Government spending

Had a discussion with my cousin about stuffs and it end up to government spending.

Well, if you think about it, paid healthcare might be a lousy idea at first, but it is a long term solution. Look at countries with free healthcare, they tend to end up in debt. Also, with less need to spend on healthcare, the govt can spend more money on other things like education, military and so on. (*cough* not to mention free MCs = lowered productivity *cough*)

Its also not like we are paying 100% of our medical fees, as SGreans, we are given a hefty subsidy. Why would you complain about a flat fee for consultations from GPs all the way to specialist, when foreigners have to pay more the as they go up the "ranks" of the doctors?

Then some people might talk about the poor. They too aren't left out from healthcare yo! Medishield, medifund and etc. If you look at it, the poor are actually well off in SG due to them getting close to or even free healthcare in SG!

Me and my cousin realised that the ones that are complaining a lot are the people those fall under the lower-mid income range. Because they just missed the criteria to get subsidies so they end up being treated like any normal citizens. If you were to look at it, due to subsidies, the poor tend to be much more well off as compared to those in the lower-mid range.

We see that there is two ways this could go, the govt leave the low income to feel like they got "screwed by the govt" or the govt have to fork out money to make them happy. I, for one, agree with the "screwing of the low income."

Okay look, before you bash me for being either a rich bastard or coz I'm a kid so I have yet to taste how the govt is screwing with us, all that is actually personal opinion. You actually really do have enough to make ends meet. Sure prices are rising, the problem is that you can't indulge in extravagant stuffs, which is probably the reason why people complain so much. That or probably the low income prevents them from having savings.

Okay so if we look at the govt forking out money to help the low income, it will start a vicious cycle. Okay let's see here.

If govt. totally supports the low income > mid-low income will complain that they just barely passed the cut off point > (assuming) govt changes the cut off point to include mid-low income > mid income will complain that they barely passed the cut off point > govt changes cut off to include mid income > and the cycle continues until everyone gets covered under the govt.

Then SG goes into debt and when the govt can't support the citizens anymore, it will revert back to this current system. So nothing is achieved but a big debt.

So assuming the govt does consider doing that, they would have to reduce spending on things like education/military to pump more into healthcare. Bad move, especially in SG.

SG's only resources is us, the people. If we can't become educated or trained enough to contribute, we will have to end up depending on Foreign Talents (oh I know you guys hate that word). Meaning a more saturated SG simply because the SGreans aren't smart/trained enough to help in SG's growth.

Draining military spending is another bad move. Remember that SG is a very small country. We NEED to spend much on military or else we can't defend ourselves well enough. People might question the use of NS to prepare against an enemy that doesn't (yet) exist. But let's take a look at Japan, as the aggressor (WWII) and defended (current).

Back then, we depended on the British to protect us. But, the Japanese invaded us ON. FREAKING. BIKES. Why? Because the "big guns all pointing wrong". Not mention, if you were to look under morale, what's the point in defending a country that is "geographically" not yours?

Looking at Japan currently, while it does have a Defense Force, it is generally under the protection of the US. What happens when US withdraws their protection, because North Korea is trying to be an ass by throwing nukes at Amurika? The US troops in Japan will be used to defend the US, either retreating back to US or launching a pre-emp. strike on North Korea. This will leave Japan defenseless. You want this to happen to SG? Because we can't defend ourselves properly, we have to depend on other countries' goodwill to either protect or not attack us. Nope, if history teaches us anything, never, EVER, depend on others.

So you can see that SG actually has a well-thought out system. But at the slight cost of the citizens somewhat. "Sacrifice for the greater good" so to speak. Individually, you might feel that the govt sucks and what not, but hey! There are also others in the same predicament as you. If the govt, singles you out, sure! Go ahead and complain! But when a whole lot of people are also faced with the same thing AND some of them can still be happy with what they have, why the hell are you complaining?

Be thankful that it is a "blunt,dispersed" sacrifice instead of a "sharp,focused" one. There is nothing "unfair" when there are many others in the same situation, if anything, its about as fair as it gets.

TL;DR : Yeap. Singapore actually has a very fair, balanced system that seems bad, probably because the citizens don't look around to see the impact of systems in other countries and also due to our own nearsightedness. So let's up and look at the whole picture instead of sticking with your shoes on the ground!

RANT TIME!!! - Its SBS not SMRT!!

Ayy yoo!! Been long time and finally!! Astryte's back!!! Heh heh.... Why did I open my blog again? Well... I needed a place to rant without spamming people, post my incomplete works for "record" purposes and basically as a journal for all the random stuff that happened. Which shall be the first point.

Stupid stuff #1:

Got on a bus, EZ-Link no moneh. So I wanted to pay coins. Didn't have $1. So I asked around for $2 change. An aunty gave me... $2 worth of coins. Guess what I did? I took out a 20c and replaced it with a 10c and dumped the whole lot into the coin box. Yeap. All $1.90 worth of coins. All of it. In the coin box. And I walked away like nothing was wrong... Ah well... At least that $1.90 is going to help the bus company!!!! ........... Maybe.....

Rant #1:

Okay so the North-East Line (NEL) broke down. And here, everyone is complaining. First thing in my head? What the foxtrot is wrong with these people. Nope, I wasn't talking about the train staff. I was talking about them Singaporeans. Always... ALWAYS generalizing things. Train breaks down, OMG SMRT SUCKS!! NEED DECREASE FARE!! Hello? NEL is under SBS fyi if you can't read properly.

Look at things this way aye? During Dec, breakdown, there was no shuttle services, no announcement, people stuck in trains and no one knew what the problem was. In THIS incident, there WERE shuttle services, there WERE announcements at the stations, NO ONE was stuck in the trains and by Mjolnir... THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS!!! WIRING ISSUES!! FYI, sometime ago, when NEL first broke down, it was due to some wiring breaking apart or something. Today, they found out that, AFTER fixing the broken wire, there were wire insulation problems. WIRE INSULATION!!!

Now, you might be thinking, what? Just wrap it with scotch/duct tape or something!! Yeah right. Like how SMRT used cable ties? No way. To fix insulation, they have to take out the entire length of the damaged wire and replace with an new one. Now, imagine the the wire runs continuously in between stations, that's a hell load of wires to take out and replace. And this is just the easy but tiring way. They could also just patch up the insulating but guess what? Patches are meant to be TEMPORARY. Like how you break your specs, you tape 'em? Yeah... TEMPORARY. Until you get a new pair or get it fixed PROPERLY. Tell you what. Let me find a wire, remove part of the insulation and ask you to fix that and making sure other users will be SAFE from the wires.

They don't fix it well, wire comes into contact with a random piece of metal or another wire, short-circuits and whoops~~ People stuck in them tunnels. So, unless you are an engineer or are mechanically inclined, DO NOT speak of which you know naught of. Especially when you aren't planning to think it through. >.>

Another problem. Singaporeans not being appreciative about what they get. Hell!! Singaporeans are hardly appreciative >.> (I'm talking about typical SGreans fyi. I know there are you folks who appreciate the efforts of others :D ) SBS gave you shuttle service every 5-10 MINUTES in between stations and you AREN'T HAPPY?!?! Hell!! Lady look! Its FASTER than your bloody typical bus which appears after 10-40 mins of waiting!!

"I feel like taking a cab after seeing so many people. But who's gonna pay me the cab fare? It's quite messy because people were boarding from both doors. I already told my colleagues I'll be late. My boss doesn't like us to be late, but no choice." Of course it's messy ya fool!! How many people depend on the NEL everyday?!?! YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY USER SO GET IT STRAIGHT! God!! The nerves of some people!!

"I only heard about the breakdown at my train station, so no time to make alternative plans. The buses are coming very frequently and there are enough staff to give directions, but it is still very troublesome. "

OF COURSE YOU HEARD IT AT THE MRT STATION YOU FOOL!! Where else can you hear about it? Your freaking ass? AND OF COURSE YOU NO TIME FOR ALTERNATIVE PLANS!! Which part of "UNEXPECTED breakdown" you don't understand huh?! God!! Give this guy a Nobel prize for stupidity, please!!

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Here's some theories that I've heard/thought about why MRT's breaking down alot lately.

1) The entire track system is old (You don't "You don't say" me, Mister!!)
2) The new trains used are only COMPATIBLE with the old tracks

3)Weight. (The newer trains are apparently heavier + packed trains due to rush hour)

1) Okay. Say it. Tell me that they should replace the old system with a new one. Excuse me, hello? Have you taken a good look at the MRT map? Tell me how you are going to replace the ENTIRE system ALL OVER Singapore WITHOUT affecting commuters eh? TELL ME, I DARE YOU!!

2) Its like saying, "Oh I'm L size but... I guess I can wear M". You'd fit, but it will 1) Look stupid and 2) Its not exactly super comfortable. Same thing here. The newer trains are designed to run on the old tracks, but NOT running as efficiently as they should. Because its NOT 100% compatible, expect damages/wear and tear to occur more frequently.

3)More weight = more stress on the train which will be transferred onto the tracks meaning more wear and tear. Must I explain more?
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Sigh... Sometimes I wish people use their brains a lot before making statements. Which explains why I kinda have a complex against the "Uneducated masses" but don't blame me. I'm sure we all know some fool that didn't think about what they wanted to say before speaking. Ah!! Feel much better now~~ Okay!! Time to go~~ Astryte signing off!!!