REACH 522 - What are your views on the Government's efforts to cushion the effects of inflation? What are some measures Singaporeans can take to cope with the high cost of living?
(SK)
05 Jan 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
5/1/24, 9:44 am - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
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5/1/24, 9:59 am - +REACH: *📢 Topic 📢*
On 3 Jan 2024 (Wed), Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that every Singaporean household would receive $500 worth of Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, which could be used at participating supermarkets and heartland businesses.
DPM Wong said that the vouchers were part of a comprehensive package of support from the Government to cushion the effects of inflation.
*💬 What are your views on the Government's efforts to cushion the effects of inflation? What are some measures Singaporeans can take to cope with the high cost of living?*
The new edition of CDC vouchers provides households with $200 more help than the last tranche in 2023. As with the previous round, half the vouchers can be used at supermarkets, and half at hawker stalls and heartland merchants.
DPM Wong added that there were signs that 2024 would be better. Inflation should continue on a broad moderating trend, while the economy is expected to gradually improve.
However, he noted that there were still downside risks and dark clouds, such as armed conflict around the world and geopolitical tensions, which could impact the global economy.
Amid these uncertainties, DPM Wong encouraged Singaporeans to take changes in their stride, to adapt and thrive despite new challenges and threats.
DPM Wong also said that the Ministry of Finance was now working on Budget 2024 and was studying ways to provide additional support for Singaporeans.
👉🏻 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/127-million-singaporean-households-to-get-500-cdc-vouchers-each-from-jan-3
👉🏻 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/fairprice-offering-8-voucher-for-every-80-in-cdc-vouchers-spent-till-jan-17
5/1/24, 10:00 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow all members to send messages to this group
5/1/24, 10:03 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed the group description
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5/1/24, 10:09 am - +Telephone number: CDC vocher is temporarily?
5/1/24, 10:09 am - +Telephone number: GST inflation is “Permanent”
5/1/24, 10:10 am - +Telephone number: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UozfFvXCoZv5kkDL/?mibextid=QRhQuG
5/1/24, 10:10 am - +Frankie Wee: Yes no reduce alway upwards within period
5/1/24, 10:12 am - +Rama: Make it permanent!
5/1/24, 10:12 am - +Rama: No pofma!?
5/1/24, 10:22 am - +Sam: There is a specific GST offset package. Please google it. CdC voucher is more for helping to cushion current inflationary environment. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 10:22 am - +Frankie Wee: GST 8% were give out CDC voucher $200
If 10% were give out CDC voucher $700
5/1/24, 10:22 am - +Uncle Law: appreciate such a support for the citizens.
but there are still areas to further improve:
1) dispute between new and previous owner of using the vouchers after the property transactions
2) steps to help minimize frauds thru unauthorised links, perhaps can link to SingPass app directly?
5/1/24, 10:23 am - +Frankie Wee: Inflation couldn’t bring down or cool down. Every price of rice we pay rising cost with GST
5/1/24, 10:25 am - +Sam: Anyway don't equate inflation to GST, there are many factors
5/1/24, 10:27 am - +Sam: Maybe access any link via singpass app
5/1/24, 10:28 am - +Sam: Different household living under same address may be an issue as well
5/1/24, 10:30 am - +Darius Lee: Economists have sometimes found that government spending / cash injections can lead to inflationary pressures. Has the Government studied whether CDC vouchers may inadvertently contribute to inflation?
5/1/24, 10:33 am - +Rama: Interesting
5/1/24, 10:34 am - +Caleb: +1
5/1/24, 10:38 am - +Sam: Inflationary pressure comes from too much money chasing too few goods. Since CDC vouchers are for essential items and intended to help those that are struggling, I guess the impact on CDC cash injection is minimal. Furthermore the quantum is not big.
5/1/24, 10:39 am - +Smiley face: https://mothership.sg/2024/01/fairprice-s8-voucher-s80-cdc-vouchers/?utm_source=tele&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=MS
Till January 17th.
5/1/24, 10:42 am - +Smiley face: One powerful behavior of Asians and in a profound and existential truth is the frugality of the ordinary (ethnic) Chinese people compared to others, the fact is, Asians save more than Europeans or Americans!.....
5/1/24, 10:47 am - +Smiley face: Prospective:
Again, many backdrops, it will be a picture of a higher degree of ambiguity, a higher momentum of uncertainties and the coming volatiles (VAX) in all markets and categories of trades and commerces reflecting multiple scenarios of impending threats of supplies at the front of things, the critical goods and a higher chance of more confrontations and conflicts into 2024-25.
The impending geopoints of concern are the outcomes of the presidential election and it districts of Taiwan. And follow suits by the America, Indonesia and India, three crucial elections to watch, all happening in 2024. Cumulatively, over 2 billions lives out of the entire world population of 8 billions are heading to the polls to vote.
Another lost decade ahead? Both the HS index and the CSI 300 index lost 14% and 11% respectively for 2023. The optimistic view of China bouncing from the current deflationary mood to a neutral and turning positive will bring multiples and complex changes to the greater part of Asia that include East, Central and West Asia, a head-on impact on ASEAN, and the indirect inference to the stature and validity of the BRICS alliance are the mount of unknowns. A wiser thought is to not discount China immense potentials and internally the sophisticated metrics for growth both from a short-term and the mid-term prospectives. Is it too big to fail or too small to fall ? .....
5/1/24, 10:50 am - +Smiley face: This exercise or so called CDC vouchers is one meaningful initiative to soften the microeconomics and the segments of society as a whole the betterment of a stable and multiple calibrated outcomes for all of us.
Simply to say.... we are the lucky people! Why so? Let's see, find out and look out of the building!
5/1/24, 10:52 am - +Smiley face: Can Fair price extend this offer till the end of February?
Let's not rush into fair price and shop till all drops?
5/1/24, 10:59 am - +Bhavani: There are also countless unsustainable environmentally unfriendly products and services sold in the market g detrimental to the health of consumers but consumers may not be aware of how harmful these products could be
5/1/24, 11:03 am - +Rama: So short!
5/1/24, 11:03 am - +Rama: 😳😆🤷♂️
5/1/24, 11:05 am - +Smiley face: It doesn't matter if you choose to give away the CDC vouchers to the next buddy or a stranger who needs more to sustain his or her family COL!
It doesn't matter if you comes to know that this buddy sold your CDC vouchers and in exchange for lesser cash!
It doesn't really matters because when you Give, you Give!
In many people's life, there are always circumstances and situatuons that forced them to choose and decide!
5/1/24, 11:05 am - +Rama: Read the labels and understand the products. Consumer education by given by government and stat boards alone is insufficient.
5/1/24, 11:10 am - +Smiley face: How about your neighbors especially the seniors and elders who live ALONE and may not know of this dispersion of the CDC vouchers and how to claim it safely?
Go find out who needs the extra help, tell them to bring their IC to any Community Centres to get the Paper Vouchers.
Let's look out of the "Buildings"!
Thank you!
5/1/24, 11:11 am - +Rama: Senior Citizens Ambassadors will be roped in to reach out to them
5/1/24, 11:13 am - +Smiley face: Use this small opportunity to CONNECT with your neighbors, friends and importantly, the Block Spirit, previously known as *Kampong spirit*
"ever little steps will further the course and causes..."
5/1/24, 11:14 am - +Telephone number: Govt spending like acquiring/partnering with Pfizer for the so call vaccination when in paramedics 1 injury into many Haiz the amount spent comparing to CDC amt is “peanuts”
5/1/24, 11:15 am - +Smiley face: A potential scammer's sweet sport!
"so what if you have a Tag in front of you that spelled Amb...?"
5/1/24, 11:18 am - +Rama: True
5/1/24, 11:20 am - +Jimmy Chew: Why. He's helping his brother to make sense of what happening. People are no fool to see that the CDC vouchers are just, temporary. I met an old man who's happy and sad saying, they give and take away, breviary utilities are up.
5/1/24, 11:21 am - +Rama: Give a chicken wing but take back a whole chicken!
5/1/24, 11:22 am - +Jimmy Chew: Government did well on covid by being innovative and responsive. Let's see how they handle the inflationary pressure and the rise in GST and growing and aging population. More innovation and aha moments of the effective solutions. Hope not run of the meal knee jerk or knee jerk reaction with no thought like some badly managed countries. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 11:23 am - +Telephone number: If you notice when the announcement of minimum wage for part timers @ $9/hr you can see the price change in McDonald’s item.
Vice vs when the HDB “BTO” prices are so ridiculously inflated in “sliding scale slide” all others starts inflating too.
Chinese saying 羊毛出在羊身上
5/1/24, 11:25 am - +Telephone number: Innovative and responsive in a wrong way in my POV Haiz……
5/1/24, 11:29 am - +Rama: Help on one hand but get ostracized and sued on the other!
5/1/24, 11:31 am - +Frankie Wee: CDC voucher $2 buy $1.50 mean unchanged $0.50 to give in <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 11:32 am - +Rama: Cash would be better as such.
5/1/24, 11:34 am - +Frankie Wee: Hawker said no change cash as $2 vouchers is purchased drink
5/1/24, 11:35 am - +Frankie Wee: 😳
5/1/24, 11:35 am - +Rama: Wth!?
5/1/24, 11:36 am - +Frankie Wee: I don’t arguing issue so let them have it $0.50
5/1/24, 11:37 am - +Frankie Wee: I learned CDC voucher $2 mean not for cash exchange. Amount won’t change if purchase below $2
5/1/24, 11:42 am - +Jimmy Chew: Maybe I should use another word hahahaha
5/1/24, 11:44 am - +Telephone number: The trace together token was a failure and waste of tax payer $$$$
5/1/24, 11:46 am - +Jimmy Chew: Hahaha never thought of that. They person running it is not an MP
5/1/24, 11:46 am - +Rama: Vivian Balakrishnan comes to mind!
5/1/24, 11:46 am - +Jimmy Chew: One of the civil servants
5/1/24, 11:47 am - +Telephone number: MOH Haiz who else YK Ong
5/1/24, 11:48 am - +Jimmy Chew: Poor Vivian. A leader has to take the stupidity of those under to them 😔
5/1/24, 11:49 am - +Rama: From overspending on the youth Olympics to sgd 1.00 increase for those on public welfare to this!
5/1/24, 11:49 am - +Jimmy Chew: Hopefully the real person will not be the next MP. The bad one's know how to hide their mistakes hahahaha
5/1/24, 11:50 am - +Rama: Not LW!?
5/1/24, 11:51 am - +Jimmy Chew: Like Bill Clinton's taking 20 trips on Epstein private plane and not caught hahaha
5/1/24, 11:53 am - +Rama: Is his name on the just released list!?
5/1/24, 11:55 am - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. This time the CDC voucher $500 is a very large tranche and provided to every household to cushion the high cost of living.
Very appreciative.
2. These few years inflation are something that is not within our government control - it is a global phenomenon due to war, disruption in global supply chain, decoupling, global climate and pandemic - that results in these persistent high inflation.
3. Singapore is fortunate as our fiscal budget is healthy - and can dish out generous CDC voucher to help every Singaporean household.
4. Not the same can be said of other countries - whereby citizens have to wade through the high cost of living alone and see their saving depleted. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 11:55 am - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 11:58 am - +KL: That why is call voucher not cash
5/1/24, 12:00 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Singapore has about 1.4 million household x $500 = S$700 million.
Our government dishing out about $700 million to help every Singaporeans household.
Very appreciative.
5/1/24, 12:00 pm - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 12:02 pm - +E.H: My opinion:
1) Not that I support PAP but I get the need to increase GST to cushion the effect of the economy. Comparing to many developed countries, cost of living is already quite reasonable if one were to spend wisely.
2) Yes I know folks might disagree with my statement above and say those who are living poorly would be worse. I know that and I have lived that life before when I was growing up (Look up Blk 5 Beach Road)
3) @REACH is there anyway we can feed back for 2023 CDC vouchers instead of forfeiting it, can we request for it to be donated / distributed to IPCs AND ask for it to be dollar matched by ComChest or something?
5/1/24, 12:03 pm - +Rama: Point 3 is good
5/1/24, 12:05 pm - +Dan: It has been 5 days since GST increase. But the price increase for my meals these days is not only 1%. Inflation on the pretext of GST increase needs to be controlled at some level.
5/1/24, 12:06 pm - +Rama: Agree
5/1/24, 12:07 pm - +KL: appreciative but not sure any one really calculated , 500 divide by number of household is around 100 per pax or 10 dollar a month per pax. The opportunity cost is much greater comparre to the issue created.
5/1/24, 12:08 pm - +KL: Thus taking the 500 but bleed in heart
5/1/24, 12:08 pm - +E.H: Also @REACH is there anyway that the govt can provide some transparent guidelines on maximum or acceptable price range increase to business? (Example not more than 5% increase)
I see some business intentionally raising their prices >20% due to this GST increase opportunistically.
Yes I know the default answer from Govt is that they don't want to interfere with market economics but events like GST increase makes it necessary as an exceptional event.
5/1/24, 12:09 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Hahaha supply and demand. The shops that increased too steep, I noticed no customers. They later reduced it to acceptable levels. maybe my area got other food stalls who don't increase indiscriminately <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 12:09 pm - +Rama: Competition watchdog not doing their job!?
5/1/24, 12:10 pm - +Rama: Penny wise and pound foolish!
5/1/24, 12:10 pm - +E.H: Erm... Ownself check ownself, remember boss?
5/1/24, 12:10 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Consumers getting more intelligent
5/1/24, 12:11 pm - +Jimmy Chew: This message was deleted
5/1/24, 12:11 pm - +Bhavani: CDC voucher is given. However, those without income suffering from multiple conditions and certified as not being able to work have to repay the cdc through property tax, gst, gas, utilities like electricity and water, service and conservancy fees using their savings. This is not fair. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 12:11 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 12:12 pm - +E.H: On our end, as individual consumers, the effort we can do is to support businesses with reasonable price increase.
Like for me, if I have to walk 5 more mins to get something from a business that did not increase their price by a lot, I will do it
5/1/24, 12:12 pm - +Rama: Means testing must be tweaked further this coming 160224 budget!
5/1/24, 12:13 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
So including this $500 CDC voucher - my household on total have received $6,620 in 2023 - aggregating all the GST voucher, COL voucher, u-save rebates etc etc.
Very appreciative.
More than enough to cushion the GST hike and the high inflation.
5/1/24, 12:14 pm - +Rama: This message was deleted
5/1/24, 12:14 pm - +E.H: Expecting the government to cover everything is also not the right solution.
I don't want SG to be a welfare state too so there's a balance to strike.
I mentioned this before in my previous feedback - Action starts first from the government by only offering tenders or contracts to companies hiring x% of low income folks. @REACH not sure if this feedback is taken in
5/1/24, 12:15 pm - +Rama: Will be hefty but should go by per head in each house hold.
5/1/24, 12:15 pm - +E.H: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 12:25 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Assume on average 1.4 million household at $6,620 (+ -) = a whooping *$9.3 billions* a year 2023 - dish out to help every household to cushion the impact of GST hike and high inflation.
Wonder which other countries in the world - give such a generous fund to help their citizens?
Scouring through the internet - I can't come across any - except Singapore.
Hence once again - very appreciative of Singapore government generosity, Wisdom and prudence in accumulating our wealth - and dish out rainy season $ to help Singaporeans when crisis struck. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 12:25 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Wow that's like $500 every month for 2023? You stay 3 room?
5/1/24, 12:25 pm - +Rama: I do
5/1/24, 12:27 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Smart
5/1/24, 12:28 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Real cash would out to be?
5/1/24, 12:29 pm - +E.H: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 12:29 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Own Self pay own self
5/1/24, 12:31 pm - +E.H: Govt appointment holders agreeing to suspend their pay rise for this year or donating their pay rise or bonuses to charities without taking any tax benefits.
Set an example?
5/1/24, 12:34 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Yesterday when I go ntuc fair price - I saw an uncle try to use CDC voucher to buy cigarettes and beer.
The ntuc staff say, CDC voucher cannot be used to buy cigarettes and beer or wine.
Can only buy groceries.
Outside ntuc, I saw a long queue of people trying to buy 4D and toto.
I was thinking if these people can use CDC voucher to buy cigarettes, wine, gamble - wouldn't it defeat the purpose of government helping Singaporeans to cushion the high cost of inflation?
Then quietly I praise the government for coining the concept of CDC voucher instead of giving cash.
Else some ill informed Singaporeans will use government fund in sin goods or gamble rather than buying food for their families.
Wise government!
5/1/24, 12:36 pm - +Rama: Agree
5/1/24, 12:40 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Likewise I also praise the government for having the foresight to give u-save to subsidize utilities bill, and scc rebates to subsidize town council charges.
Else if government dish out cash - some will end up in 4d, toto, wines or cigarettes.
Wise government!
5/1/24, 12:42 pm - +Rama: Utilities rebates for 0.5 months must be stopped immediately. Start from one month and double to two.
5/1/24, 12:44 pm - +Telephone number: Precisely, for tax relief for spouse or parents they must not earn $4000 and more per “YEAR”!!! $333.33/mth
5/1/24, 12:45 pm - +Rama: Criteria must keep pace with COL !
5/1/24, 12:45 pm - +Telephone number: $10/day!!! Food and transport also not enough
5/1/24, 12:46 pm - +Telephone number: Temporary vs permanent
5/1/24, 12:46 pm - +Rama: Three basic meals sgd30.00 per day
5/1/24, 12:47 pm - +Telephone number: Vice vs to the road tax housing etc lol
5/1/24, 12:48 pm - +Telephone number: Medical Singapore subsidies MACAU is FREE!!! Even birth delivery
5/1/24, 12:48 pm - +Telephone number: 500K can buy a mansions in US vs a HDB
5/1/24, 12:48 pm - +Rama: And Macau is so small!
5/1/24, 12:50 pm - +Rama: Those on purely public assistance must get sgd100.00 increased in allowance for current COL!
5/1/24, 12:52 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Assuming my household expenses is $4,000 a month.
Annually this will be $48,000.
2. Now, let us take inflation (the high end figure) 5%.
GST hike 2%.
Total inflation is 7%.
3. But government financial assistance is $6,620 - and based on my annual expenses of $48,000 - it is a whooping 13.8% rise in revenue to cushion the 7% rise inflation.
4. To prove my hypothesis is correct, using a spreadsheet, indeed I have a profit in thousand of $.
5. So math don't lie.
6. Hence, I always use math and science - to verify my assumption - and I think my assessment is accurate.
5/1/24, 12:52 pm - +Rama: Fair enough
5/1/24, 1:00 pm - +Telephone number: Since dun lie too there are plenty of citizen injury from the jab and even the poor white mice died yet the jab continue when in medical we says “1” injury is too many!!! The trace together was used to diversify groups when Singapore was SUPPOSED to be in ONE SINGAPORE! It causes many families get seperated and blaming having jab and no jab!
5/1/24, 1:01 pm - +Sh Koh: I think the calculations is over simply. 2% not = simply by 2% of total expense.
5/1/24, 1:02 pm - +Rama: Numerous possibilities on virus being man made and pharmaceutical companies making huge profits to bring down world's population still linger with no liability!
5/1/24, 1:04 pm - +Jimmy Chew: yes very clinical, you stay in 3 room too?
5/1/24, 1:04 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Well, I am taking a simple calculation to make people understand.
The real test is the absolute figures that I did in the spreadsheet to the last $ and cents.
Indeed I have thousands dollars of profit.
5/1/24, 1:04 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I stay in 5 room flat.
5/1/24, 1:05 pm - +Rama: Upgrading works don't include toilets
5/1/24, 1:05 pm - +Jimmy Chew: mine did! I stay in 5 room <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 1:05 pm - +Sh Koh: From school canteen food to kopi tiam to ya kun ...its definitely not just simple.
5/1/24, 1:06 pm - +Rama: My brother in law five room in sengkang east no!
5/1/24, 1:06 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
But my absolute figures profit is a real figure.
5/1/24, 1:06 pm - +Jimmy Chew: oh, depends on the time of your life
5/1/24, 1:06 pm - +Jimmy Chew: profit goes to?
5/1/24, 1:07 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
My pocket for 2024 to cushion this year of inflation.
5/1/24, 1:07 pm - +Rama: Ownself excess funds kitty!
5/1/24, 1:09 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 1:09 pm - +Jimmy Chew: its 2024, what about 2023
5/1/24, 1:10 pm - +Dan: So here is the stats due to my observation. My calculation based on my cai fan. 1 meat + 2 veg was $4.80 in 2023. Recently after 1 Jan, increased to $6.00. That is a 25% increase. I can jolly well take a public tpt to somewhere else to eat, but it will incur further tpt cost. Left me with no choice.
5/1/24, 1:10 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Come 2024, my household will have $4,870.
And pending Budget 2024 to be announced by DPM Lawrence Wong - I am sure it will be beef up.
5/1/24, 1:11 pm - +Rama: You should get sgd5K.
5/1/24, 1:13 pm - +Sh Koh: Yup... nasi lemak just up from 3 to 3.50 also..
5/1/24, 1:15 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
That will be $9,000.
I think government budget cannot tahan.
I am reasonable.
Give my household sufficient to cover inflation and GST hike.
No need to be excessive.
Keep Singapore fiscal budget sustainable.
I am not greedy.
5/1/24, 1:17 pm - +Sh Koh: Neither is many. But this subsidies need to be more permanent. And more impt measures have to curb this high prices.
5/1/24, 1:21 pm - +Rama: Taxes first have to keep pace
5/1/24, 1:21 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Next I want to address the issues of:-
a. Will this current high inflation a permanent feature or a temporary one?
b. Does government fiscal budget sustainable to permanently provide such high financial assistance?
c. Should other self sustaining measures be considered such as rising income for workers be the more sustainable way to tackle high inflation?
d. But what about retirees, caregivers and those who lose jobs?
Any better way to help these groups tackle high inflation if this current inflation is indeed long term?
5/1/24, 1:23 pm - +Japanese words: Using what app?
5/1/24, 1:24 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
2. Another issue come to mind.
- starting 2024, big tech companies announce retrenchment.
This is a bit of concern.
Because if higher income is a measure to help Singaporeans workers cope with higher inflation - then business must be able to absorb the higher wages cost while remaining profitable and grow jobs.
5/1/24, 1:24 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Not apps.
COL calculator send by REACH.
5/1/24, 1:25 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
https://theindependent.sg/sweeping-lay-offs-at-lazada-singapore-as-2024-starts/
5/1/24, 1:25 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/xerox-cut-15-its-workforce-first-quarter-2024
5/1/24, 1:29 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
📢 *Cost-of-living Support Package*
The Singapore Government has announced a $1.1 billion cost-of-living support package to help households manage the rising cost of living.
This package includes various forms of support, such as GST vouchers, U-Save rebates, and Workfare Special Payment, among others.
Check out the infographics for more details!
*Find out the estimated benefits you and your household may receive from the Government with the Support For You Calculator!*
👉https://supportgowhere.life.gov.sg/budget/support-calculator
5/1/24, 1:30 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
This is the COL calculator.
People can supply their household parameters - and the col calculator will compute how much the household received per year for 5 years.
5/1/24, 1:36 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Another issue brought up here is valid.
2. When GST hike 1% last year, many food stalls raise their prices by 50 cents per bowl or plate of food.
3. This year, some food stalls again raise 50 cents again when GST hike another 1%.
4. In future, I will like to propose to the government not to break up GST hike of say 2% into 2 years because some business will take the opportunity to increase their food prices at each hike.
5. On hindsight, if GST hike if 2% is done all in 2023, then probably business will increase their food prices once at 50 cents instead of $1 now.
This is the psychological aspect of GST hike.
5/1/24, 1:36 pm - +Telephone number: Back to square
5/1/24, 1:38 pm - +Rama: Good point but difficult to implement
5/1/24, 1:41 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Another thing to bring up, government should hasten the pace of budget meal per coffeeshop, hawker center and food court - to curb profiteering.
2. Anti-Profiteering committee should also be more proactive in clamping down in food stalls who unreasonably ride on the cloak of GST hike to profiteer.
3. Consumers like us should be more wise to shun those food stalls that profiteer.
I have last week boycott a food stall who increase their food prices twice last year and this year after GST hike.
This is to teach business a lesson not to profiteer - and cause miseries to neighborhood consumers.
5/1/24, 1:47 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
More HDB coffee shops offering S$3.50 budget meals | Video.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/more-hdb-coffee-shops-offering-s350-budget-meals-video-3980886
5/1/24, 1:51 pm - +Timothy Low: Bearing in mind an increase of 1% of GST is not just merely 1%, I believe it’s 12.5% (1 divided 8)?
5/1/24, 1:51 pm - +Rama: This does not necessarily mean Good. The combination is decided by the hawker and can be difficult for some senior who are used to doing their own selection.
5/1/24, 1:52 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
There must be give and take.
5/1/24, 1:53 pm - +Rama: Will always be a one way street!
5/1/24, 1:57 pm - +Frankie Wee: Just now lunch order two dish’s 1 vegetables and 1 meat $4 at 45 Sims Dr, Singapore 380045
5/1/24, 1:58 pm - +Frankie Wee: $4-$5 so expensive
5/1/24, 2:00 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
For example, previously I patronize a stall that sell normal meal and a budget meal (a simple meal).
I interperse between normal meal and the budget meal.
The reason being I want to encourage the stall owner to keep the budget meal going - so that lower income group can afford an affordable budget meal.
Also, food to us full and healthy can be tasty but expensive or cheap but not as tasty (but it is only for 1 minute in taste bud) - but keep the body alive.
So it is give and take.
I can go with both.
5/1/24, 2:01 pm - +Kelvin Ang: Big supermarkets t doing something like this n does this not mean they r targetting a huge portion of the vouchers to themselves?
5/1/24, 2:02 pm - +Frankie Wee: Economy rice $4
Kopi-o $1.50
Total $5.50
24 days $132 per monthly = yearly $1,584.00
5/1/24, 2:05 pm - +REACH: *📢 Topic 📢*
5/1/24, 2:06 pm - +Rama: Government should consider getting all stalls in coffee shop and hawker centre to be part of a common association where prices can be monitored and association penalised for stall non compliance.
5/1/24, 2:12 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
I'm very touched to receive the cash and CDC vouchers.
Tmr I'm going to buy some food stuff to donate to food bank.
5/1/24, 2:13 pm - +Rama: Nice gesture
5/1/24, 2:13 pm - +Frankie Wee: Great heart warm
5/1/24, 2:16 pm - +Frankie Wee: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-in-2100-no-escape-from-scorching-heat-dry-spells-and-rising-seas
5/1/24, 2:16 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
$800 cash?
Last month.
My comments :
Oh yes, last month Oct given already if I can remember.
5/1/24, 2:16 pm - +Frankie Wee: Can’t escape we need a boat and our home are destroyed
5/1/24, 2:18 pm - +Frankie Wee: 2100 some people are healthy and alive up 100 years old.
5/1/24, 2:20 pm - +Rama: I hope to be six foot under!
5/1/24, 2:21 pm - +Sh Koh: That's 1 person... one household will be... 😞
5/1/24, 2:22 pm - +Smiley face: 700sqkm vs 7,000sqkm vs 700,000sqkm
5/1/24, 2:25 pm - +Smiley face: Consolidation
5/1/24, 2:25 pm - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 2:26 pm - +Smiley face: It's healthy to relook and if needed, to restructure.
5/1/24, 2:27 pm - +Rama: A must asap!
5/1/24, 2:27 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
In fact, anxiety, cravings, aggression, negative energy such as unhappiness, expectations, wants, desires etc will slowly retreat.
Serenity, calmness, equanimity and positive energy will crowd out negative energy.
We will be happier, more contented, less stressful and less cravings, more appreciative.
5/1/24, 2:27 pm - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 2:27 pm - +Smiley face: What other areas , areas of concern, areas of contention?
5/1/24, 2:28 pm - +Smiley face: Fair price Meals?
5/1/24, 2:28 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Yesterday we talk about how positive energy can crowd out negative energy of cravings, wanting, desires.
Indeed positive thinking and actions - can crowd out negative energy - 贪嗔痴。
5/1/24, 2:29 pm - +Rama: The budget meal price and selection must take into account the dietary of the seniors before implementation.
5/1/24, 2:29 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Hmm...
Yes a good thought.
5/1/24, 2:31 pm - +Smiley face: How do workers in other countries find their daily lunches?
In Japan, in Malaysia?
Packed lunch to work? Buy from convenience places?
Supermarkets selling affordable lunch boxes?
5/1/24, 2:33 pm - +Smiley face: Analytics for Food gross profits goes like this....50% GP from each sales and incremental revenue from add-on such as hot/drink drinks. Desserts are the killer!
5/1/24, 2:35 pm - +Frankie Wee: Country has inflation going up price each meal. They keep on calculating each monthly control spent expenses.
5/1/24, 2:35 pm - +Smiley face: Don't believe wholesale "this and that" and "here & there"; if there is no GP or P... then what the H are they continuing these economic activities! Pls apply this concept to many things...
5/1/24, 2:36 pm - +Frankie Wee: In Singapore willing pay price for meal to enjoying lifestyle is different from outside country.
5/1/24, 2:36 pm - +Smiley face: Let's play up this narrative of COL and the rising costs of all things... let's start the deeper discussion and brainstorm for solutions.
5/1/24, 2:37 pm - +Smiley face: As the saying goes..."people will seek for more comforts and the conveniences of daily living..."
5/1/24, 2:37 pm - +Frankie Wee: Low family income seek help meet the people session on block HDB blow PAP.
5/1/24, 2:38 pm - +Smiley face: It can be bridged but IT TAKES TIME, EFFORTS and SELF DISCIPLINE and importantly, LET'S GET ORGANISED!
5/1/24, 2:38 pm - +Frankie Wee: Singapore is first CPF
Non of other countries will have pension nor enough cost them empty saving.
5/1/24, 2:38 pm - +Smiley face: Yes Sir! One spot light!
5/1/24, 2:39 pm - +Smiley face: Go Africa.... either you hunt for a tiger or the tiger hunts you down?
5/1/24, 2:40 pm - +Smiley face: It is possible! Anonymity never presents non-sense....
5/1/24, 2:41 pm - +Kenneth Lee WM: To fund the handouts, gov increased property tax by more than 100% (after all the complex computations applied and after new annual value announced) for rental units !!!!!!!!!!!!
Fainted. Most of the rental contracts are running halfway, can’t increase tenant rentals. Must wait for new contract. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 2:41 pm - +Frankie Wee: Africa people usually eat wild animals and environmentalists still low develop and humanity are getting sick or disease.
5/1/24, 2:43 pm - +Smiley face: Awareness, Acknowledge
(生在富中，必认知？)
5/1/24, 2:46 pm - +Smiley face: The immediate past 2 years of escalated rentals are enough to sustain into the next 1-2 years!
Is this a caustiously optimistic outlook for 24/25?
5/1/24, 2:46 pm - +Rama: Family services centre and AIC too.
5/1/24, 2:46 pm - +Rama: Yeah
5/1/24, 2:46 pm - +Smiley face: 2 January, 2024
"If you can't see it, you cannot see it all !"
"Economics History: From 1973 and for the past fifty years of ups and downs of the Dow Jones index & the NASDAQ index, a common indicator is if you believed in Prosperity and you have invested in America; today, you win! If we look at the performance of Straits Times index for the last 30 years, the same trend and outcome; today, you win too! What is the usefulness of Gold and Paper Money? Draw a line, a clean sheet of paper and rechart the future!
All graphs or charts don't always tell the truth? If you have put your money in 2013 or lately in 2020 or earliest in 2009 into anyone or more of these centres of exchange: NYSE or Nikkei 225 or HSI, or CSI; perhaps your returns today is 2x or more, and possibly more than 10x on regional markets, specific sectors and betting on clusters of stocks driving the US- China economies from 2008 to post pandemic 2023.
One truth, the critical windows to invest happened in the year 2009, 2018, 2020 to 2022 and the rest is money making time.
What will 2024 and 2025 brings to your money pot, will it boom again or will it bomb out?
What are the historical lessons from the economics, world politics, the pacts and the order of trades & the past-present relationships, and the divergent of ideologies and societies (multilateralism vs plurilateralism vs unilateralism)? How the future world plays it all (2030-2050-2100)?"
- - anonymity
Part one...
5/1/24, 2:47 pm - +Rama: 😳😆👌
5/1/24, 2:52 pm - +Smiley face: A relevant question to ask is: when was Temasek and GIC founded? The rest is history, still in the making...
We are one lucky people!
5/1/24, 2:53 pm - +Smiley face: Go Hunger!
5/1/24, 2:53 pm - +KL: Maybe is 塞翁失马，焉知非福 (A blessing in disguise) <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 2:54 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Anonymous. You cannot see if you don't know what you don't know. This is the new reality our leaders have to navigate
5/1/24, 3:02 pm - +Smiley face: The ability to "see" is a mixture of the Arts & Sciences.
The transcending abilities are on many occasions and over the course of time-frame limited to a few, totally out of the world!
"some people took a lifetime to understand while some took a couple of years to get it into their head and a handful got it sooner than all of the above folks...!"
- - anonymity
5/1/24, 3:03 pm - +Smiley face: Good Chinese abilities!
5/1/24, 3:03 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Indeed human miseries and sufferings arises from negative energy of 贪嗔痴 (Greed, Anger and Non-Wisdom - wrong knowledge of universal truth).
Positive energy will generate (No-Self, Wisdom and Compassion) 无我，智慧，慈悲 and purge the negative attributes of 贪嗔痴 (Greed, Anger and Ignorance). <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 3:03 pm - +Rama: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 3:04 pm - +Rama: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 3:04 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Yin and yang. Balance of forces
5/1/24, 3:05 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
心
Wisdom, No-Self, Compassion riding on Purism (Lotus).
5/1/24, 3:05 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
佛治心。
道治身。
儒治世。
5/1/24, 3:16 pm - +Japanese words: 😅 if we have all the required talent then we won’t be hiring overseas
Need to balance both side
5/1/24, 3:16 pm - +Japanese words: If make it so hard to hire.. company will just move elsewhere, important that main workforce still Singaporean.
5/1/24, 3:17 pm - +Japanese words: Most overseas hire are for short term, rather than long term.. which local usually won’t consider contract work
5/1/24, 3:18 pm - +Japanese words: But then again, very very hard to hire locals… 😅
Maybe my company pay too low 🤷🏻♂️
5/1/24, 3:18 pm - +KL: This message was deleted
5/1/24, 3:18 pm - +Japanese words: ?
5/1/24, 3:19 pm - +KL: they talking about EP . so I don't think low pay
5/1/24, 3:19 pm - +Japanese words: Even diploma my side offer 2.7k
2 years work experience also reject 😂
5/1/24, 3:20 pm - +Japanese words: High pay also means high skilled…
5/1/24, 3:20 pm - +KL: NOt really
5/1/24, 3:21 pm - +Rama: Birth rate must go up, pro family incentive policies from government and support from all employers, affordable housing and education costs, food costs, utilities, medical amongst others must be reasonable to assist in growing the local population.
5/1/24, 3:21 pm - +KL: Some place hire a lot of PR and use the PR number to hire foerginers.
5/1/24, 3:21 pm - +Rama: Gaps
5/1/24, 3:42 pm - +Telephone number: Recently NEA Hawker stall bidding like CRAZY
5/1/24, 3:43 pm - +Telephone number: Mall and restaurant is private
5/1/24, 3:43 pm - +Rama: Rental high will mean food cost high!
5/1/24, 3:43 pm - +Telephone number: NEA hawker is Govt why so
High
5/1/24, 3:44 pm - +Rama: Exactly!?
5/1/24, 3:44 pm - +Telephone number: Precisely 羊毛出在羊身上
5/1/24, 3:45 pm - +Rama: Reduce the remuneration package for all serving members of parliament and government including head of state!
5/1/24, 3:46 pm - +Smiley face: Wait....AI is coming?
5/1/24, 3:46 pm - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 3:47 pm - +Smiley face: "The wise seldom hurry and the people who hurry are seldom wise."
- - anonymity
5/1/24, 3:55 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
This interpretation of Singapore falling to 15th place in the world may not be correct.
Because GDP per Capita PPP - Singapore is world 3rd after Luxembourg and Ireland.
That means Singapore is the 3rd richest country in the world not 15th. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 3:56 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 3:58 pm - +Rama: OK
5/1/24, 3:59 pm - +Smiley face: 5 January, 2024
"At What Costs?"
If we view things as either tangible or intangibles, we can also assume it is either subjective or objective. All of these varieties of life come in good, bad and ugly form. In the eyes of foreigners living in a country, they have a mindsets and perceptions of this foreign land that they are living and working in. It is through all of the actual experiences and exchanges with the local residences, they will begin to understand and form opinions and views of this land, the people and the ways many things work.
On the flip side we have the local residences either a permanent citizens or born citizens. So in the eyes of a foreigner, Singapore, perhaps is a stable, simpler and a striking difference when they compared to their own and elsewhere whether it is Asia, Europe or America or Latin America or even Africa.
In every little changes come with counter measures. The theory of Change is one of the laws of nature just like the force of gravity, cannot be changed! Imagining if you visits a foreign country, how would you survey or examine the local ethos and the way (COL) of livings? First of all you open your eyes to see things around you and you compares, next is you activates your thought process and start to think, and finally, in your heart, you feel and sense if it is your destination before you decides to come back again or not again!
We, the humankind, ought to understand the limitations or economists called it the parametrical measurements of any entity. We need to open up our thoughts and less the distortions from a single source of information or social media formatted opinions; there will always be a good situation, a bad outcome or even the urgiest moment that kickes you off the balance and shocked you! Don't let these kicks spoiled your mood!
"The future is what we make of it. We owe it to ourselves to give of our best to build the foundations of a harmonious and integrated nation, peaceful, prosperous and vigilant, a haven of tolerance, harmony and progress in the stormy seas of Southeast Asia."
- - MM Lee Kuan Yew
Why Singapore is the easiest place to land?
Why it is paramount for foreigners whom are choosing or thinking of relocation to another country that they will examine all of these vital metrics of migration (including COL & education systems) in the cohort there are talents, the wealthy ones, and there are some who priortise "weathering through" the thunderstorm of global uncertainties over other relevant metrics.
Nothing matches the two big and most critical metrics of all time and anywhere; that's Peace and Prosperity- you just can't buy it with money!
- - in progress - -
5/1/24, 4:00 pm - +REACH: *📢 Topic 📢*
5/1/24, 4:10 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 4:10 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 4:11 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
This mirror the GDP per Capita PPP for Singapore household $108,036 per annum. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 4:13 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
That's if a couple in a household earn $5,000 per month = $10,000 per month.
Realistic calculation. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 4:17 pm - +Franco: this CDC voucher should be given to individual and not to household. There r situation where people who stay in the same household cos they need an address, of course, if they can afford to buy their own, they wont be staying with their relatives. In such instance, most of these people didnt get to enjoy the CDC household voucher benefit.
5/1/24, 4:18 pm - +Rama: Definitely
5/1/24, 4:20 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 4:20 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 4:20 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Good news.
Ocbc can moneylock fixed deposit come 1st quarter 2024.
5/1/24, 4:20 pm - +Franco: could also be old folks who stay with their children. But his or her children would have taken the CDC and the poor old folks are not really enjoying the benefits where they need it most.
5/1/24, 4:22 pm - +Sh Koh: Guess by household. At least easier for govt to budget. If everyone then many variable....
5/1/24, 4:25 pm - +Franco: of course i dun expect 500 bucks for each person lah...
5/1/24, 4:25 pm - +Franco: 对症下药! Not just concentrate on macro issues, solve the micro problems.
5/1/24, 4:26 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I think I. Oct 2023, individual can receive up to $800. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 4:27 pm - +Franco: errh...tats a separate issue.
5/1/24, 4:27 pm - +Rama: You mean 2023 from 5 to 8 hundred?
5/1/24, 4:27 pm - +Franco: we r discussing about "household CDC".
5/1/24, 4:27 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 4:28 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Senior can receive up to $300 per person
Medisave Top-Up is $150.
5/1/24, 4:28 pm - +Rama: So where does 2923 come in?
5/1/24, 4:28 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
All these are individual financial help.
5/1/24, 4:29 pm - +Rama: Individual financial help cannot be standard across the board
5/1/24, 4:29 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
For household help:-
1. U-save rebates - utilities.
2. Scc - town council charges.
3. CDC voucher - household caregivers.
Individual help is separated.
5/1/24, 4:30 pm - +Franco: yes, indeed. But there r situations where individuals especially the old ones who dun get to really use the CDC Vouchers....
5/1/24, 4:31 pm - +Rama: Medical and transport for them should be enhanced
5/1/24, 4:33 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Household will got to discuss how to use it.
Eg. I discuss with my family members:-
1. Should I control it - but buy groceries and food for everyone.
Or
2. Should I send the links to all my family members and anyone can use it - but no control.
My family members voted 1.
Because they know I am discipline and trust me that I will use the CDC voucher properly for the whole family and record the usage for everyone to see.
5/1/24, 4:35 pm - +Rama: I discuss with my spouse
5/1/24, 4:36 pm - +Franco: Congratulations....u have a Great family! But there r many families out there, half broken, living in silence, zero rights to question, etc etc.....
5/1/24, 4:37 pm - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 4:37 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Sometimes, it is better citizens control over household matters.
Government cannot micromanage right to the last one because
清官难断家务事。
A bright court official is difficult to meddle into a family affair.
5/1/24, 4:37 pm - +Rama: Agree
5/1/24, 4:37 pm - +Franco: true also...
5/1/24, 4:41 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Another better way as head household.
I could divide the $500 by the number of household members - and give each one cash.
Then I fully control and use the $500 CDC voucher.
Problem solved!
Government no headaches into meddling with 1.4 million family affairs.
5/1/24, 4:52 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Because as household head - I only manage a few family members.
If tell government to micromanage 1.4 million household with 5.65 million people (comprising elderly, babies, parents, kids, uncles and auntie) ----- it will be a nightmare for any brightest of the bright 清官 (Court official).
Even LKY can't pull this feat...
5/1/24, 5:19 pm - +Redzuan: Just after Covid, prices go up some even more than double.
When property prices ☝️. Dominoes to rental, fnb, transport, tariffs, wastes... and more. Social harmony slows down dramatically. No-one wants to live a selfish society.. ??
Like someone in this chat always end up ---
" works is progress... "
Perhaps some education on spending habits, eating habits, reducing/managing domestic and commercial waste is very important forward. Da da da..
We have a lot of MPs in the cabinets. (All Political parties, must state this if not, i see more pro's ) more is coming in the next election. Am not sure if just sitting there and collecting salary is the way to go.. 🫣
We can't just build n build to increase the population numbers to sustain economically. There are maintenance, waste, water issues, and others not forgetting the human elements.
Long-term effects.. affordability, society, livability, .......
Singapore is unique, and I am sure more can be done *Together*.
5/1/24, 5:25 pm - +Sh Koh: Yes.. the govt shld consider control prices up instead just throw more money.. sometimes feel like adding fuel to fire.
5/1/24, 5:26 pm - +Rama: Government must publish a list of pricing for essential commodities to be sold at a standard price island wide!
5/1/24, 5:26 pm - +Sh Koh: Was thinking like taxi fare... up abt 6-7% recently... though comfort give some rent relieve.. but they also take back by increase commission from 5 to 7%
5/1/24, 5:27 pm - +Rama: Don't smile on so called relief!
5/1/24, 5:34 pm - +Eunice Lim: try the price kaki app (can dl from app stores)
more info on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pricekaki/
5/1/24, 5:38 pm - +Rama: This is only a price comparison app. No need for it if public can rely on government fixed priced indicators.
5/1/24, 5:39 pm - +Smiley face: https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/latest-singapore-coe-prices-and-bidding-results-4-january-100636878.html
"COE premiums for motorcycles, or Category D, were the only ones to increase. It rose slightly to S$9,114 after closing at S$9,002 in the last tender." (yahoo finance)
sekajap... the COE for motorcycles is higher. Hopefully it will come to $5k-$6 range and the total cost of a (small CC) new motorcycle will be $14k and lower?
5/1/24, 5:40 pm - +Rama: Motorcycle is a poor person transport!
5/1/24, 5:41 pm - +Smiley face: Yes, Sir!
For some it is a must tpt tool.
5/1/24, 5:44 pm - +Smiley face: Is LTA able to look into this basic of the basics of Private transport, thank you!
(Sekajap, COE untuk motosikal adalah tinggi!)
5/1/24, 5:45 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
"Price control creates long term distortions, say economists".
Bring more unintended side effects that worsen inflation.
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/651258#:~:text=Highlight-,Price%20control%20creates%20long%20term%20distortions%2C%20say%20economists,-By%20Chester%20Tay
5/1/24, 5:47 pm - +Rama: So, increase subsidies is the best way!?
5/1/24, 5:50 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Targeted financial assistance is the best way.
Market competition and consumer response to profiteering is often the best way to keep price down.
Price control and rent control will worsen inflation and lead to market distortion.
This is an economic reality.
5/1/24, 5:50 pm - +Franco: if so easy as u said...then it wont be so much poor people who could not get anything out of the cdc voucher liao. Ur method is still based on a healthy, educated, warmth, caring, considerate household or head of household.
5/1/24, 5:50 pm - +Rama: Fair
5/1/24, 5:51 pm - +Smiley face: Chasing the stars...?
5/1/24, 5:51 pm - +Rama: 🤷♂️
5/1/24, 5:51 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Well this is human 修养。
Cannot be help.
5/1/24, 5:51 pm - +Franco: not seeking govt to go to work on the household. Give out the cdc vouchers individually, not as household. Utilities can still stand but not cdc vouchers.
5/1/24, 5:52 pm - +Rama: Agree
5/1/24, 5:52 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
$500 if got 10 person in a household - how to give?
Got uncle, auntie, babies?
5/1/24, 5:53 pm - +Rama: Let's discuss
5/1/24, 5:53 pm - +Smiley face: Based on individuals Tax returns?
Unemployed, age groups?
Welfare beneficiaries?
Exceptional and long term beneficiaries?
5/1/24, 5:53 pm - +Rama: A lot of factors
5/1/24, 5:53 pm - +Frankie Wee: Whoa so big family in one household
5/1/24, 5:53 pm - +Rama: 🤷♂️
5/1/24, 5:54 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
You mean government go to every household to discuss or household members discuss among themselves?
5/1/24, 5:54 pm - +Sh Koh: So our govt rental housing also worsen inflation ? How abt our HDB
5/1/24, 5:54 pm - +Frankie Wee: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 5:54 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Each one 10 cents.
5/1/24, 5:58 pm - +Franco: haha...this one 5000 bucks also not enough ah! 😘
5/1/24, 5:59 pm - +Franco: i m referring to in general....dun be so specific mah. But wats wrong with giving cdc vouchers to individuals rather than household?
5/1/24, 5:59 pm - +Frankie Wee: It’s better for each family member should get own house HDB rather than stay in one house
5/1/24, 5:59 pm - +Franco: even 20 bucks matter to some folks....
5/1/24, 6:00 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Only got $500.
How much to give individual?
Some 10 cents because 100 members.
Some $10?
Some $100?
Some $500?
5/1/24, 6:00 pm - +Franco: some really cannot afford ah, bopian, got to stay with siblings, or cousins....
5/1/24, 6:00 pm - +Frankie Wee: 1994 I was start working 😅
5/1/24, 6:00 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
That's why got individual GST voucher and got household CDC voucher.
5/1/24, 6:00 pm - +REACH: *📢 Topic 📢*
5/1/24, 6:00 pm - +Frankie Wee: Get 2room single or let go ready get marriage 😅
5/1/24, 6:01 pm - +Redzuan: Its sad to hear the word "poor people" ..
Previously, when i was doing pte hire ...
Passenger was talking...
" Only Commoners take public transport" ...
🤔🤔🤔 <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 6:01 pm - +Rama: Use similar Singapore conversation or forward Singapore dialogue.
5/1/24, 6:02 pm - +Rama: Not practical in our country.
5/1/24, 6:12 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
修身齐家治国平天下。
Should include 修心。
Family harmony is a prize attributes that every household must cultivate.
Hence policy should train people to cultivate this positive attributes.
If people cannot operate harmoniously in a family, wonder how do people operate and integrate into a society?
5/1/24, 6:12 pm - +KL: Maybe u can go to the one room flat . I saw a few family in tpy Blk 17x when doing deliveries. So ur 500 really split to a lot of ppl one . Are they on welfare I not sure . Just bypass <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 6:12 pm - +KL: They sleep at corridor
5/1/24, 6:14 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Then this will come under the purview of MSF not mof.
MSF will have already provided finance assistance to them if they are under social welfare schemes. <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 6:14 pm - +Smiley face: Structurally dislocation.
5/1/24, 6:17 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Broken family come under MSF.
Mof don't meddle with family affairs.
5/1/24, 6:20 pm - +Smiley face: Diversity and Variety concepts:
Low-mid-Hi prices/goods/services
Why ? And why not control prices?
5/1/24, 6:20 pm - +Bhavani: Yes I agree about not continuing to build and build. look at Pasir Ris now so many concrete buildings coming up.
5/1/24, 6:21 pm - +KL: I don't understand why they megre JC but build enonia ? And along a 6 KM road got 3 JC . From Yio Chu kang MRT station to Braddel height <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 6:23 pm - +Smiley face: Density & Distancing?
5/1/24, 6:23 pm - +KL: LOl 6 KM got 3 or 4 JC <This message was edited>
5/1/24, 6:23 pm - +Smiley face: Finite development?
5/1/24, 6:24 pm - +Smiley face: How many students are living up to 10km radius?
5/1/24, 6:24 pm - +Bhavani: All Singaporeans need pasir ris forests and the beach to enjoy nature
5/1/24, 6:24 pm - +KL: Let me tell u 2 are consider good school are located 1.6 KM away .
5/1/24, 6:25 pm - +Smiley face: Greener Space is an issue...
5/1/24, 6:25 pm - +KL: Anderson and Catholic are end of the 6 KM road
5/1/24, 6:27 pm - +Rama: Sad
5/1/24, 6:27 pm - +KL: Neverthless, spending 100Millions on a New JC is expenvie when u merge JC is my point of View
5/1/24, 6:27 pm - +Rama: Enoia!? So hard to pronounce!
5/1/24, 6:28 pm - +KL: Yet ur GST Voucher only 700 millions right?
5/1/24, 6:28 pm - +Rama: Possible overkill!?
5/1/24, 6:29 pm - +KL: only those really travel around in Singapore know I guess : )
5/1/24, 6:31 pm - +Smiley face: State land sales deals hit 11-year high of $7.7 billion in 2023
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/state-land-sales-deals-hit-11-year-high-of-77-billion-in-2023
Finite or Infinite?
5/1/24, 6:33 pm - +Rama: Has the rate for acquisition of private land gone up too!?
5/1/24, 6:35 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
"North Korea fires over 200 rounds of artillery shells near South Korean islands".
As I rightly guess, military skirmishes erupted.
Residents on the two islands were ordered to evacuate, and ferries were suspended as South Korea held a live-fire exercise after the North’s barrage – one of the most serious military escalations on the peninsula since Pyongyang fired shells at one of the same islands in 2010.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-fires-artillery-shells-near-south-korean-islands-seoul#:~:text=North%20Korea%20fires%20over%20200%20rounds%20of%20artillery%20shells%20near%20South%20Korean%20islands
5/1/24, 6:36 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 6:37 pm - +Rama: As if South China Sea problem is not enough! ?
5/1/24, 6:40 pm - +Smiley face: The analytics of the future of Developments?
Going forward, perhaps on the front of the entire landscape of SG, this case is land bank in particular freehold lands. How many freehold acreages and specifically which locations is it?
Space is space, the limitations to build and rebuild. We may have limited choices but reactive our "Land Acquisition" acts...to equalise and superoptimise our land use for economics and social benefits?
5/1/24, 6:41 pm - +Rama: As long as the rate keeps up with the times and circumstances
5/1/24, 6:41 pm - +Smiley face: Another corridor of contests is the Sea front of Finland....
5/1/24, 6:43 pm - +Smiley face: What if interest rates stagnated? How?
What will be the new findings from Bonds to equities?
5/1/24, 6:43 pm - +Rama: 🤷♂️
5/1/24, 6:43 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
2024 will be a very difficult year.
That's why we need Tharman.
5/1/24, 6:44 pm - +Smiley face: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 6:45 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
⏰ We will be closing the chat in *15 minutes* ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
5/1/24, 6:47 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Crisis could erupt.
5/1/24, 6:48 pm - +Smiley face: To answer this big question..... wait
5/1/24, 6:48 pm - +Rama: Agree
5/1/24, 6:49 pm - +Smiley face: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 6:49 pm - +Rama: Yes
5/1/24, 6:49 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
2024 could be a dangerous year.
A widespread regional war(s).
5/1/24, 6:50 pm - +Smiley face: Akan datang....hey, Andrew, pls do read the above long essay. Thanks
5/1/24, 6:50 pm - +Rama: WWIII!?
5/1/24, 6:50 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Europe, middle east and Asia Pacific.
5/1/24, 6:56 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 6:56 pm - +Smiley face: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 6:58 pm - +Smiley face: <Media omitted>
5/1/24, 6:59 pm - +Smiley face: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3241453/china-launches-worlds-fastest-internet-12-terabit-second-link-years-ahead-forecasts
5/1/24, 6:59 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
5/1/24, 6:59 pm - +Anne: Dear G,
Here are my suggestions:
1) You are the cause of some of the inflation - increasing GST, increasing property tax, increasing carbon tax, increasing water tax etc etc. As a joke goes:
"The biggest scam in life:
Paying taxes on money you make,
taxes on money you spend,
and taxes on things you own,
that you already paid taxes on,
with already taxed money."
If you were to stop the increase in taxes, it will help to alleviate inflation a lot. Before you tell us you need the tax money for such and such important projects, please think of reducing and even eliminating the wastage generated by you. Eg
- the $880k bin centre at NAC,
- millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines discarded
- free COVID-19 vaccines given to everybody, even though most people can afford the cost of the jabs. Today I understand each dose costs > $100. Means testing could have been used.
- millions/billions spent on VDS which has very little public health outcome
Reducing and even eliminating waste in government spending should be the priority before you happily increase our taxes.
2) For the CDC food vouchers, appreciate if you could denominate them all in $2 and/or $5. If a household has only one person who eats frugally, how is the person going to spend the vouchers denomoinated in $10? In 2023, a food stallholder kindly allowed me to owe her $5 the first time I patronise, and deduct the $10 voucher the second time I patronise her stall.
3) Our CPF OA is still paying most of us 2.5%. Allow us to invest 100% of our CPF OA funds in gold and silver - the tried-and-true long-term inflation hedges. Then you don't need to keep explaining to us why you need to keep increasing the minimum sum when the interest you pay cannot keep up with inflation. Also, have your own vaults to keep CPF members' gold and silver. Putting our precious metals in bank vaults risks having them stolen by the banks if the banks go bankrupt.
4) Banks contribute to inflation with their increasing interest rates and appalling service standards. Banks may not be able to do much to control the interest rates, but their service standards can be truly appalling. For my bank to do partial repayment, they require a 1-month notice; to do full repayment they require a 2-month notice. The issue is this: with our world-class computer systems at the banks, why do they need this type of notice? What is the purpose of such notice? For them to earn extra interest from property owners? The repayment should be processed the moment they receive the funds. This practice is unscrupulous and should be stopped. Recently I gave the bank notice to do partial repayment for my mortgage loan, and they gave official notice that my repayment would be processed on 26 Dec 2023. They did not do so. I had to keep calling them to chase them. They explained that their colleague just raised the request to process the repayment since my stated repayment amount differed from the amount received. I told them that the funds were given to them around 1 month ago, so why did they only process this discrepancy only after I called them? What were they doing during that 1-month notice??? Obviously nothing! One way to reduce inflation is to encourage property owners to continually do partial repayments, even if they are investors enjoying positive cashflows. Also, during this period of high interest rates, banks should not be paying us extremely low interest rates for our deposits while their CEO walks away with millions of dollars in bonuses.
5/1/24, 7:00 pm - +Smiley face: 5 January, 2023
"More than the Basics?"
A few basics of human needs are as follows:
Basic:
Roof above the head
Job
Food & Clothing
Health & Safety
Living environments
Complex:
Bigger roof above
Better paying job & career path
Better foods, clothings and leisures
Comforts and conveniences
Social Security
Healthy and ageing and retirement
Control over the living space
Revolution 2.0?
It is a revolution! It revolves around the expectations and aspirations of individual more so in the younger adults and at the same time it continues to evolve.
The rise and fall of a society?
In a highly developed and highly competitive nation, it is expected that such an internal rigour of expectations and aspirations converge into a complex social ethos of merit and demerit. The idea of giving credit where credit is and rewarding people based on their merits sounds an easy and fair deal for all people.
In reality, today, only a fraction of a society will benefit from the system of merit and credit while the larger part of the society will feel demoralise that this system of rewards are working against them.
What are the equalising formula and are there ways to equalise? Where are the foundation and the baseline to begin with in this system of rewards?
Will social policies play an effective tool and less so for economic policies to realign those who have fallen or entrap, and in a mental state of consternation?
What are the incentives to level up things before a nation progress further in the train of merits? It is an inflection point and the beginning of a weaken cohesive society that will carry all of these flaws along the timeline of progression and it might flatten the growth trajectory of social and economics of a nation.
Hope not, the eventuality will be a domino effects, one after another falls apart regardless of race or religion. And politics is about delivering the promises, perpetuating purpose, peace and prosperity, and persuading the people to lead the causes for change and progress.
- - in progress - -
5/1/24, 7:00 pm - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow only admins to send messages to this group
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