I wonder how many of us here earn 10k a month, will the stress and inflation drive more people in the state of depression and suicides?

Watch out for more personal struggles of the heartlanders in the New paper:)

Don't worry the government that we have elected will be doing something to "asssit " us

You mean people who earn 10K will be less stressful than those to earn less?

When I went to church last week, many people should be happy cause of new year rite. well they are just passive and troubled though they did not show it while the Father should motivate us to be more active in helping the less fortunate instead of just praying

The salaries increments dun tend to follow the inflation rates. Hence just try to be more thrifty and save on unnecessary items lor.

Same time this year, oil price is around $30-40 per barrel and today, it is trading at around $100.

If you have been pay attention to what is going on around the world, you should be well prepared to handle inflation.  

Strange how the 走 always attribute inflation to oil other than government's policy on GST and immigration.

Oil was already on the high side before the GST increase. My take is, the inflation was caused by oil, GST and immigration policies.

The price of food and housing was stable the whole of 2007 till the implementation of GST and immigration policy (to increase population thru immigration to 6.5 million).

After the GST increase, prices of all food rises; then with the increase in immigrant population and en-bloc sales (demolishment of existing housing to make way for high density housing), a shortage of housing caused an astronomical increase in housing prices.

All these issues are the result of oil? Not forgetting that most of our energy generation comes from natural gas, not crude oil. I can't see the logic of SingPower pegging it's electricity prices to crude oil prices. The price of natural gas has been more or less stable from 2003 to 2007 except for a spike at the end of 2005 and beginning of 2006.

Source:  http://www.energyshop.com/es/homes/gas/gaspriceforecast.cfm?

When the economy is good and booming, they attribute the success of the economy to their foresight and planning. But when economy take a turns for the worse, they push the blame to the global economy. Shouldn't their wise foresight and planning averted all these economic maladies? I wonder what does the citizens look for in a leader? The kind of leader who shuns responsibility when calamity strikes and takes undue credit. I respect those Japanese leaders who step down to take responsibility of their mistakes, unlike others who just sit still and blame others for their incompetence.

Having extremely intelligent leaders paid multi-million dollar salaries, yet they can't avert mundane economic woes. Obviously our leaders aren't worth their weight in gold.

If you take the salary three to four times that of another equivalent politician, you better be able to perform three to four times better. You better perform miracles and not mere illusions (something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality).

Originally posted by maurizio13:

 

Strange how the 走 always attribute inflation to oil other than government's policy on GST and immigration.

 

Oil was already on the high side before the GST increase. My take is, the inflation was caused by oil, GST and immigration policies.

 

The price of food and housing was stable the whole of 2007 till the implementation of GST and immigration policy (to increase population thru immigration to 6.5 million).

 

After the GST increase, prices of all food rises; then with the increase in immigrant population and en-bloc sales (demolishment of existing housing to make way for high density housing), a shortage of housing caused an astronomical increase in housing prices.

 

All these issues are the result of oil? Not forgetting that most of our energy generation comes from natural gas, not crude oil. I can't see the logic of SingPower pegging it's electricity prices to crude oil prices. The price of natural gas has been more or less stable from 2003 to 2007 except for a spike at the end of 2005 and beginning of 2006.

 

Source:  http://www.energyshop.com/es/homes/gas/gaspriceforecast.cfm?

 

When the economy is good and booming, they attribute the success of the economy to their foresight and planning. But when economy take a turns for the worse, they push the blame to the global economy. Shouldn't their wise foresight and planning averted all these economic maladies? I wonder what does the citizens look for in a leader? The kind of leader who shuns responsibility when calamity strikes and takes undue credit. I respect those Japanese leaders who step down to take responsibility of their mistakes, unlike others who just sit still and blame others for their incompetence.

 

Having extremely intelligent leaders paid multi-million dollar salaries, yet they can't avert mundane economic woes. Obviously our leaders aren't worth their weight in gold.

 

If you take the salary three to four times that of another equivalent politician, you better be able to perform three to four times better. You better perform miracles and not mere illusions (something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality).

 

 

Indeed the national narrative is that inflation is caused by high oil prices which our dear gahmen has no control. Well, maybe it has no control over the oil prices but it shouldn't add fodder to the burning prices by increasing the GST. For those who forget or choose to forget, oil prices were expected to hit $100 per barrel when gahmen increased GST in Jul 2007.

Originally posted by maurizio13:

 

Strange how the 走 always attribute inflation to oil other than government's policy on GST and immigration.

 

Oil was already on the high side before the GST increase. My take is, the inflation was caused by oil, GST and immigration policies.

 

The price of food and housing was stable the whole of 2007 till the implementation of GST and immigration policy (to increase population thru immigration to 6.5 million).

 

After the GST increase, prices of all food rises; then with the increase in immigrant population and en-bloc sales (demolishment of existing housing to make way for high density housing), a shortage of housing caused an astronomical increase in housing prices.

 

All these issues are the result of oil? Not forgetting that most of our energy generation comes from natural gas, not crude oil. I can't see the logic of SingPower pegging it's electricity prices to crude oil prices. The price of natural gas has been more or less stable from 2003 to 2007 except for a spike at the end of 2005 and beginning of 2006.

 

Source:  http://www.energyshop.com/es/homes/gas/gaspriceforecast.cfm?

 

When the economy is good and booming, they attribute the success of the economy to their foresight and planning. But when economy take a turns for the worse, they push the blame to the global economy. Shouldn't their wise foresight and planning averted all these economic maladies? I wonder what does the citizens look for in a leader? The kind of leader who shuns responsibility when calamity strikes and takes undue credit. I respect those Japanese leaders who step down to take responsibility of their mistakes, unlike others who just sit still and blame others for their incompetence.

 

Having extremely intelligent leaders paid multi-million dollar salaries, yet they can't avert mundane economic woes. Obviously our leaders aren't worth their weight in gold.

 

If you take the salary three to four times that of another equivalent politician, you better be able to perform three to four times better. You better perform miracles and not mere illusions (something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality).

 

 

Didnt know the GST and immigration impact are spreading across the globe like wild fire. didnt know PAP policy is so powerful.

Originally posted by pearlie27:

Indeed the national narrative is that inflation is caused by high oil prices which our dear gahmen has no control. Well, maybe it has no control over the oil prices but it shouldn't add fodder to the burning prices by increasing the GST. For those who forget or choose to forget, oil prices were expected to hit $100 per barrel when gahmen increased GST in Jul 2007.

It's just beyond my comprehension how some  can attribute my explanation of Singapore's inflation due to GST, Immigrants and Oil, twisted it and applied it on the world economy. I wonder if he has any semblance of intelligence.

Some  here needs a lobotomy or a new brain.

Originally posted by maurizio13:

 

Strange how the 走 always attribute inflation to oil other than government's policy on GST and immigration.

 

Oil was already on the high side before the GST increase. My take is, the inflation was caused by oil, GST and immigration policies. 

I suspect the world is going to start an anti PAP campaign soon because last year's GST hike and immigration policy is causing inflation to spread across the globe like wild fire. And last night, LKY cook supper for his family thats why oil pirce touches US$100 per barrel again.

TCH05, i think u r giving the gahmen too much `credit’.

hmm but if i were to earn 10K, think my expenses will also b quite high!

will always wanna go for luxury goods mahz..so in e end, it wld still b e same..back to sq one..

The problem with Singapore, and the source of so much angst among fellow Singaporeans, is that it is both a city and a country. I’ve lived in both New York and London, and the fact is that a large proportion of people (at least half from my own personal experience) living in these 2 “global” cities were not born there specifically (though many of them were born in the country).

Vibrant cities attracts people to go there to live and work and play. But it also implies that there is a large turnover of population, as is indeed the case in both New York and London. People flock to these cities because the pay is higher, the lifestyle is more exciting, the career options are greater etc. Many of the people who flock there also do not stay forever. But it also means these cities are much more expensive and cramped than other territories just outside them. Just compare London prices to Nottingham prices, for instance.

In a broad sense, the situation in Singapore is actually not very different when seen from this perspective. What is different about Singapore is that it is both a city and a country.

You see a person born in London who might prefer a cheaper and less exciting lifestyle for whatever reason could escape to Wales or Cornwall without having to leave the country. In these places, a London pension or even small government handouts can go a long way because they are so much cheaper. Singaporeans do not have that choice. If you don’t want the city life, you have to leave Singapore or you’re forced into a marginal existence because you simply can’t afford to fully enjoy the vibrant but expensive lifestyle.

So a Singaporean who wants a slower pace of life and a bigger house is forced to move to Australia or NZ, or if he doesn’t move he will constantly feel aggrieved about how “unfair” the government treats him. If Singapore were part of Malaysia, for example, this person could move to Trengganu or something. After selling his HDB in Singapore, he could buy a massive beach-front bungalow in Trengganu, and enjoy a much cheaper lifestyle.

So perhaps the practical way to solve the problem that Singapore is both a city and a country is maybe that we need to re-merge with Malaysia.

I hope you have not offended anyone by saying that Singaporeans who wants a slower pace of life would move to Australia and NZ.

I do agree with you that the best scenario is for Singaporeans to live in lower cost area such as JB or even Batam

Hi I'm new here.

There are so many negative voices here that stated their unhappiness about gahmen policy and unstable economy. Is there anyone can provide some suggestion and solutions ?

I can only think of 2 ways:

1. Increase income. Maybe get part time job or try to do business. But i work full time and no $$ to start business.

2. Cut down expenses. Spend on the "Needs" rather than the "wants".

If both method still can't solve the problems, what's next step? Anymore ideas?