I'm sorry to know about the sorry brown saga and I just have one thing to say about it.
The brown article was the only one I saw in response to the Household Survey results until today, Day 9 since they were published in both the ST and TODAY. And remember, the ST did say that we are preoccupied with the income gap problem.
Now, about what's in today's ST. To quote, 'What accounts for this rising trend in income inequality? Who are the people at the bottom of the income ladder and how do they cope?'
These questions being the main thrust of the article, it wasn't really a discussion of solutions. Anyway, I suspect that many of us would have a good idea of the answers to those questions even without reading the article. And, like other people, I'm interested in knowing what solutions there might be so hopefully, more people will be discussing the issue. It is one thing to explain the reasons for the widening income gap but another to do something to help those in need.
It is worrying to read about families like that of this Mr Sri Dharan, 55 and father of 3. His whole family survives on his $1,500 monthly salary. His Progress Package payout ran out in less than two months and he said, 'I don't know when I can stop working.'
And Mr Sri Dharan is not even right at the bottom-most rung.
(There was also this retiree featured in the article who has an investment account that pays out $10,000 a month. Anyone knows how I can be like him, i.e., getting $10,000 a month from an investment account?)
Also worrying was the news earlier this week about how some above-55-years families are over-stretched with their CPF-HDB loan repayments. Haven't seen any follow-up article on it. Only a forum letter from CPF and HDB explaining that most of us are 'prudent' in our H
DB loans. So no solutions yet either.
I must constantly remind myself to stop feeling sorry for myself. I am not even near Mr Sri Dharan's situation. But CPF-HDB loan repayments... sigh...
Well, the buntings and stuff are out. About a month more to National Day. Let's move on together.
The brown article was the only one I saw in response to the Household Survey results until today, Day 9 since they were published in both the ST and TODAY. And remember, the ST did say that we are preoccupied with the income gap problem.
Now, about what's in today's ST. To quote, 'What accounts for this rising trend in income inequality? Who are the people at the bottom of the income ladder and how do they cope?'
These questions being the main thrust of the article, it wasn't really a discussion of solutions. Anyway, I suspect that many of us would have a good idea of the answers to those questions even without reading the article. And, like other people, I'm interested in knowing what solutions there might be so hopefully, more people will be discussing the issue. It is one thing to explain the reasons for the widening income gap but another to do something to help those in need.
It is worrying to read about families like that of this Mr Sri Dharan, 55 and father of 3. His whole family survives on his $1,500 monthly salary. His Progress Package payout ran out in less than two months and he said, 'I don't know when I can stop working.'
And Mr Sri Dharan is not even right at the bottom-most rung.
(There was also this retiree featured in the article who has an investment account that pays out $10,000 a month. Anyone knows how I can be like him, i.e., getting $10,000 a month from an investment account?)
Also worrying was the news earlier this week about how some above-55-years families are over-stretched with their CPF-HDB loan repayments. Haven't seen any follow-up article on it. Only a forum letter from CPF and HDB explaining that most of us are 'prudent' in our H
DB loans. So no solutions yet either.I must constantly remind myself to stop feeling sorry for myself. I am not even near Mr Sri Dharan's situation. But CPF-HDB loan repayments... sigh...
Well, the buntings and stuff are out. About a month more to National Day. Let's move on together.
Comments
As I mentioned before, the community has a role too. The problem is that many of us do little more than donate money.
Also, the media could highlight the efforts currently in place to deal with such problems - whether by the government or opposition, VWOs, etc, as well as areas where more needs to be done, so that individuals can perhaps help in some way.
Finally, maybe some economists or other experts could be roped in to come up with measures to deal with the more long-term, structural and socio-economic reasons for the widening income gap.
I don't know lah. Like I said, I don't have solutions, just some suggestions.