hiatus

The biggest component of this year's budget seems to be the Big Budget Giveaway - "cash handouts, amounting to $1.4 billion" where "all adult Singaporeans will be eligible for the handouts, ranging from $200 to $800 each." (ST Feb 19, 2006)

This just begs the question, "so what does the government hope to achieve with this?" It seems like an expensive way to buy election votes, seeing as each person only receives a few hundred dollars at a total opportunity cost of more than a billion. Furthermore this will be funded from the annual budget, not from reserves.

When a company cannot find any more good investment opportunities, it may choose to return the excess profits to the shareholders in the form of dividends, instead of re-investing it. Does this mean that there is nothing left for Singapore to invest in? Have we run out of ideas? Is a direct subsidy the only way to help the lower income, unskilled groups, whose livelihoods are endangered most by the rising challenges of India and China?

Another random though that crossed my mind: why does it take Lydia Lim, Senior Political Correspondant to present a seemingly factual list of subsidies? (refer to "$2.6b help package for all", ST 18 Feb 2006) This must be a potential minefield.

I only have questions but no answers. Anyway, what do I know about policy. So please do not misconstrue this for being critical in any way. Contrary to what Huichieh says, I have discovered that blogging can quite easily be neglected, especially when swamped with work. I expect to be swamped again for a while, and then I go on holiday; so don't expect any new updates in a hurry.

So here is something for my loyal readers to kill time with. I find this Johari Window thing quite interesting, so I do appreciate if you would take a few minutes to fill mine out.