Sure, everybody knows about the PGP, thanks to the close resemblance to the other hated acronym, PWP. 7 in 10 have heard of it, but 2 out of 5 could not name a single benefit. One plausible cause is that, according to the original roll-out plan, letters informing the eligibles will be sent out only in August 2014, a date closer to the rumored up-coming general election. The other reason could be because there are no real benefits of speak of.
To recap, the PGP has three main prongs:
a) Subsidy for bills at hard-to-find Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOC);
b) Medisave top-ups, which are useless if you don't have real hard cash for the co-payment;
c) MediShield Life, which is yet to be fully defined, but guaranteed to raise health care cost with higher than existing premiums for PGP and non-PGP types.
Teo and Khor may explain it differently, but they really should consider packaging free chicken-rice during their exhortation plan. Packet meals - like those distributed to boost supporter turn-outs at election rallies - fill an empty stomach, not indigestable subsidies.
That's the easy part. The difficulty will be explaining why those born one day after 31 December 1949, or obtained citizenship one day after 31 December 1986, are entitled to zilch. Not even a cheap consolation prize like the Gift Pack they are doling out to babies born next year. For a senior citizen's rumbling stomach, even baby food will suffice.
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Haha..it's like all the giveaway government programs...shrouded in mystery and bureaucratic speak so that the actual utilization will be gifted to $8 Khaw and $1000 Tharman..but have no fear the money will be utilized, probably for tea parties to explain the giveaways
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that we have a feeling that the G. give you a drumstick but take away your whole chicken.?
ReplyDeletewhat they give is mock drumstick made from gluten.
DeleteYes but you miss 2v points: you are charged a chiucken every year but they give you a mock drum stick only until next election. And second, the money for the drum stick is also paid by you (your CPF and your medisave, medishield and all your GST and other taxes). The elites are behaving as if they own the nation's wealth, you pitiful helpless sheeple are so dumb and poor so here is some charity, be thankful and repect them as gods. That is what politics in the anglo saxon way works - politicians usurp the power to tax and make laws to favour their friends, you end up with the taxes and the laws that throw you in jail if you ever dare to be ungrateful!
DeleteHahaha.. it is more like a vote buying exercise using empty promises to hopefully trick the senile into voting PAP. Most of the money would be spent on propagandas extolling the greatness of PGP instead of any real benefits. Actually, to save Amy Khor the trouble, she could just conduct a survey on her ball carriers to get the feedback that she want.
ReplyDeleteFurious Chinese Rioters Beat Corrupt Policemen To Death
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-21/furious-chinese-rioters-beat-corrupt-policemen-death
"This is the inevitable consequence of letting the public to lose faith in the law enforcement and the justice system, especially when dealing with wrongdoings of government officials. There are other nations headed down the same path."
@anon 12.48pm,
Deletewhilst I admire the guts of those PRC rioters, I hope they realise it would have been more effective if their rage was directed at corrupt politicians... somewhat like those politicians in Sin City who help themselves to millions of taxpayers money and yet have the gall to claim they do not have 20/20 vision after creating a mess for citizens.
A better approach would be to provide subsidized medical care and give monthly income supplement to seniors. These people have invested lifelong savings in CPF with negative real returns while Temasek gets to keep the "excess" return.
ReplyDeleteWhy beg?
DeleteLet them lost the power through the coming election.
I tik people of singapore too good to pap governmet...bery patent...veri unterstanding...too nice ....pap so luckii to havve,
ReplyDeleteGovernment has a very bad record in terms of giveaways and charity. So nobody is really reading the fine print to find out what the PGP is all about. Everyone knows that if they ever give you a dollar, they will tax you double in return. Phui!
ReplyDeleteWe wouldn't need their "charity" if they would just shaft their FT and "asset enhancing bubble blowing pro-GDP (bonuses)" policies in their behind and leave us alone to run our country ourselves. Their problem is not one of poor communications or image, or mistrust; their problem is their self-serving policies which have destroyed a perfectly good economy since 2004 where workers and employers have some semblance of balance in the economy's profits. By flooding the place with FTs they line their rent-seeking towkays' and the TLC's and their own pockets while the rest of us have barely enough to look after our families and our parents and children. So the top 20% drive BWMs, live in bungalows and bid up housing prices while the rest become wards of the state. Admittedly that is what they want - we become their serfs in a throwback to a feudalistic society copiously and constantly fed with propaganda and fear.
ReplyDeleteDidn't they msm just dished out the 'mid term report card' with flying colors?? If so, then next GE shouldn't be due till 2016! August 2014...nah..too soon. Unless they are wagering on asking singaporeans to give him a clear mandate and approval before getting the clear go-sign to squander all that money on celebrating the 50th birthday and the old man's legacy, not to mention dishing out additional monies on the new healthcare plans. If sinkies decide to take a few more GRCs away from them, you will see how the healtcare plan will be rolled back or less generous..all the giveaways are just more wayang.
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention the packet meals given to boost spectator support, I have waited all this while for a response from the opposition parties. They have lawyers in their midst. Surely they should be aware that under section 58 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which makes it an offence to provide any meal or drink,etc.,to any person for the purpose of inducing that person to attend or remain at any election meeting. There is no statutory limitation to prosecuting any infringement during the 2011 GE.
ReplyDeleteThe opposition knows what everybody knows that the crowd attendance at PAP rallies are staged. Everyone is laughing their heads off and really it makes a fool of the PAP themselves for resorting to such tactics to show false support. Why would the opposition want to stop such a circus that really has a negative impact on the PAP standing?
DeleteYou mean to say LKY's PAP is so cheapskate now have to resort to packet meals to attract people to attend its rallies?
DeleteHow come WP no food also can attract people by the thousands? No wonder PAP has to resort to other tricks now to seduce the Old Folks? How about a guaranteed coffin for the Senior Old Folk Mentors?
Just wish that the 2 Old Ladies will not be like interpreters to deity in trance. Otherwise, it will mean that only the deity in trance and it's interpreter(s) are the only ones that know whatever that is going on and the Rest(others) are non the wiser and learn nothing.
ReplyDelete//Sure, everybody knows about the PGP, thanks to the close resemblance to the other hated acronym, PWP. //
ReplyDeleteYou left out the acronym PAP, because it is well loved?
Remember the warning? When the PAP government gives out help, the people have to run for cover. That was the perception then, is the perception now, and will be the perception in years to come.
ReplyDeleteSingaporeans are meek & mild.
ReplyDeleteThey behave with bravado only when are dealing with customer service people... if faced with choosing politician, they choose the safest... in the mistaken belief that the politician will look after their interests... ha, ha, ha, ha... they have not learnt anything the past 50 years as a voter.
Not so true. What about voters in Hougang, Aljunied GRC and Punggol East? You call Hougang voters meek, but they have been voting WP for decades, despite threats, unfair treatments, boundary handky pankies and warning of rubbish piling up to 3rd storey. The rest is history of what makes Hougang voters discerning, brave and willing to sacrifice benefits for principles.
DeleteFrankly for those born 1 day later suddenly with the stroke of heaven these non-pioneers have in the eyes of the Papigs contributed next to nothing hence no benefits! They must be cursing like hell!
ReplyDeleteIncidentally how can PAP Govt continue to define certain beneficiary groups by a certain date? It is as if the PAP govt continue to be governed ny a bunch of idiots tio bo?
The next cursing like hell will come with the dishing out of benefits for babies in this jubiiee year.
DeleteAll this pork barrel policies will backfire in one way or another and cost the PAP more votes. We shall see.