Judging by the reactions to the latest BTO launches I think there is a sufficient group of complainers in Singapore who need to read/hear the below.There aren't many things one could reasonably complain about in Singapore and somewhere near the top of the list of the things most unfairly criticized is HDB public housing.And yet some people - quite many of them - still do.So, I thought it would be best to send a reminder to them how grateful they should actually be. Here are some points that they should find difficult to contest:
The only reason you have a home as big as you do is the HDB. You OWE this government program your living conditions. And you do because you would absolutely suck in the free market.If you hate the HDB so much to attack it over S$800k BTO 5BR apartments in AMK then why don't you just buy a condo? Show the government you don't need it!Oh, but comparable condos go for S$3 million... Can you afford S$3 million?
That was a rhetorical question, we all know the answer. And you can't afford it because you don't make enough money. And you don't make enough money because you don't produce enough value. And you don't produce enough value because you're not competent or smart enough.
What is worse, however, you can't even afford the 75% discount from the government to pay the S$800k.Now, only couples with children could reasonably need a 5BR apartment. Median household income in Singapore is about S$9500 per month - or close to S$115,000 per year. It means the top of the line apartment in a mature estate costs roughly 7 years worth of family earnings - easily one of the best ratios in any major city in the world.If you can't afford even that, then it means you're deep into the lower bottom half of the society.So, you're not only not smart enough at your own job to make it in the free market but you're not even average-smart nationwide. But you still believe you're smart enough to make demands of a public policy that your life already depends on?
By the way, have you seen how all of these launches are oversubscribed? The public isn't exactly shunning BTOs is it? Why? Because it's an awesome deal. That you can't take part in it is only your fault.
"But these are just leasehold, we're not even owners!". Condos are leaseholds too. Someone is paying S$3 million for a leasehold condo and I don't hear them whining.
"But it's built on state land! State land should be free! The government is ripping us off!" - but you're using the land, aren't you? You're not paying for something you don't use - you're paying for something you're entitled to using for a century. Is this the case of government ripping you off or is it more the case of you trying to rip the society off by demanding to use something for free?And what is government anyway? Just a manager of national wealth, elected by its people. Those billions of dollars from land sales are not going into politicians' pockets - they're going into reserves for reinvestment so returns from it can subsidize future HDBs, schools, roads, MRT, airport, parks, pipes, electricity, water, sewage - everything.
Let's get this straight:1. You're paying close to no income taxes at all.2. You're paying a very small GST (one of the lowest in the developed world).3. You get subsidized education, public transit and healthcare.4. Finally, your subsidized apartment got a 60-80% discount over the prices in the free market......and you are STILL complaining that you have to pay your share even for the land it was built on?Honestly, when I read drivel like this all I see is red mist. I know it's not going to happen but what a joy it would be if HDB program was frozen for, let's say, 30 years. So neither the complainers nor their children get to enjoy the preferential conditions.You don't like government programs? You don't like subsidies? You don't like state support? OK, fine, let's see how you can fly in the free market, crammed in subdivided condo rooms in private multimillion dollar apartments. I always find it really perplexing that those whining about the government are also the ones most dependent on it and its policies.If it wasn't for a bunch of clever people up there you wouldn't even be able to provide for your family and you think you know it all better?Some folks really need a mirror at home.
