Salary for politicians - Perversion is real

[ThERat]

If you ever thought that politicians in your country are overpaid, think again. Members of the government in Singapore are already the highest paid in the world, but that seems not enough.

Read this piece of news. They actually need another pay rise. Pegging the salary to the highest paid people in other professions isn't really ethical IMHO. What about pegging it to the lowest 20%, whose income has actually decreased here in the past 5 years. For example, simple labor would earn you about US$500/month here...and here they are now planning to raise the pay for ministers from S$1.2 million to about S$2.2 million/year.
(that's roughly from US$0.8 to US$1.45 mil)

It's disgusting to say the least, but since Singapore is a hybrid democracy, there isn't really anything people can do...time to migrate

you thought the politicians in your country are greedy? how about this
click on the title page to see the pdf file

shouldn't we all cry about the 'poor' ministers?

Actually what's even more disgusting, are the poodles form the controlled press that sing the same tune...reminds me a lot of former Eastern Germany.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

Yeah, politicians should be getting most of their money from taking bribes anyway.

I wonder how much this compares to the salaries of the US President and Congressmen.

 

[Ramius75]

Indeed its very disgusting where they actually have to increase the GST to offset the company tax while putting a heavier burden on the not so well to do while fattening themselves.

Their excuses of hiring the best person with such pay is not an excuse as other countries with lesser paid ministers actually perform better than Singapore.

 

[amadeus]

The U.S. President has a salary of $400,000. It was doubled by Clinton before he left office, assuming it would be a nice welcoming gift for Gore. The President, as far as I understand it, can increase his salary by as much as 100% and that's it.

The average U.S. member of Congress earns something like $130,000, excluding all of the additional goodies they get at the taxpayers' expense.

 

[downtown]

Local Politicians make crap though...many state representitives keep up their law firms on the side. The highest paid Berucrat that I worked with in my local govt made under 70,000. I would be making around 8 bucks an hour.

130,000 in DC isn't all *that* much...but most senators had gobs of dough before they became senators.

If one if looking to get rich, elected office is not the place.

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

$130,000 is only upper middle class when taking into account the high cost of living in much of the United States' urban areas, including Washington DC. But the bribes are where the real money comes from.

 

[amadeus]

Bribes? Typical ignornace.

Things like housing, travel, food, etc. are all paid for by the government for our representatives. The $130,000+ is in addition to all of the perks that they get.

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

Ah yes, I forgot, the proper term is "lobbying," the word "bribe" is linguistically obsolete.

 

[amadeus]

Now that I have your attention, I said that their housing, travel, and food is paid for by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

 

[Kraznaya]

Wouldn't paying politicians a lot be a sly way to discourage bribes?

 

[Kozmos]

*plays anthem*

Bribes? I prefer to think of it as good business.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

Maybe I should rethink my migration plans to Singapore....

Does Singapore accepts foreigners as politicians?

 

[ThERat]

Maybe I should rethink my migration plans to Singapore....

Does Singapore accepts foreigners as politicians?

this is a topic that would touch the raw nerves of the locals. While they have been told all the while and especially recently, that they better accept lower wages else they would get replaced by 'foreign talents', politicians need higher pay else Singapore would lose the best in politics...

I'd say, do something good for USA and Singapore. Import America's government here, they are cheaper, I guess Americans wouldn't be too unhappy to see them exported anyway...both would gain

I can't believe that this kind of cynicism can be shoved so easily down the locals throats...years of LKY suppression have worked well...oooppps shouldn't have said that, maybe he is gonna sue me soon...

 

[Shaihulud]

Maybe I should rethink my migration plans to Singapore....

Singapore is a gateway to the rest of the world. As a citizen, you do not require visas or extensive checks to other part of the civilized world. In fact i know of many foreign "talents" from disadvantaged country, they come here to learn English and eventually move on to somewhere more hospitable.

Does Singapore accepts foreigners as politicians?

Not Malaysians.

 

[ThERat]

Now that the truth is out via yesterday's budget speech, I have to say, that there is hardly anything left to keep me in this country.

Obscene would be a mild word to desribe what these politicians are capable of. Not only that the PM now get's S$3mil, but this unique country has a Minister Mentor and Senior Minister as well, who also get the same. President, who isn't even elected and does nothing but cut ribbons gets the same. It's amazing...
I am working in an organization that links it's pay to civil service. it's nice to hear that for people like me, we can expect 3-5% pay rise, but not in the form of monthly increment, but porformance bonus, in other words depending whether my boss likes me or not...disgusting...

In the same debate, LKY made sure, he insulted all of ASEAN and European countries such as Finland/Switzerland and Denmark too. I find it excessively arrogant and plain disgusting, how he behaves.

link to minister's pay rise

LKY and one of the 2 opposition members exchange:

SINGAPORE : Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang questioned the need for such high salaries for ministers and top civil servants to prevent corruption.
He said Singapore ranked below Finland, Denmark and Switzerland, in a UN report on how corrupt a country is, but these countries pay their top civil servants less than Singapore.

This had Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on his feet and challenging his statements.

"Does he realise that Singapore's GDP is only one-third of its external trade? Our external trade is 3 1/2 times that of our GDP, higher than Hong Kong. And if this economy ever falters, that's the end of Singapore and its First World status. Denmark, Switzerland and Finland are part of Europe. You can fail and you're still caught in the European situation. If you fail here, you go back to a Southeast Asian situation. Just look around you," said MM Lee.

"So is the Minister Mentor saying that without paying such a high salary, we are bound to fail? And even if we pay top earners' salary, can the present government bring Singapore up to superpower (status), as what he has mentioned for those in Denmark?" challenged Mr Low, MP for Hougang.

"I am putting a simple question and asking for his clarification. He has compared Singapore as if it were Denmark, Finland or Switzerland. Their systems and governments never produced the kind of transformation that we have, and their system and government have a broader base and can afford a mediocre government," said the Minister Mentor. - CNA /ls

 

[downtown]

Now that I have your attention, I said that their housing, travel, and food is paid for by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I checked on this. It isnt true.

The govt will pay for X number of trips home to their districts. Congressmen will often fly home more often out of their own expence. HOUSING is not paid for. It isn't uncommon for congressmen from similar geographic areas to share an apartment, if they dont move their family to DC.

 

[Xanikk999]

Is singapore that country where they execute people for having marajuana?

Thats a crazy law on par with some of saudia arabias laws.

 

[ThERat]

by the way, for my friends from the regions here, there is this cool rap song from a guy in Malaysia. Nice to listen to, to cool down after all this anger I had to face these days.

cool rap song

 

[ThERat]

Is singapore that country where they execute people for having marajuana?

Yes, if it is above the legal limit that requires MANDATORY death penalty. 2 Years ago, a young German lady faced the gallows here, but further analysis revealed that the amount of dope was just below that limit. I think Singapore was too scared to hang a German, because that would hurt business too much. When it comes to young 18 years old Nigerian or Vietnamese drug traffickers, they don't wait long and hang them all...

PS Don't believe the glossy ads about this great country, it's a borderline fascist country, truly...

 

[Xanikk999]

Yes, if it is above the legal limit that requires MANDATORY death penalty. 2 Years ago, a young German lady faced the gallows here, but further analysis revealed that the amount of dope was just below that limit. I think Singapore was too scared to hang a German, because that would hurt business too much. When it comes to young 18 years old Nigerian or Vietnamese drug traffickers, they don't wait ling and hang them all...

PS Don't believe the glossy ads about this great country, it's a borderline fascist country, truly...

That is scary. A mandatory death penalty?