I watched the episode on the student concession fares with much interest. The poly students have asked to be given concession fares, similar to what was granted for junior college students. The disabled have also asked to be given the concessions. Even the Young PAP, which is the activist part of the party that forms the Government, has to speak at Speakers' Corner.
This episode highlights the fallacy of the Government in avoiding responsibility to govern. They prefer to let such matters be decided by the market. After privatizing the public transport, they decided that matters of fares and concessions should be decided by the public transport operators - or maybe the Public Transport Council has some say (I am not sure)!
The transport operators know the answer - maximize the profits, so they avoid having to give concessions, unless they have to. Their argument is that any concessions have to be borne by the full fare paying public, but this is not really true, as it can also be borne by reducing the shareholder's profits. This is really a political question - which cannot be dealt with by the free market. So, it is back to the Government to do the duty that they are elected to do.
I wish to extend this reasoning to many other sectors of our public life. We cannot let matters be left to the market. The Government has to step in and take the political decisions for our society, including setting laws and rules of proper behavior. If they fail in their duty, our society must surely decline.
Tan Kin Lian
This episode highlights the fallacy of the Government in avoiding responsibility to govern. They prefer to let such matters be decided by the market. After privatizing the public transport, they decided that matters of fares and concessions should be decided by the public transport operators - or maybe the Public Transport Council has some say (I am not sure)!
The transport operators know the answer - maximize the profits, so they avoid having to give concessions, unless they have to. Their argument is that any concessions have to be borne by the full fare paying public, but this is not really true, as it can also be borne by reducing the shareholder's profits. This is really a political question - which cannot be dealt with by the free market. So, it is back to the Government to do the duty that they are elected to do.
I wish to extend this reasoning to many other sectors of our public life. We cannot let matters be left to the market. The Government has to step in and take the political decisions for our society, including setting laws and rules of proper behavior. If they fail in their duty, our society must surely decline.
Tan Kin Lian
Total Number of PTC Council member: 16
ReplyDeleteAcademic: 5
Union Leader: 3
This is the very old issue. Why the council members - both acdemic & union leaders - can help our poor students? Are they not important to SG future?
Correction:
ReplyDelete...Why the council members - both academic & union leaders - can NOT help our poor students?...
We HAVE already started declining as a nation and a society for over a decade. The PAP has also found itself in a rut - it's reflected in the (poor) quality of its leadership electoral candidates, parliamentary speeches and policies.
ReplyDeleteStudents must be definitely given concession with respect to transport.
ReplyDeleteTermination letters
Hi Mr Tan,
ReplyDeleteI agreed with your reasoning the Government did not excerise its duty for the benefits of these people. On the hand, the Transport company has forgotten that we are the paying public and the parents/relatives of these people too.