The politics of envy
February 18th, 2004 at 8:15 am by David FarrarOne of the frustrating things about trying to have a sensible debate about the correct level of taxation in this country, is that whenever an MP talks about reducing the tax burden, left wing MPs allege their only motivation is self interest and play on the politics of envy by saying they are only promoting it so they will get x dollars more a week themselves.
It is rather absurd to see them try this against Don Brash yesterday, alleging he supported tax cuts so he would get $168 more a week himself. Hello – this is the man who took a pay cut of around $500,000 a year to become an MP. I really don’t think he did it to try and then claw back $168 a week in exchange.
In a more general sense, the whole argument is fairly silly anyway. My experience amongst friends who have got up to a relatively high level of income (say over $100,000) is that making a few extra thousand more isn’t a huge issue for them. In fact many when swapping jobs have their pay go down a wee bit as it is the challenge of a new position that motivates them etc. Bottom line is that for 95% of people who earn in the top income brackets, they just aren’t so concerned about a few thousand more or less.
Quite a different issue on those earning between $30,000 and say $70,000 when you do really notice even a few thousand more take home pay.
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February 19th, 2004 at 9:16 am
To quote a centre-Labour voter friend of mine; “Grant, you probably already know this but there is nothing like paying tax to make you want to vote National.” When you have to decide between private health insurance and mortgage repayments you start to look very carefully at the money St Helen is taking off you and where it is going.
Vote:February 19th, 2004 at 10:53 am
David —
I don’t think it’s the ‘politics of envy’ but a good old-fashioned call to class war. Whether it makes much sense when most of the electorate is either middle-class, think they are, or are confident they will be soon, is open to question. If Brash is smart, he should appeal to the common sense of voters and their deep mistrust of Government with a capital-G.
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