Thanks all for the sugggestions. Will look into them.

Meanwhile just two question.

1) What is atas?

2) Wow, so many moderators in this forum. Why's that?

Understood Atobe, perhaps I was a little hasty in saying "bitching". No reason why we have to resort to personal attacks and that was admittedly hitting below the belt. But to respond to your queries:

a) Lowering the gas tax essentially means lowering the price of fuel at the pump. I understand the difference between subsidies and removal of taxes, but in both cases you are stimulating relative demand. I do not argue prices may not continue to increase if oil prices increase, but you're essentially rewarding those who use fuel and removing an impt revenue source. Do you not understand the same debate is flaring in the US, where every economist in the land has derided Hillary's campaign promise to revise fuel taxes. Same rules here.

b) As to you thinking of a breakdown in public transport systems due to singaporeans not able to take buses/mrts... Well the substitution effect of those choosing to take public transport over their now much more expensive automobiles have actually helped increase ridership. As to R&D for fuel alternatives to oil... are you serious? You want Singapore to fund research for this when supernations like the US as well as private investments are already channeling billions into alternative energy research?

c)when talking about welfare services you use Sweden as a comparison, well you state that "they take a fixed sum up front." Feel free to move to a country which takes just a hair under 50% of GDP in taxation income. I'll be happy to take the 20-25% income tax and GST anytime over that... Hidden taxes? Ummm GST is as crystal clear as you can get... Also, please note that Sweden is much larger than Singapore, has a hinterland which is resource rich. Do we also have cheap hydropower to draw upon?

d)affordable housing for all. By this I don't mean everyone can afford to buy a HDB flat. That's not a god given right, but the Singapore gvt has subsidized public housing so having a place to live in while difficult for poorer income groups, are still within their reach. But as always, gvts cannot and should not cater to the lowest common denominator otherwise you end up with a welfare state like the US with its attendant problems

Anyway, let's agree to disagree. I personally feel Singapore has done a great job by all the relevant benchmarks. Everyone has their own opinions and all the data spouted here won't change most who are committed to their viewpoints, be it yours or mine.

That old tired argument about fat salaries.

Do you know that an associate or junior level vp at an investment bank earns about as much or more than most of our ministers, bar the most senior. And Lee Hsien Long and top ministers rarely make more than managing directors. Yet they manage and handle much more money and people than these people do. Sure others in Indonesia and China are paid a lot less, but I think their track records basically argue my case? No?

Just because you don't earn as much doesn't mean these gents who boast top class education and working backgrounds should make the same as you.

I think despite the worsening situation globally, Singapore has done a great job treading the thin line between maintaining a good quality of life while remaining competitive in the global marketplace. Remember, the only asset that Singapore as a nation has is a good port and efficient government. Otherwise, we'd be just a poor cousin of Malaysia...

More gripes and gripes. You advocate removal of taxes on oil? The reason oil prices have spiraled up beyond the "tipping point" is that demand has been inelastic of prices. Oil prices were previously expected to level off at $100 because demand was supposed to have tapered off due to consumers switching to alternatives such as public transport and car pooling, or basically changing their behavior to minimize oil consumption. That has not been the case. Now we have Goldman Sach's analyst forecasting oil prices to reach US$150-200 per barrel as they don't expect consumer behavior to change until prices hit those new marks. So you want to continue to add more stress into the demand side of the equation by lowering taxes to make gasoline effectively cheaper? Remember, oil is a non-renewable resource. OPEC is already stretched with even the Saudis having difficulty increasing production while Russia which was supposed to be a bright light in the storm has been disappointing in terms of production growth.

All that subsidies or price caps achieve, as seen in China and Indonesia, is eat into government revenues and cultivate a culture that ever more regards cheap oil as a birthright. I think Singapore has done a great job in balancing car affordability and gasoline prices to make car ownership a priviledge one has to work hard for. One need only look at the minimal traffic jams on our throughfares and compare them to other cosmopolitan cities to see the difference that well thought out city planning has achieved. And can you even give thanks to a government that has planned out one of the best internal public transport systems in the world. Most of our buses are clean and airconditioned, while the MRT runs efficiently and on time.

You complain about GST. Well good luck finding another developed country in the world where the income tax rate is as low as in Singapore. Other than the oil rich countries of the world, or HK (where social services are non-existent and the rich-poor disparity is startling), very few countries that offer the ammenities that Singapore does (such as community centers every few km, public swimming pools, well developed public transport, advance and subsidized education systems, as well as significant spending in military and defense budgets) have such a low taxable base.

You talk about the local needy? You must be kidding. Yes, there are alot of the hard luck stories you occasionally come into contact with, but affordable housing, food, and education is within the means of most of the populace. More so I believe than in the US, Indonesia, Malaysia or any of our south east asian brethren. I don't presume to know too much about the needy, but I presume my taxes and contributions to charity do somehow go to alleviate some of their needs.

Stop bitching and asking the government to take care of your every need. Make more so you don't have to ask for a handout everytime you face headwinds. Singaporeans already have a stereotype of loving to complain yet being unable to think for themselves. Don't make the stereotype into a reality.

Come on. Cost of commodities are going through the roof. Oil hit 125/barrel, Grain/Wheat/Soybean food prices have roughly doubled/tripled and in some cases quadrupled. At the same time, US is facing a possible multi-year wind-down from the credit and mortgage crisis, and the Singaporean economy has always been strongly export driven with the US being one of our major export destinations.

In such an environment, if the minister is able to enhance standard of living despite these underlying fundamentals, he would be a miracle worker.

Stop complaining and try to hit the top 5-10% of the population that profits despite a bull or bear market situation.

Thanks for the piece of advice Tare if made a bit pointedly. Anyway, I'm sure a stopover at Jumbo or some of the foodcourts at the shopping centres will do the trick. However, sorry to be annoying but any suggestions beyond introducing Singapore as a gastronomic mecca?

Angel Danger, that's a good suggestion. What kind of a live band is EIC and in your opinion are they any good? Also how crowded are these places as I've only been to Balaclava.

Thanks again all.

Sounds like a plan. Probably can't do Tioman due to time constraints, but that reminds me, are there still places to rent jetskis or perhaps do rock-face climbing?

Singaporeans and food.... :)

Anyway, she's not really the hawker centre type, but I've already made reservations for Mezza9, Equinox and Au Jardin plus we'll be hitting the usual brunch/buffets. But again, looking for more something to do/see than eat.

Coming back to Singapore for a weeklong vacation on the wk of May 19th. I've lived in Singapore for 12yrs off and on, but am bringing my girlfriend here as well. She's not local and this will be her virgin trip to the island. I'm just thinking other than the usual touristy stuff that we can do, plus hitting the start of the Great Singapore Sale, is there anything slightly different but unique to show her to?

I've booked a room at the Sentosa Resort and Spa + accompanying spa treatment and will show her the usual spots but wondering if anyone here has any good ideas for the rest of the week.

Wow Parn, that's kinda hitting below the belt on that last comment.

Very aggressive for a lady, assuming you are of the fairer sex. With the internet you can never tell.

Yes Shadow gege, share more of your wisdom!

<in case its no clear, and admittedly, it is difficult to convey tone in forum messages, the previous statement is dripping with sarcasm>

Me personally, I have a "foreign" girlfriend. She's kinda mixed with a little french and german ancestry. Dated Singapore girls, and a delightful korean girl as well. Everybody is nice as long as you treat them well. Afterall, relationships are a two way thing.  

You give and take. And if a girl is after a guy, who's successful, why not? Just like I would never say to a good looking girlfriend (although that's not paramount), I presume a girl would aso like to have a gent who's going places, especially when making a personal choice about who she wants to go out with. Just because you may be "nice" doesn't entitle you to all the girls out there in the world.

And in a forum if you're shouting to the world at large that you can't get girls even though you're of "sterling character," well, I think that calls for a moment of self-honesty does it not? :)

if you don't mind me asking, how old are you Mr. Shadows and Parn?

Understand that its probably bad manners, and the subject has no doubt been discussed before, but is that avatar pic for FireIce her real photo? Is so, for a "auntie" as she sometimes describe herself, she does seem pretty "well put together", or at least "well maintained."

I'm one of those illogical fools who believe that by pointing out their awareness of their own rudeness, this in some way excuses it.

Feel free to flame. :P

never log into sgforums and get a real life

from Imhyp O. Crite

awww, that's so cute shadows... u must be the perfect gentleman <gushing>

sigh... love these topics.

We have the "I got an axe to grind" like parn,

the "oh aren't I so divine," like shadow

and the "I'm so worldly and beyond that" like me. :)

Sing girls, sing guys what's the diff. U like u like, u don't u don't. I have nothing anything better to do and it seems to be the same case for most of the people on this forum so let's wax lyrical on a stereotype.

Why do you think there's body out there, whos well off and kind? Of course, finding a guy who's wealthy, kind, and good looking and coincidentally unattached is like winning the lottery, but hey, i've been looking for a girl who's hot, giving and unmaterialistic. I usually settle for hot :)

Parn, be a little more ambitious. Why not a rich handsome man with a heart of gold :) That's all I'm saying. But do note in relationships where the guy is better looking at the girl, usually the guy tends to stray just because guys are wired that way.

If the girl is more attractive, then you have a greatful guy who will feel he's the luckiest man in the world and quite honestly, girls are a little less superficial than guys (at least using a broad stereotype).

Yes, the little people always complain about the rich and say they'll eventually get their due....

Well, there's a reason why they say the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Stop despising the rich, get off your a** and go make some money.

Trust me, you'll have a completely different viewpoint after you have moolah to spend.

I have so much fun in Sgforums. I log in once every 3-4 mths, and there's always a thread started by some guy who's a) observing that women go for rich guys b) handsome poor guys don't get the women...

Well news up folks, Rich guys are usually more confident, aggressive and secure. Thats a huge turn on with the fairer sex. And while the poor might disagree, rich guys are people too and there's arrogant individuals, kind hearted, and the whole gamut.

U can complain about a girl only focusing on the security that a guy can provide in terms of lifestyle, but quite honestly are we guys any better. Most of us like the hot girls, voluptuous goddesses with the T&A. We look at the physical assets, they look at the material assets :) Fact of life and deal with it.

So if u're a guy in singapore where the competition is fierce and where the nice girls that you can marry are highly selective, you have two choices:

a) work hard to make a good living and make yourself more attractive.

b) build up your confidence because even if you're poor, some girls will like bravado and balls (although maybe not so much for marriage material)

c) marry a vietnamese bride and make a public declaration that somethings wrong with you that you can't even hook a Sing girl.

I love Sgforums. $10 borrow also want to ji jiao. I've given 10k to their family once to help out and that was for a short term relationship. She paid back eventually (even after we broke up, although slowly in installments which we agreed upon), because there was trust involved. Now friends though, they're a different matter. The bond is just not as strong unless its one of those hao xiong di, in which case why are you debating here at all?

Life in Sing is good.

A little swimming in the morning, a little golf after. Some lunchtime buffet and a little shopping to while away the afternoon. Cap it off with some clubbing nightime and u're set. With a car everything is reachable within 20 minutes.

What more could you ask for And everything so much cheaper than here in this hell hole called manhattan

Wow… what a bunch of “holier than thee” Good for her. Party man, you’re only young once!

Can't wait to touch down in Sing on Sunday. 1 wk vacation in the land of sun, sand, and fun.

After a year of slaving away here, finally get to kick back and party!

I LOVE SINGAPORE!!!

Originally posted by mistyblue:

hahaha... when I see a title like a GP essay, I will only give B.S. cause I don't like to help kids do their homework and stop thinking for themselves and read up material to complete their work.
The value of education is to teach people how to think, and think systematically and search out information when needed. Education failed when people just copy answers and use shortcuts.

Hey, at least the guy isn't just ripping of a ready made paper from one of those online sites that cater to the ethically-challenged. Two idiots in my school submitted the same paper from the same source. Expulsion anyone?

I'm not sure about GLCs, but I do know that Singaporeans are respected amongst the international communities and within recruiting firms. We are expected to be hardworkers and assets to our communities. Thats why so many of them are recruited by the top investment banks and consulting firms, at least those that do not return on bond to their respective statutory boards.

But I see your point. There is admittedly more that can be done for the arts scene and as you mentioned, the unconventionally talented. Yet just as one last disclaimer, it must also be noted that Singapore did focus on the one thing that allowed us the basis to aspire for all these additional "wants". A strong economic base.

But as another poster mentioned, I'll "gam lah." I see the good points while marginalizing the bad, and the majority of the posters here adopt an opposite view.

Good luck on motorsporting abroad Heng, you don't see many Singaporeans guys abroad taking such a risky career move and I envy your adventurism although I'll still stick to a more conventional path for myself. Different strokes for different folks.

Originally posted by vito_corleone:

gam lan ah?

ok loh. People say don't like then gam loh. I only offer different opinion but since anti pap crowd can't stand discussion then xian loh.

Perhaps you are a bit overly dismissive. There are always two sides of the coin. Yes I admit that the Lees have had a stranglehold on Singapore politics. But as to the rest, let us just simply agree to disagree.

You see Singapore's institution as strangling the populace, I see it as a country where even those from the humblest backgrounds can aspire to join the elites through the education system and various scholarship boards. Many of those whom you termed as priviledged did not start out that way. Of course, being a white horse assures you a certain position in society, but those who succeed on their own merits are also given their place in the sun.

Perhaps it is a little presumptious of me to harp on the Singapore system when I'm leaving it, but in all honesty, I am not even a citizen of your esteemed country yet in my prolonged stay here I have learnt to respect its development and government. I fail to see why so many Singaporeans don't.

Sidenote: Just out of curiousity if you don't mind, do you intend to return to Singapore from the UK or do you intend to work there. I hope you don't mind the personal question, please feel free to ignore if you think I am overstepping my bounds. I'm just interested in the behavior of overseas Singaporeans.