Critical Spectator

2022-02-25 16:37:46 One of the more ridiculous responses to the crisis in Ukraine is America-bashing. So, I wrote something about it today: https://www.facebook.com/CriticalSpectator/posts/4746682402106116 Open / Comment

2022-02-25 02:49:17 It's quite likely that even Putin hasn't decided when the invasion should stop and what his ultimate goals are. But he has certainly set a bare minimum before he can consider winding it down.

Here's what it is: https://www.facebook.com/CriticalSpectator/posts/4744981875609502 Open / Comment

2022-02-24 06:13:45 Explosions reported in Kiev, Kharkiv and Odessa. Open / Comment

2022-02-24 06:02:38 Putin announces invasion of Ukraine. Open / Comment

2022-02-24 04:15:47 Here's the highlight from my yesterday's article - the effective GST rates after taking vouchers into account:

https://www.facebook.com/CriticalSpectator/posts/4742237965883893

https://vulcanpost.com/779084/how-much-singaporeans-have-to-pay-with-9-per-cent-gst/ Open / Comment

2022-02-23 16:27:09 Critics like to say that GST is a regressive tax that hurts poorest the most. Setting aside the fact that it's not a tax on income so it should not be compared to PIT, the fact is that GST in Singapore is actually a multi-tiered and highly progressive tax, thanks to government subsidies.

I went ahead and calculated where on the scale from 0 to 9 percent different people end up with. Now you can check what applies to you.

To my knowledge, it is the first attempt to estimate real, effective GST rates in Singapore, after correcting for permanent rebates from the GST Voucher system.

https://vulcanpost.com/779084/how-much-singaporeans-have-to-pay-with-9-per-cent-gst/ Open / Comment

2022-02-22 03:21:59 A temporary change of topic today - my take on the recent developments in Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/CriticalSpectator/posts/4735917026515987 Open / Comment

2022-02-21 06:58:40 Another thing missing from the GST discussion is just how much it would have to be if Singapore did not have the national reserves returning billions of dollars into the budget every year. Virtually no other country in the world enjoys such a situation.

https://vulcanpost.com/778868/singapore-increase-gst-national-reserves/ Open / Comment

2022-02-21 05:31:50 With the new GST hike nobody seems to be talking about the impact on effective GST tax rates and who will actually feel it the most: https://www.facebook.com/CriticalSpectator/posts/4733136810127342 Open / Comment

2022-02-19 05:18:50 Singapore should eliminate income taxes for below-median earners. And exempt them from GST, before raising it to 15-20% for the above average taxpayers. Not for economic but political reasons: https://www.facebook.com/CriticalSpectator/posts/4726989350742088 Open / Comment