WriterJournal

The first

August 7, 2007 on 1:12 pm | In Please Accumulate Pennies | Comments Off

This is the first very sensitive post of many to come. Of course, sensitivity is subjective. What one may find to be sensitive may not be as such to another.

I believe many Singaporeans would have moaned or cursed or were already immune to the recent request by SBS Transit and SMRT for, yet again, another fare hike estimated to be capped at 1.8%.

While I have no idea how public transport fares are determined, I do have some very good ideas (IMHO) how the public transport system should be run as illustrated (yes, I know. There’s no real drawings.) by the fictional story below.

At this moment in time, in most cities, everyone pays the same fare for the same trip taken. Well, in my fictional World of Please Accumulate Pennies (WPAP), things are quite different.

Citizens of World of Please Accumulate Pennies (CoWPAP) are all issued an Identity Card (IC) at birth. This IC is an amazing artwork of technology and all CoWPAP are to carry it with them at all times. They use it for everything. From buying food at the supermarket to entering a paid toilet to receiving salary & bonuses to paying income tax. CoWPAP cannot do without their IC. And of course, they use this IC to travel. Motto of the IC - One Card for All!

And because each IC is unique and traceable back to a CoWPAP, the Government of WPAP (GWPAP) knows exactly how much each CoWPAP earns and spends. GWPAP is very particular about pennies and hates to see pennies being wasted. Therefore, GWPAP is very proud of the IC which was their first (and only) invention. Each CoWPAP who damages or loses their IC more than twice in their lifetime will not be issued with a third. A CoWPAP without an IC will need to apply for a Temporary Identity Card Visa (TICV) which is similar to the ones used by Foreigner CoWPAPs (FCoWPAP) staying in WPAP. And the TICV must be renewed every two weeks at the cost of a shocking WPAP$150 per renewal which will take three workings days during which the TICV applicant must report his/her every movements at the nearest available WPAP Police Station (WPAP-PS) which are opened only between 8am to 10pm. Effectively, TICV applicants are not allowed to be out after 10pm and before 8am.

Back to the issue on transportation.

In WPAP, because each IC is unique and traceable back to a CoWPAP, the GWPAP knows exactly how much each CoWPAP earns and spends, all expenditure are determined by the CoWPAP’s income.

Let’s look at two CoWPAPs.

CoWPAP-Geraldine earns WPAP$5000 a month. This places her into the middle-income group of WPAP. CoWPAP-Henry earns WPAP$500 a month. This places him into the low-income group of WPAP.

Both CoWPAP-Geraldine and CoWPAP-Henry travels to work on a train every day. For TICV holders, the train fare is WPAP$3 per trip. For CoWPAP-Geraldine, the train fare is WPAP$5 per trip and for CoWPAP-Henry, the train fare is WPAP$0.50 per trip.

The GWPAP works on a very simple principle. Earn more, pay more. Earn less, pay less. TICV are exceptionals because they are already paying WPAP$150 every two weeks.

Are CoWPAP-Geraldine and CoWPAP-Henry happy?

Obviously CoWPAP-Geraldine is not. But CoWPAP-Henry is. CoWPAP-Geraldine rationalises that GWPAP is out to suck her of all her pennies while CoWPAP-Henry feels GWPAP is a government with a real heart caring for the people’s pennies. And TICV holders? Well, they have no rights to say anything anyway.

Now that you have read how much two CoWPAPs pay for their transportation fares, are you happy?

Next issue to address will be housing. When? When my work schedule allows. Till then, be a Happy CoWPAP! Count not your blessings and you will want not more.