Not really true. That's what I thought until I was called back for reservist training. Many of the restricted military training areas feature swathes and pockets of wild vegetation (and accompanying insects) that make me feel like I'm in an entirely different country. I suspect most of these have been left the way they are since time immemorial? So there are native faunae are probably still present in those areas, just not publicly accessible. That said, there are also many nature reserves. Look at a map and you'll see a lot of greenery still, like diver-hloc mentioned.
Proud to be a Singaporean
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Not really true. That's what I thought until I was called back for reservist training. Many of the restricted military training areas feature swathes and pockets of wild vegetation (and accompanying insects) that make me feel like I'm in an entirely different country. I suspect most of these have been left the way they are since time immemorial? So there are native faunae are probably still present in those areas, just not publicly accessible. That said, there are also many nature reserves. Look at a map and you'll see a lot of greenery still, like diver-hloc mentioned.
kei1309
Senior Member
Low tax rate is a myth
If you look at other countries high income tax rate,you may be surprise that those high income tax rate include pension, health insurance and garbage collection.
In SG, these money are collected separately as CPF, Medisave and Service and conservancy charges.
SG just took it out from income tax and call it a different name to fool everyone
COE and stamp duty are also a form of tax
Would you rather it be your own money that the government holds on for you (although it's also invested for you) and can be collected at a future date, or your money goes into a central collective and anyone can use it and where the proportion you contribute may be higher than what you receive back in the end?
Food for thought
Yutaka Go
Senior Member
I know money have to come from somewhere. Just don't be mislead by the lower tax rate.
The money are collected from a different channel.
Just like you buy a $500 camera from a Sim Lim shop and the shop want you to pay additional $2000 for warranty.
Since Singapore and its citizens are always portrayed as a collective it would only be logical and consequent to apply the second option. Of course, there will be noise. But on the other hand: topics like those about pioneer generation and old folks in low paid jobs can easily be solved: every citizen and every PR will contribute, automatically.
Nikonzen
Senior Member
Another thing I have read about your all's country (that is Oklahoma cowboy speak right there haha) is that each generation is expected to work and save for that generation's livelihood. No welfare state! This is astonishing to an American like me. Here if you fall below a certain pay grade when it comes to income tax time you get what they call EIC earned income credit, which for a family of four can add up to a check of around 8 grand. We have many citizens who claim disabililty because they say they are crazy and can't hold a job - their monthly checks can total about $1200. Crazy I say and this is a big reason America is so f-cked up! And of course all of the MIC war mongering that we have been up to forever now but that is a whole other thread called what happens when you swat the elephant in the room on the @ss.
Folks you have a whole lot to be proud of when it comes to Spore system.
Any tigers left in the wild on your red dot? And what about this Monkey man of Bukit Timah???
Folks you have a whole lot to be proud of when it comes to Spore system.
Any tigers left in the wild on your red dot? And what about this Monkey man of Bukit Timah???
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sammy888
Senior Member
Here's another perspective. You have been living in this small pond too long that you think it is a large amount of land that still holds flora and fauna reserve. heheh. But to be ecologically at the accepted level of sustainability, it is a foot print too small under the general rule of measurement.
Sion
Senior Member
Any tigers left in the wild on your red dot? And what about this Monkey man of Bukit Timah???
One still standing proudly:
Monkey is also alive and fighting:
I believe most of the forests at the training areas are secondary.
Sg has hardly any primary rainforests anymore. Only ones i know is bt timah and botanical gardens.
Nikonzen
Senior Member
One still standing proudly:
Monkey is also alive and fighting:
And it is very nice to see humor is alive and well also!
Ahhh but this is the way the world works my friend...because someone always cheats...ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country! Wise words there and look at what they done to that guy...I'm just saying...
Singapore has sacrificed dearly to get to where it is...trees and tigers and what not...you folks should take it and run with it and defend it to the ends of Earth...plus it is sort of cool in it's modern state - kind of like that planet city on Star Wars.
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Haha, good point. My comment was from the perspective of a overwhelmed civilian suddenly removed from the comforts of home. Put me anywhere without concrete/people and I'm going to feel like it's the Amazon rainforest. Haha.
Ah, I see.
kei1309
Senior Member
Yes i fully agree that Singapore has a culture of collectivism. However, the trend is shifting even globally where many are questioning why should undeserving folks get the money (i.e. those that intentionally keep themselves out of a job or find lower income-bracket jobs just to qualify for social assistance).
here in Singapore there are systems in place to ensure that those who really need assistance do receive it, just that they need to approach the proper channels to voice their issues.
having a state-sanctioned welfare scheme where the collective serves everyone and the individual does not save for themselves is detrimental. as in the case of the bumiputra in Malaysia where the recognized indigenous race is under-performing due to the easier life they get from government assistance, breeding unhappiness among the other races. the failure of the welfare state is already well-documented and while it has its merits, it promotes laziness and dependency.
Nikonzen
Senior Member
You would be flabbergasted if you saw what happens in the USA...I am definitely not proud of how my country has become in this regard.
That's the question of a proper control system. I am not praising the German system (and after 10 years in SG I am not familiar with the last tweaks they did) but they have made substantial changes to it since its introduction. I still remember when my grandfather retired and he could travel to West Germany, telling me how the 'poor unemployed' (that how they were described in Eastern propaganda) drove to the government Work Agency with their Daimler Benz to collect the money and go for half year holidays in Spain (The Spanish Peso was quite cheap then already).
Today, it is much harder to proof entitlement for the support and the support is not endless but will be reduced gradually over the period of one year. On the other end, certain services are included like Internet, TV fees and others because it is considered mandatory today in order to stay employable and to not to get cut off from social life.
Apart from this, the flipping age pyramid also puts an enormous stress on the system and there is no end in sight. Where in the past 3 people worked for one retiree, today one working person has to support more than two retirees. Let's not forget that people get older today. My grandfather celebrated his 99th birthday this year and he does not need to worry that his pension will run out of money.
There's no simple answer to that...
Foxshade
Senior Member
It lives because it has moved far down under? Just wondering. :dunno:
Don't share with citizens??
What about those GST rebates and cash we get every time???
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