Are you ready for 7 million people on tiny Singapore?

[pirate]

JannettLee:

How many people who are entertained to this GST vouchers let alone bigger GST vouchers?


I should not be the one who provide solution for them tackle this problem.

If those who are drawing million dollars of salaries can't really came out with the solution, they can make reference to those western countries such as waiving GST for those basic food, necessitates, medical expenses and children products for Singapore citizen - a scheme for Singapore citizen to claim back GST.

Nah, exempt this or exempt that for this but not that buyer is administratively cumbersome. How to exempt brand X stroller costing $200 but not brand Y stroller costing $800? UK had good fun over whether certain pastry falls under exempt food or non-exempt baked products. Is a $10,000 rare first edition technically a \"book\" and hence exempt from VAT? GST vouchers are much more straightforward.

But in the end it's a judgment call. I have no doubt those drawing million dollars of salaries have already looked at and considered it.

[Mdm Koh]

Irrelevant,


Singapore’s defence expenditure went up by more than 4% last year.

Where did the government get the money from? Since the government did not dip into reserves, another area must have suffered a substantial cut in spending.

So it’s justifiable to cut spending elsewhere to increase defence spending but not vice versa?

[pirate]

3Boys:

WeiHan:

[quote=\"pirate\"]
I am not necessarily disagreeing with you on this wor.

I just want to add a point that I feel uneasy when policy makers talk about 'abuse' of healthcare. Sure, there are a minority of hypochondriacs, but other than them, most of us would like to avoid going to the hospital, clinic or whatever if possible. So, I personally find that all too convenient word 'abuse' often difficult to apply.

If, heaven forbids, my kid should fall seriously ill, surely I would want the best treatment possible for her, especially if the alternative is death. Perhaps it may be a horrendously expensive treatment. Is it abuse? Maybe the cost is high and the chances are not good. But is it abuse? Before our policy makers classify something as 'abuse', I feel they should ask themselves if it were their loved one would they have chosen differently?

And then we go down the slippery slope towards this life is worth more than that life because the family of the first one can afford to pay for it.

Good point!

There wasn't much abuse in the Taiwan system for example.

Until the abuse starts, which it invariably does.....sorry boys, disagree with you both, abuse is already rampant in our system.[/quote]Dunno what is the extent of the abuse here leh. Never got figures. Just saying don't fall into the trap of \"it's abuse if it's your kid needing that treatment, but if it's my kid it suddenly becomes not abuse\". Professionals crunching numbers have a tendency to do that kind of thing unless they consciously remind themselves. Healthcare involves peoples' lives and that goes beyond mere numbers. It would be wise for the policy makers to remind themselves to put themselves into the shoes of the patient and the patient's family.

It's like the so-called abuse of the A&E departments. Many lay people will go, \"I'm not a doctor or a nurse, how the heck should I know whether it's considered a medical emergency or life threatening or not? You think I want to come here and wait 5 hours to see the doctor if I can help it ah?\"

[WeiHan]

3Boys:

Until the abuse starts, which it invariably does.....sorry boys, disagree with you both, abuse is already rampant in our system.

Any number to support?

I didn't see our healthcare spending escalating leh? If abuse is rampant, then it should be escalating, isn't it?

[3Boys]

Mdm Koh:

Irrelevant,


Singapore's defence expenditure went up by more than 4% last year.

Where did the government get the money from? Since the government did not dip into reserves, another area must have suffered a substantial cut in spending.

So it's justifiable to cut spending elsewhere to increase defence spending but not vice versa?

Mdm Koh, you seem reasonably articulate, the budget is a matter of public record, why don't you go look it up, instead of forming an opinion in a vacuum? How do you know they cut spending elsewhere?

[3Boys]

WeiHan:

3Boys:

Until the abuse starts, which it invariably does.....sorry boys, disagree with you both, abuse is already rampant in our system.

Any number to support?

I didn't see our healthcare spending escalating leh? If abuse is rampant, then it should be escalating, isn't it?

You don't need high healthcare expenditure to have abuse. The costs are capped because that's all there is to spend. Nothing that I can publicly share with you.....but it happens, a lot, both from patients and doctors.

[ChiefKiasu]

Moderation action has been taken to prune this discussion of insults and personal attacks. The action may be incomplete due to the complexity of the discussion.

Members are reminded to focus on the discussion topic. We may openly disagree with points being made, but we should not insult the person/s making the points.

Thank you.

[Mdm Koh]

3Boys:

Mdm Koh:

Irrelevant,


Singapore's defence expenditure went up by more than 4% last year.

Where did the government get the money from? Since the government did not dip into reserves, another area must have suffered a substantial cut in spending.

So it's justifiable to cut spending elsewhere to increase defence spending but not vice versa?

Mdm Koh, you seem reasonably articulate, the budget is a matter of public record, why don't you go look it up, instead of forming an opinion in a vacuum? How do you know they cut spending elsewhere?

Well, I was asking Irrelevant since he made the assumption that if we increase healthcare spending, we will need to cut spending elsewhere.

But you are right - I shall read more to prep myself for further debates.

[Irrelevant]

JannettLee:

The cost is the whole year average cost per month la. You don't need to consider 3 months bonus meh! Anyway, the figure is the true figure that I got it from someone I know. I was as clueless as all of you when someone who got hit and showed me the figure.

So tell me what is the gross annual income for the couple and I can calculate the income tax based on taxable rates in 1994 and 2012, specially for you.

[octoberbaby]

debate is better using conversational rather than in writing.