just my short comment: Singaporeans have dignity and are not prostitutes to the rich; the rich must likewise pay to enjoy space

wallacetan(10-06-2012) wrote:

Thread source: Property in Singapore taxed less than food and water...why?
Wow, you still believe it is right to steal.
I thought the one of the 10 commandments is "Thou shalt not steal"?
And you still believe the government knows how to allocate resources best without wastage.
And you also believe the rich will stay put and let the government increase their tax, haven't you heard of Eduardo Saverin? (he renounced his U.S. citizenship; to reduce the capital gains taxes on his Facebook IPO)

Please note that according to the Bible, Jesus Christ did say "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21) [Wikipedia].

Taxation IS NOT theft in so far that the government has been legitimately elected and thus has democratic backing in the legislature for its revenue/ expense policies.

Whilst I appreciate your reservations about the prudence of Singapore government expense ['Seeking clarity over $2,200-bike purchase by NParks']['Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?'], my only aim in the starting of this thread would be to highlight the unfairness in which poorer Singaporeans are actually paying higher rates of consumption taxes relative to richer residents in so far as the owner occupiers of properties in Singapore pay below the standard 7% GST rate for whatever luxuries they are able to encircle within the fences of their residence.

I shall refrain from commenting about your reference to Eduardo Saverin as again your example pertains to 'income taxes' and not the context of this thread which is of consumption taxes.

In any case, I sincerely hope that Mr Saverin is a decent and sensible person who has chosen Singapore Citizenship out of conviction that the laws of our nation state might afford him a greater means to make contributions to the world and not merely for the purpose of evading taxes of his parent country in prelude to his new found wealth consequent to the Facebook IPO. ['The Folly Of Eduardo Saverin']

In fact, although Singapore does not have a capital gains tax, I understand that if Capital gains are the main source of one's income, then the same can be considered as income tax (or perhaps withheld through lien by the Singapore government until such time that the shares are disposed off).

In short, neither Singapore nor its government should become prostitutes to the rich (Singaporean / otherwise). Singaporeans I believe have brains and should be able to enact laws which are progressive and thus equitable and fair to all, such that the rich are respected for their greater (and not lesser) contribution to society.

The following are some examples of physical of prostitution present in western states. The reverence of Singaporeans for $$$ should not degenerate into this state, literal or otherwise.