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http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/06/gst-voucher-so-low-in-an-election-year/
[h=2]Why is the GST voucher so pathetic in an election year?[/h]
August 6th, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
Why is the GST voucher so pathetic if this is an election
year?
Speculation is rife that elections are on the way. I wrote that 3 things must
happen if this is to be an election year in this article
at the start of the year. The 1st being the release of the electoral
boundaries report, and true enough has been released with an increase in the
total number of seats and SMCs. The 2nd was the introduction of new PAP
candidates. The soft launch has already been done, with the formal presentation
likely after the NDP as stated by PAP Organising Secretary, Ng Eng Hen. That
leaves the 3rd – cash pay-outs, which was also given out recently.
Nothing to crow about - the paltry increases this year
pale in comparison to what was received in the last 3 GEs.
However don’t get too excited about the paltry sums you received. In the last
few elections, they were much higher. From New Singapore Shares over a thousand
dollars in 2001, to sums ranging from $500-$700 in the last 2 GEs. So why only a
modest increase in line with the SG50 celebrations this year? Most Singaporeans
will get $300 while senior citizens (above 55) get $600. This is still below the
$500 and $700 we received for 2011 – 1 week before the GE.
So unless the PM announces another ‘special payout’ during his National Day
rally, this is a fair question to ask during the campaign. Why are civil
servants rewarded, why is SIA giving out a $500 bonus and why are ordinary
citizens given the short shrift?
I’m not saying that this is ‘vote buying’ no matter the temptation or the
obvious inferences, rather if the PAP Govt is gonna run Singapore like a
business (which it practically does), then it’s only fair that we as the
shareholders, get our due dividends.
What’s the use of saying ‘ ‘Oh wow, we are so modern, we’ve grown out of our
‘kampong days,’ we have spanking new buildings like MBS, the Marina Promenade
and oh our reserves have made another hefty profit,’ when the fact remains that
only a select few are really reaping the benefits of modernisation and growth?
The rich grow richer, the ‘natural aristocrats’ rule over us plebians and civil
servants get bonuses not to mention spanking new buildings, new office equipment
and state of the art tools. Ordinary citizens are forced to compete with the
influx of foreigners, pay ever increasing rates for basic stuff like health,
transport, utilities and education, not to mention pay sky-rocketing prices for
public housing that when first implemented was promised to be cheap and
affordable. To add insult to injury, CPF returns which again was promised to be
returned in full at 55, has now not only been pushed to 65 years but only
available if you have a staggering $165,000 in it, getting whatever is in excess
of that amount.
For the rich, the ‘natural aristocrats’ and the civil servants who’ve seen
their pay rise with the rate of inflation and cost of living, $165,000 is
nothing. But how many of you will ever hold – let’s forget $165,000, let’s just
say $50,000 in your hands – all yours, to do whatever you want because it’s your
money? How many Singaporeans will ever get to hold $50,000 in their hands – no
obligations?
So you have right to demand that this election the GST voucher is grossly
insufficient and another payout is due. Of course I’m not saying your vote can
be bought, if you get an unexpected additional payment next month, good. But
hey, don’t you think that you deserved one in the first place? And if you are
not given one, you should take that into consideration along with the other
factors when you cast your vote come Election
Day.
Sir
Nelspruit
* The author blogs at Anyhow Hantam.
[h=2]Why is the GST voucher so pathetic in an election year?[/h]
August 6th, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
Why is the GST voucher so pathetic if this is an election
year?
Speculation is rife that elections are on the way. I wrote that 3 things must
happen if this is to be an election year in this article
at the start of the year. The 1st being the release of the electoral
boundaries report, and true enough has been released with an increase in the
total number of seats and SMCs. The 2nd was the introduction of new PAP
candidates. The soft launch has already been done, with the formal presentation
likely after the NDP as stated by PAP Organising Secretary, Ng Eng Hen. That
leaves the 3rd – cash pay-outs, which was also given out recently.
Nothing to crow about - the paltry increases this year
pale in comparison to what was received in the last 3 GEs.
However don’t get too excited about the paltry sums you received. In the last
few elections, they were much higher. From New Singapore Shares over a thousand
dollars in 2001, to sums ranging from $500-$700 in the last 2 GEs. So why only a
modest increase in line with the SG50 celebrations this year? Most Singaporeans
will get $300 while senior citizens (above 55) get $600. This is still below the
$500 and $700 we received for 2011 – 1 week before the GE.
So unless the PM announces another ‘special payout’ during his National Day
rally, this is a fair question to ask during the campaign. Why are civil
servants rewarded, why is SIA giving out a $500 bonus and why are ordinary
citizens given the short shrift?
I’m not saying that this is ‘vote buying’ no matter the temptation or the
obvious inferences, rather if the PAP Govt is gonna run Singapore like a
business (which it practically does), then it’s only fair that we as the
shareholders, get our due dividends.
What’s the use of saying ‘ ‘Oh wow, we are so modern, we’ve grown out of our
‘kampong days,’ we have spanking new buildings like MBS, the Marina Promenade
and oh our reserves have made another hefty profit,’ when the fact remains that
only a select few are really reaping the benefits of modernisation and growth?
The rich grow richer, the ‘natural aristocrats’ rule over us plebians and civil
servants get bonuses not to mention spanking new buildings, new office equipment
and state of the art tools. Ordinary citizens are forced to compete with the
influx of foreigners, pay ever increasing rates for basic stuff like health,
transport, utilities and education, not to mention pay sky-rocketing prices for
public housing that when first implemented was promised to be cheap and
affordable. To add insult to injury, CPF returns which again was promised to be
returned in full at 55, has now not only been pushed to 65 years but only
available if you have a staggering $165,000 in it, getting whatever is in excess
of that amount.
For the rich, the ‘natural aristocrats’ and the civil servants who’ve seen
their pay rise with the rate of inflation and cost of living, $165,000 is
nothing. But how many of you will ever hold – let’s forget $165,000, let’s just
say $50,000 in your hands – all yours, to do whatever you want because it’s your
money? How many Singaporeans will ever get to hold $50,000 in their hands – no
obligations?
So you have right to demand that this election the GST voucher is grossly
insufficient and another payout is due. Of course I’m not saying your vote can
be bought, if you get an unexpected additional payment next month, good. But
hey, don’t you think that you deserved one in the first place? And if you are
not given one, you should take that into consideration along with the other
factors when you cast your vote come Election
Day.
Sir
Nelspruit
* The author blogs at Anyhow Hantam.
