How gahmen plans to respond to crisis?

[makapaaa]

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Coffee Shop Talk - How gahmen plans to respond to crisis?</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>

Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">AcidicRain <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">Dec-27 4:38 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 4) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>17560.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>The global economy is reeling, and Singapore is certainly no exception. The question for most Singaporeans now, I believe, is how the Singapore government plans to respond to the crisis. The question for me, though, goes a tiny step further. I wonder what other creative ways can my government come up with to help Singaporeans weather the storm.
It seems to me that in recent years, whenever something negative regarding our wallets strikes, there’s already a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place to execute (or a generic drug to prescribe, whichever analogy you prefer). The first is to send those deemed to be more lowly skilled to retraining so that they can get better jobs. The second is to dole out several hundred dollars per person to help Singaporeans cope with the problem. Of course, you can always count on multiple reassurances by government leaders that Singapore will weather the storm provided that we continue voting for the correct political party to lead the country.
I recognise I am making sweeping statements that may or may not be 100% factually correct but this is how things seem to be, and I think that more often than not, perceptions matter more than truth. I do think that the general perception of the government’s ability to tackle problems creatively is not exactly positive. I am really interested to see what the government will propose to help Singaporeans weather the current storm.
And, what I don’t want to see is the classic give with the right hand and take back with the left. The signs have already appeared. Finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said a couple of months ago he will look at how to prepare the budget to help Singaporeans (it was in response to the ridiculous electricity tariff hike). Recently, the transport minister Raymond Lim said public transport prices aren’t necessarily down even though oil prices have plunged. Maybe Singaporeans will get a handout, and then they will get a round of public transport increases (and maybe electricity tariff increases, if the folks regulating energy pricing decides not to base electricity pricing on oil prices, just like the folks regulating the transport industry :mrgreen: ).
Of course, it is unlikely that any price increase or tax increase will completely wipe out the value handouts. Doing so is just plain stupid. However, what such increases will do is to wipe out the goodwill that was intended to be generated in the first place. If the government really wants to give, give wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly.
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[makapaaa]

U toking to me? *zzzz*​

 

[angie II]

"But UNEEDLEE Singapore" hehe
​

 

[jw5]

By stating the obvious and making motherhood statements?

 

[kakowi]

"Don't worry, trust us. We are after all the A-team. There is none better. We got you through the last recessions and we will get you through again. But we need your mandate. With your mandate, we can do our job confidently. Together we will ride through this crisis. Together we will be stronger. Majullah Singapura!"

"We are thinking of opening up our reserves. In times like these, we have to be prudent in our spending. Thus we decide to invest all of your reserves in Citibank."

"Once again, Majullah Singapura"

 

[kakowi]

Jan 2009: Budget hearing: Proposal to all the Ministers and MPs

"In these times, we need good people - people who understand the fragile politics of singapore, people who are loyal to our cause. We need to be cohesive. And because the battle is expected to be long and hard, we need to be encouraged."

"Starting tomorrow, the Prime Minister will receive a salary of Euro$10 million. Ministers will receive Euro$5 million. And MPs Euro$1 million"

"Questions?"

An MP raised his hand.

"Yes, I know what you are going to ask. Your pay is raised too."

"Any more?"

"None? Motion passed!".

"Let's get to the more important matters. The Singapore dollar will be pegged 30% to the Euro, 10% to the rupee, emphasizing our shift away from the US$. Our trade balance show...."

"Our budgetary projections indicate that if we raise gst to 20%, we will be able to pay for all expenses plus show a tidy surplus. I emphasized again, our best brains indicate that we must continue our investments if we want to outstrip the official inflation rate of 0.5%. We intend to invest in India...to be named 'Blangazhou'."

 

[DerekLeung]

Garment will just ask the stupid peasants to spend more !

 

[myfoot123]

During the 1997 financial crisis, we still have jobs because the population was still quite manageable. But 10 years later, with added 1 millions PR,WP and EP into our island, I doubt pap can manage job shortage crisis. More often under such scenario in history, many ruling parties were toppled.