Kia-ora
National is driving even more New Zealand jobs offshore as they drive up the dollar with borrowing for tax cuts for their voters. National borrowing for election bribes. Sound familiar to anyone who was around during the Muldoon National Government in the 70's and early 80's.
None of the borrowing would be necessary if we had kept reasonable progressive tax rates. Like Australia, Scandinavia and other more successful countries, instead of following failed States like Ireland, the UK and the USA.
Bernard Hickey on Investment
It was the neo-liberals from the first ACT government, in 1984, on that made NZ hostile to investors in productive business. Since then productive investment in NZ has been less than 1/3 of the rate before 1980.
Why invest in NZ when the median income is too low paid to buy your products and you can make more money from gambling in finance and land speculation.
The Government even bails you out when the speculation fails.
Not to mention the grossly overpriced NZ dollar due to the, way past its used by date, reserve bank act, AND, lately, Nationals borrowing for tax cuts to those who have benefited most from our infrastructure and educated workforce.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Kia-ora
I hate to say this, but our last chance of defeating the Neo-Liberal tide in NZ are sleep walking their way to defeat.
At this late stage they can only rearrange the chairs, but Goff is too colourless to counter Key.
Labour should have introduced new blood at the top when Helen Clark left. AND! grown a spine!
Over 60% of New Zealanders oppose National's policies, but will vote for Key anyway because Labour has failed in providing a credible alternative. Labour needed to show a clean break with the past and a clean break from failed Neo-Liberal policies. Most of the front bench were there during the introduction of more market policies and asset sales in the 80's. They are not credible now half-heartedly advocating a reversal of those policies.
Many people did not vote for Labour last election because after 9 years they did little apart from lightening the Neo-Liberal dogma a bit.,
Keeping most of the same top figures, from the past, indicates they are more interested in keeping their jobs than being re-elected to Government to prevent NACT's demolition of New Zealand.
Matt McCarten on Labour.
Another 3 years of National's cut taxes to the rich, sell assets and borrow will certainly "leave the cupboard bare" leaving little room to maneuver for the next Government.
I hate to say this, but our last chance of defeating the Neo-Liberal tide in NZ are sleep walking their way to defeat.
At this late stage they can only rearrange the chairs, but Goff is too colourless to counter Key.
Labour should have introduced new blood at the top when Helen Clark left. AND! grown a spine!
Over 60% of New Zealanders oppose National's policies, but will vote for Key anyway because Labour has failed in providing a credible alternative. Labour needed to show a clean break with the past and a clean break from failed Neo-Liberal policies. Most of the front bench were there during the introduction of more market policies and asset sales in the 80's. They are not credible now half-heartedly advocating a reversal of those policies.
Many people did not vote for Labour last election because after 9 years they did little apart from lightening the Neo-Liberal dogma a bit.,
Keeping most of the same top figures, from the past, indicates they are more interested in keeping their jobs than being re-elected to Government to prevent NACT's demolition of New Zealand.
Matt McCarten on Labour.
Another 3 years of National's cut taxes to the rich, sell assets and borrow will certainly "leave the cupboard bare" leaving little room to maneuver for the next Government.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Green Alternative.
Kia-ora
The New Zealand Greens show there are credible alternatives to National's Neo-Liberal slash and burn.
Some Alternatives for a Green budget.
In fact they have been advocating socially and environmentally responsible alternatives for some time.
The Green new Deal.
Media prefer to ignore sensible discussion of policy to concentrate on sound bites and irrelevance about celebrities.
The Labour party is "missing in action". I suspect they feel that New Zealand is so unrecoverable, after 30 years of Neo-Liberal "stuffing" that they do not want to be in power
The New Zealand Greens show there are credible alternatives to National's Neo-Liberal slash and burn.
Some Alternatives for a Green budget.
In fact they have been advocating socially and environmentally responsible alternatives for some time.
The Green new Deal.
Media prefer to ignore sensible discussion of policy to concentrate on sound bites and irrelevance about celebrities.
The Labour party is "missing in action". I suspect they feel that New Zealand is so unrecoverable, after 30 years of Neo-Liberal "stuffing" that they do not want to be in power
Monday, May 16, 2011
Why torture does not work.
Kia-ora
While the discussion is going on about our SAS handing over suspects in Afghanistan to the US or Afghani forces, when they are likely to be tortured, we should remind ourselves why torture should never be allowed under any circumstances. Why torture does not work.
It is a disgrace that National has refused an enquiry into this.
All credit to the solders who were concerned about what they were being ordered to do, and blew the whistle.
While the discussion is going on about our SAS handing over suspects in Afghanistan to the US or Afghani forces, when they are likely to be tortured, we should remind ourselves why torture should never be allowed under any circumstances. Why torture does not work.
It is a disgrace that National has refused an enquiry into this.
All credit to the solders who were concerned about what they were being ordered to do, and blew the whistle.
Monday, May 9, 2011
The trouble with facts.
Kia-ora
It puzzles many of us why people so often vote against their own interests. For most New Zealander's voting for more Neo-liberal government is like "Turkeys voting for Christmas" but they still do.
An article in the Standard about the reasons why the facts do not always influence people.
Monbiot-on-the-left
And one about the psychology of denial. Psychology of crankery. Or it could be titled. Do you have a Don Brash in your life.
It puzzles many of us why people so often vote against their own interests. For most New Zealander's voting for more Neo-liberal government is like "Turkeys voting for Christmas" but they still do.
An article in the Standard about the reasons why the facts do not always influence people.
Monbiot-on-the-left
And one about the psychology of denial. Psychology of crankery. Or it could be titled. Do you have a Don Brash in your life.
Rich tax avoiders crippling New Zealand.
Kia-ora
We already know that half of the wealthiest people in NZ pay little or no tax.
Bernard Hickey on tax avoidance.
"Among the professional and entrepreneurial classes it is seen as par for the course to shelter assets and income in family trusts and company structures that help reduce or avoid tax.
Many of the multi-national companies operating in New Zealand funnel income, assets and debt through various tax havens and vehicles that keep tax paid here to a minimum.
Most of our politicians, city councillors, bankers, accountants and judges use such vehicles to protect their assets from the prying eyes of Inland Revenue, creditors, ex-spouses and, ultimately, the courts. New Zealand now has up to 400,000 family trusts.
It means the vast majority of taxes are paid by the mugs on PAYE and by those who have to pay GST for their goods and services.
The policy-making classes believe this dual tax system will not change because they run it."
Of those that do many avoid paying anywhere near the tax paid by PAYE wage earners on average incomes.
I am still waiting for a farmer to reply to my challenge to any farmer who actually pays income tax to speak up.
These are the people who benefit most from the infrastructure, stability and property protection paid for by New Zealand tax payers.
Those who avoid taxes, they should pay, are stealing from the rest of us.
When Labour left office the Government deficit was zero. If the tax avoiders paid their fair share we could afford all the present welfare, infrastructure and community services. And extend our successful ending of poverty amongst the elderly, to children. OECD report on NZ super.
We already know that half of the wealthiest people in NZ pay little or no tax.
Bernard Hickey on tax avoidance.
"Among the professional and entrepreneurial classes it is seen as par for the course to shelter assets and income in family trusts and company structures that help reduce or avoid tax.
Many of the multi-national companies operating in New Zealand funnel income, assets and debt through various tax havens and vehicles that keep tax paid here to a minimum.
Most of our politicians, city councillors, bankers, accountants and judges use such vehicles to protect their assets from the prying eyes of Inland Revenue, creditors, ex-spouses and, ultimately, the courts. New Zealand now has up to 400,000 family trusts.
It means the vast majority of taxes are paid by the mugs on PAYE and by those who have to pay GST for their goods and services.
The policy-making classes believe this dual tax system will not change because they run it."
Of those that do many avoid paying anywhere near the tax paid by PAYE wage earners on average incomes.
I am still waiting for a farmer to reply to my challenge to any farmer who actually pays income tax to speak up.
These are the people who benefit most from the infrastructure, stability and property protection paid for by New Zealand tax payers.
Those who avoid taxes, they should pay, are stealing from the rest of us.
When Labour left office the Government deficit was zero. If the tax avoiders paid their fair share we could afford all the present welfare, infrastructure and community services. And extend our successful ending of poverty amongst the elderly, to children. OECD report on NZ super.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)