Prime Minister Lee has framed the question - do you want to pay higher taxes for more welfare benefits, like the Scandinavian countries?
This is not the right way to frame the question. In the Scandinavian countries, the people who pay higher taxes are those with bigger incomes, and not the ordinary wage earners. So, the correct question should be - do you want a progressive tax system that require the higher income earners to pay more taxes, so that the Government can give better welfare benefits - and create a more equal society?
You can read the argument here:
http://therealsingapore.com/content/hard-truthlee-hsien-loong-good-businessman-not-good-pm
This is not the right way to frame the question. In the Scandinavian countries, the people who pay higher taxes are those with bigger incomes, and not the ordinary wage earners. So, the correct question should be - do you want a progressive tax system that require the higher income earners to pay more taxes, so that the Government can give better welfare benefits - and create a more equal society?
You can read the argument here:
http://therealsingapore.com/content/hard-truthlee-hsien-loong-good-businessman-not-good-pm
4 comments:
Agree Mr Tan that the PM had phrased the question to garner support for his no welfare policy.
Your re-phrasing is more to the point, but will the PM and his richly rewarded fellow MP, MOS and Ministers agree to pay more Income Taxes ? Obviously, not likely even if it is the right thing to do.
Warren Buffet believe so.
The PM should also read/listen to current British Labour chief about their mistake in letting in so many FT. Mind you, GB's percentage of FT is no where near S'pore's.
To be honest, i don't appreciate the way in which the question was framed. It sounds like more of 'threatening' rather than 'opinion asking'. It probably is the way we are governed. Uniquely Singapore!
We cannot also have referendums for every issue:
Should we import 20% more workers? Y/N
Should we allow casinos? Y/N
Should we spend 20% more on Defence? Y/N
Should we license Insurance agents? Y/N
Like that we dont need ministers or prime ministes.. we dont even need political parties..
Just need the civil service who will implement according to referendum results.
Just need survey monkey to collect votes... free some more.
Save a few billions
Your rephrase of the question is right. We need the 'pump' to redistribute the wealth for some social welfare to strengthen social cohesion.
Simply relying on free market does not work. Facebook's co founder Severin relocated to s'pore to escape taxes is 1 such example.
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