitable
transfer programme through a progressive taxation policy, have recorded an
average of 0.33 for their Gini coefficient.
Looking at SDP’s election manifesto, it is clear that the party is striving
for a more equitable distribution of income and we are likely to see more
transfers from the rich corporates to the poor families in Singapore. The rich
corporations here are either GLCs or MNCs, and SMEs often struggle to survive.
There is no trickle down in Singapore. In fact, money defies the force of
gravity and it trickles up as exorbitant income, in the name of no-corruption,
into our ministers’ pay packets.
It reeks of sheer arrogance when PAP talks down to the poorer segments of our
society, chastising them for not being able to hold down a job, for falling ill
due to lack of exercise and for falls in productivity levels. But critics often
say that local Singaporean can’t hold down a job due to the import of cheap
foreign labour and for those who have a job, they do not have time to engage in
recreational activities. And the falls in productivity is because of our
over-reliance of cheap foreign labour often substituting technology.
The intellectuals in Singapore seem to think that we are confronted with hard
economic choices – tinkering with the success formula of the past means that we
need to forgo economic growth for a more equitable society. They somehow equate
a step towards welfarism as a step towards bankruptcy that would lead to our
overall decline. This only reflects the psyche of our elite – they simply do not
want to share the pie. And why should they?
The top 25 highest paid politicians are in Singapore. They have a vested
interest in this system. It pays them well and they have no intention of parting
with their legitimately earned income any time soon.
The best way to achieve equitable income distribution in a mature economy
like ours, is through a comprehensive taxation and transfer programme. Budgeting
is a yearly affair and I’m sure whoever is charged with the reigns of this
country will take into account of the various inputs from the ministries before
finalizing the budget. It’s not like party manifestos are automatically adopted
by the parliament. What is important is to consider the ethos and the principles
governing each party. In that respect, the SDP carries certain values.
Leaving behind a segment of our society ultimately leads to instability and
revolution. It is troubling to see PAP sweep these issues under the carpet. Our
social programmes are far from being adequate. Their reluctance to address these
issues cast doubt about their ability to manage the different segments of our
society. It seems like the PAP is happy to see the poor on a train to Greece and
their acquiescence in this case is appalling.
Kumaran
Pillai
* This article first appeared on Kumaran
Pillai’s Facebook page. Kumaran is a former Chief Editor of The Online
Citizen.
