[LINK] Cost Of Living

Jim Birch planetjim at gmail.com
Tue Feb 12 11:53:18 AEDT 2013


Exactly.  Think "Quality of Life" not "Cost of Living."

Jim Birch
e: planetjim at gmail.com
m: 04 1243 1243


On 12 February 2013 11:42, Michael Skeggs mike at bystander.net <
mskeggs at gmail.com> wrote:

> I too, feel very strongly about this.
> The standard of living in Australia is almost uniformly higher than
> Singapore's by almost any measure (I'll give them public transport as a
> win).
> While Singapore offers a low-tax, high-ish income state, it suffers from
> repressive government, limited social services and problems related to
> over-crowding.
> Go and watch the 70 year olds working in McDonalds in Singapore and explain
> to me again why an Australian fixed income neighbour is hurting in
> comparison.
> Singapore and Hong Kong are pretty much the epitome of a 'dog eat dog'
> societies, where misfortune or poor planning can result in destitution, and
> where inequality is very high (see GINI coefficients).
> I'll resist any approach that throws the vulnerable and less fortunate
> aside for increased income for the rich, and you should too.
> SG and HK are terrible models for a compassionate society.
> And if you think that our federal governments have much to do with cost of
> living pressures, you'll have to do something to convince me. At best, I
> suspect the federal government can make a minor impact one way or another.
> In Australia we have free health care, subsidised or free housing for
> economically disadvantaged citizens, substantial welfare support for the
> vulnerable, free education to secondary level and subsidised tertiary
> education and, of course, country areas enjoy subsidised government
> services at a rate significantly above those in cities (roads, social
> services, facilities etc).
> And to bring it back on topic, shortly a national broadband network
> offering speeds that the private sector has failed to deliver over the last
> umpteen years.
> If you are explicitly arguing for reduced welfare payments, reduced
> government services and other cuts to lower the "cost of living" then
> please say so, and list the things you think we could do without.
> Regards,
> Michael Skeggs
> PS - not that I don't think both are amazing places, just not somewhere I
> would willingly live or hope to emulate.
>
> On 11 February 2013 15:03, <stephen at melbpc.org.au> wrote:
>
> > >
> > > In the words of that great philosopher, Homer - D'oh.
> >
> >
> > According to the Wall Street Journal ..
> >
> > "Yet another wealth report has put tiny Singapore on the top of its
> > charts – this time, as the wealthiest nation in the world by GDP per
> > capita .. beating out Hong Kong ..
> >
> > And, the 'richest nation in the world' Singapore rates 63rd in terms
> > of cost of living, and Hong Kong rates 147th in world cost of living.
> >
> > D'oh.. note to Wayne .. yes it's your government stupid. Forgive one
> > Linkers for political comment, but, I feel hot about this topic. And
> > in our small town, the plight of my fixed-income neighbours hurts :(
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Stephen
> >
> > <
> http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2012/08/15/singapore-home-to-the-worlds-
> > richest-people/>
> >
> >
> > Message sent using MelbPC WebMail Server
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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