Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues

1. Should the Cross Island MRT Line go under the nature reserve?

Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx

SIA Youth Scholarship

Someone sent an email to me pointing out this SIA Youth Scholarship. It is for GCE A level and is open only to Nationals of India.

I wonder why SIA needs to offer this scholarship?

https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/scholarships/sia

WOTC - Landslide win for Democrats in local election in HK

Wisdom of the Crowd: 61% of the participants see the landslide win of the democrats in the local election as indicating that the people of Hong Kong want to be independent of China.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1711

WOTC - Central planning

Wisdom of the Crowd: 83% of the participants are in favor of central planning for the economy today, although it has failed in the past.

See their reasons here.
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1710

Migrating to Canada

My sister's classmate migrated to Canada 25 years ago. She obtained her citizenship after two years. She is now a pensioner and receive $1,600 a month from the state. She supplemented the income by taking international students as tenants and provide food for the students.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2259

Working in Canada

My friend migrated to Canada after working for ten years as a permanent resident in Singapore. I asked him to share his experience about working in the new environment

Hi Mr Tan

After working here for like two weeks plus, maybe I will say that things tend to move not as fast as Singapore. I can leave office at 5pm (and most do) - nobody bats an eye. People very rarely have to work at home (as in OT). And, if you have appointments or so, you can choose to work from home that day (we just have to make sure that we work 8 hours that day.)

And, right into my third week, I have got a certificate training (today and tomorrow). Company is also paying for the certificate exam. It’s a foundation certificate but still I will say that they really invest in people. I heard that some companies have tuition allowance if you decide to take up a course (of course, manager’s approval is required.) I guess that’s pretty good. Not only education allowance, there are some baseline benefits that most companies would include in our offer package such as extended health care for me and my family, basic dental care for me and family, and eye care (we can make glasses!). Some companies would include chiropractic/physiotherapy/massage allowance for their employees, too. So, in short, so long as you’re working, you don’t have to worry much about your well-being as well as your family’s. If we have kids, all benefits apply to our kids, too.

Regarding citizenship, we have to stay here for 1095 days (during the five years before the date of the application) to become eligible to apply for citizenship. Social welfare is pretty good. We pay quite a high tax for our income compared to Singapore, too, plus Employment Insurance etc. (Employment Insurance covers us from lay-offs or so.) We also pay like 12% tax (GST + PST) for our transactions (online and off-line). On the other hand, we don’t have to worry much about our health. Education is very very affordable, too. So, yeah, there are some trade-offs here and there, I suppose.

On the other hand, Singapore will be unbeatable in certain aspects as well - convenience of doing everything - commute, banking, mobile communication etc. Weather and food are some of the things people who moved here from Singapore would dearly miss. And, yes, Singapore's public safety (or rule of law) is top-notch! (probably only second to Japan, I suppose?)

Expiry of NETS Flash card

Someone complained to me that his money in the NETS flash card was confiscated on the expiry of the card.
https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2255

Why I drink kombucha

I drank my second bottle of kombucha today, served by my Japanese gf (actually, it is a Sakura bottle).

I made my own kombucha by following the videos on Youtube.

What are the benefits of kombucha? Read this
https://facty.com/…/nutriti…/10-health-benefits-of-kombucha/

I have problems with metabolism and constipation. I hope that kombucha will help to overcome them.

Tips on speculative investing

A reader was impressed with the profit that I achieved on my speculative portfolio. He asked if I can give a talk on investing. He will be interested to attend. He had invested before, and lost money on stocks.

I wish to share some tips.
https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2254

Quora: What's the best Donald Trump joke you have heard?

Marsha Browne, Writer, Thinker, Woman, Human Being answered.

Donald Trump was sitting in the Oval Office when an aide enters with a sheaf of papers for him to sign.

The stack is large, and the aide, bored, casually remarked, “Mr. President, I had the best dream ever about you last night.”

Trump, not looking up, said, “Really? What did you dream?”

The aide said, “There was a huge parade in DC, and millions of people were laughing, cheering, dancing and jumping for joy as your car passed by.”

Trump put down his pen and looked at the aide, now interested. “Go on.”

“It was amazing. There were military flyovers, fireworks, and everyone was so excited as you passed by!”

Trump asked, “Did I look like I was having a good time?”

The aide picked up the signed papers, shrugged, and answered, “I don’t know. The coffin was closed.”

How to make private insurance good for the people

Private insurance can be good and can be bad for the people.

This is how to tell the difference.
https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2253

Eldershield Life is costly and ineffective

It is a waste of time and money to run a scheme like Eldershield Life that is so costly to administer and yet does not address the real needs of the people. Here is a better alternative.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2252

WOTC - Is democracy a good form of government?

Wisdom of the Crowd: 61% of the participants find democracy to be a good form of government. 39% have a different view.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1709

WOTC - Opinion of President Xi Jinping

Wisdom of the Crowd: 64% of the participants have a favorable opinion of President Xi Jinping. 36% have a negative opinion.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1708

Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues

1. Are you happy with the system of democracy in Singapore.
2. Is it a good idea for Singapore to change the musical composition of the anthem?

Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx

Eldershield Life is a bad idea

The govt requires all CPF members to buy Eldershield Life to provide payment of $300 or $400 when they are severely disabled and need to have nursing care.

Even Singaporeans who work overseas are required to buy this compulsory insurance on the assumption that they will return to live in Singapore during their old age.

This is a bad approach.

Why?
https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2252

Will the ban on PMD using footpath cause loss of vote to PAP?

I believe that it will cause a net loss of vote to PAP. Here are my reasons.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2247

Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues

1. When was the last time you visited Batam?

2. What is your opinion of Batam?

Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx

WOTC - Opinion of President Trump

Wisdom of the Crowd: 32% of the respondents have a favorable opinion of President Trump. 68% have a negative opinion.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1707

WOTC - System of electing MPs into Parliament

Wisdom of the Crowd: 5% of the participants prefer the Singapore system of electing MPs into Parliament through GRCs. 95% prefer other systems.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1706

Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues

1. Do you agree with the criticism of international media on govt's recent use of POFMA?
2. What will happen to the dispute within the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR?)

Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx

WOTC - Review ban on use of PMD on footpaths

Wisdom of the Crowd: 70% of the participants want the govt to look for other solutions for PMD to use the footpaths. 30% want the ban to be imposed.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1705

WOTC - When will the general election be held?

Wisdom of the Crowd: 84% of the participants expect the general election to be held during the first half of 2020. 16% expect it to be held in 2019 or after mid of 2020.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1704

Require PMD riders to pass a test

Many people want the govt to impose the ban on PMD using the footpaths because they cause accidents and injuries to pedestrians.

However, the actual statistics from the hospitals show that a high proportion of the injuries are caused to the PMD riders, rather than the pedestrians. They are injured when they fall off the PMDs or crashed into the walls and other obstructions.

It may be necessary to require the PMD riders to pass a practical test before getting a license to use it.

This test should include the practical aspects of handling the PMD and also the safety regulations (including the speed limit) on using the footpaths and crossing the road.

Perhaps this could be the solution to remove the ban. Allow the PMD rider to use the pavement after they have passed a test. If they are found to have contravened the regulation, the license can be removed.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2246

Flexible pricing for taxis lead to unsatisfactory outcome

I waited for a taxi at Harborfront Center at 6 pm. There was a long queue. I finally managed to get a taxi at 6.50 pm. It was a long wait.

It was peak hours. There was a slight drizzle. This could have accounted for the long wait.

When I was in Taipei earlier this month, I was able to get a taxi from the hotel during peak hours. I did not have to wait. There were plenty of taxis waiting for customers.

What is the special phenomena that caused this lack of taxis during certain busy hours?
https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=2245

WOTC - Should the two servicemen be penalized for the death of Aloysius Pang?

Wisdom of the Crowd: 91% of the participants said that the two servicemen should not be penalized for the death of Aloysius Pang. 9% said that they were negligent and should be penalized.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1703

WOTC - Should the PMD retailers be compensated for unsold inventory?

Wisdom of the Crowd: 58% of the participants said that the govt should review the ban on the use of PMDs and allow them to be used on pavements under safe conditions, 19% said that the govt should take over the inventory of the PMD retailers at cost, 23% said that the retailers should take the loss as a business risk.

See the breakdown of the votes in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart.aspx?ID=1702