Gripes on Life

As the election draws near, everyone must be aware of the following issues in order to make a proper assessment on his/her voting decision.

• High cost of accommodation - Public housing (HDB) is suppose to be affordable. Although it is possible to pay off your mortgages (assuming one does manage to hold on to a stable reasonably well paying job), many people find that most of their CPF is locked in their housing. One does not have the option to capitalise on the rising value of their homes as selling off the place you stay in is simply not an option at all.

• High core inflation - Nothing erodes savings faster than inflation. If you just look at the price of a cup of coffee in coffeshops, you will notice that the price of a cup of coffee has increased from 70 cents to a dollar over the last 5 years. This is a 43% increase in price. In contrast, wages for the middle and lower income group hasn't risen significantly over the same period. When was the last time you remembered you pay even increasing 30% in the same period?

• Overcrowding If you look at the streets and around your neighbourhood, you might have noticed that the country has become a much more crowded place during the last 5 years. The infrastructure (especially transport) is bursting at its seams. Commuters cannot squeeze into trains and buses at certain times of the day. Some people might say that other cities like Tokyo, London and Hong Kong have the same problem. But then again, do these cities have COEs? Privatised 'Public' Transport companies have no incentive to increase the number of trips or carriages during peak hours. As a simple matter of logic, the higher the density of the passengers within a carriage, the higher the profit per unit cost for the company. Does developed country status mean that one has to suffer the indignity of squeezing in the carriage?

• The tax burden The coffeeshop uncle, cleaners and childcare assistants earn $30 a day and spend $20 on food, transport and accommodation. (66%) The professionals (think lawyers, doctors and bankers) and businessmen earn $400 a day and spend $50 on food, $50 on their cars $100 on the condo a day. (50%) The tax burden on the rich might be higher, but tax forms a higher percentage of the spending of the poor. $700 payoff every 4 years isn't going to help a struggling person over 1,460 days.. If the tax system is suppose to be progressive, then please impose a tax on luxury items such as yachts, designer bags and extravagant dinners. The tax from these unnecessary expenditures can then be channeled into cheaper housing and education for all Singaporeans. It is pretty disgusting to see dinners costing $200 per pax when a person earns nowhere near that amount in a week. (Disclaimer: This is a non-political entry. Just some points that every Singaporean should consider.)