HoS on food prices
The HoS editorial is on food prices and tax cuts:
The voters of middle New Zealand, who have long waited for relief, will not stand for being denied it now. Yet answering the well-reasoned call of the child poverty lobbyists would demand every bit of the revenue that will be forgone in giving tax cuts. A party founded on the principles of social justice has no electoral alternative than to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to those identified by independent research as beneath the poverty line.
In the end, whatever tax cuts Cullen announces on May 22 may be too late to save Labour’s bacon since they would not come into force until after the election – although that increases the likelihood of a vote-buying instant-relief gesture on Budget night.
But whatever administration is installed in the Beehive by Christmas will face an enormous challenge: how to simultaneously satisfy the needs of the struggling middle New Zealanders who voted them in and look after the hundreds of thousands at the very bottom of the economic ladder.
I wonder if it has dawned on the Government what a monumental mistake it was to cancel the tax cuts announced in 2005.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I think it would be reasonably to assume that they do regret cancelling the 2005 tax cuts.
That said, they would also be regretting having railed against tax cuts so much, and also not having cut them when the economy was better placed.
There is also the minor issue of credibility. Labour have shown that they can promise to cut taxes before an election, and then back down afterwards. Cullen and co simply do not have any credibility on this issue.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Labour admit to making a mistake? I’m not holding my breath!
May 4th, 2008 at 9:19 am
That’s my pick. Tell us tax relief is off in the distance, so that Sullen can reluctantly don his santa fat-suit (stuffed with our cash), climb down the chimney early and leave us a couple of sticks of gum.
It’ll be tougher for a new National govt… will take years of careful and thankless effort to undo the enormous damage done by this Labour govt.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:03 am
If somehow National manage to win in November they at least won’t have the dilemma of looking after the poorest New Zealanders – they’ll slash taxes for the rich and pay for it by taking bread from the mouths of the poorest New Zealanders and they won’t give a fuck.
Privatised accident insurance will mean big savings to corporates but everyone else will suddenly find their touch rugby/indoor netball/weekend sport fees going through the roof to cover insurance (no more big PI rugby players – their parents won’t be able afford the insurance).
Forget about decent public transport initiaitves – Maurice Williamson and Murray McCully (the real leaders of the National Party) think you shouldn’t spend a cent on infratstructure, let the market provide for rail.
Oh and get ready to spend your tax cut on helping out Granny so she can eat meat once a week or buying a bus ticket for your relative on a sickness benefit, because you can guarantee there will be a freeze on pension and benefit adjustments.
And don’t expect your tax cut to guarantee access to good health – National will certainly preside over a real-dollar cut in health spending.
Expect a typical National government then – take money from the poorest New Zealanders and impoverish the common weal so their fat cat rich mates can export massive profits, and whining people in the mortgage belt can still afford that morning latte on their way to shine a seat with their arse in an office.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:36 am
What a fertile imaginination you have toms. Or would you care to share your sources with us ? You’ve made some big claims there and I’ll bet you can’t substantaite any of them.
Take some advice if you will. Not everything the greens and labour say is true.
G
May 4th, 2008 at 10:53 am
toms
The “poorest NZers” you refer to were kept that way by your mates squandering the best economic conditions we have ever seen. Cullen couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery, let alone build true wealth for all nzers. His great plan to shaft the middle class has now come home to roost. You and the other 30% die hard socialists who will always support labour, no matter how much they lie, cheat and steal, can go get stuffed. The gravy train has been cancelled.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
The reality is, is people like tom are scared shitless that National might come to power and expect people to maintain a decent level of personal responsibility. OOHHHH SCARY STUFF!
May 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Hee hee! Seeing Toms squirm as the inevitable National victory cometh towards him and his mates makes me warm all over on this rainy day.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
One thing I like about Toms is his objectivity. Not just another brain damaged politically narrow leftist zealot. Really comes out with some interesting and original points of view.
Don’t he?
May 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Mind you don’t bite your tongue off RB – sticking in in your cheek like that could be lethal!!
May 4th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
“Expect a typical National government then – take money from the poorest New Zealanders and impoverish the common weal so their fat cat rich mates can export massive profits, and whining people in the mortgage belt can still afford that morning latte on their way to shine a seat with their arse in an office.”
God you are so far behind National policy Toms you are a joke. That was last elections policy you spouted. This election National is going to feed the poor by killing all the left wing people and using them as protein. Murray McCully has conservatively estimated that he can feed the poor of South Jafaland for two weeks using only the rump steak off Judiths arse! Get up to date man!
May 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
.. if so, he could probably feed the whole country off Horomia`s arse in three weeks – or six weeks, if they wanted to stay trim…
May 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Is toms now writing policy for National or is he reading tea leaves, who would know. Liarbore are stuck between a rock and a hard place, damned it they do, stuffed if they don’t. Who really cares, the bastards are the makers of their own misfortunes. They had 9 long years of a golden summer to get it right, it’s way to late now. I look forward to much wailing and constrenation as the socialists are pryed from the tit of the state. Of course the poor will be the ones that suffer the most but under Liarbore their plight can only get worst. I liken the present situation to farming. This last season has seen a very bad drought with many farmers making the choice to feed their stock their winter supplements in a bid to keep milking. The smart ones dryed off early rather then keeping the cows milking. The ones that choose to continue milking are now faced with a long winter with few supplements. And the trouble is that when one cow gets skinny usually the whole herd will. Liarbore have basically been using all there supplements and the drought has set in, people are getting skinny and the winter is just starting.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
A National govt could raise benefits, slash taxes for the poor and increase the top tax rate and Tom S would still cry about taking from the poorest whilst the rich get richer. He is simply that blinkered.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
STOP PRESS: Election 2008: Following the National party clean sweep of all seats except for the seven gained by the Maori party a coillition government of rebuilding has been formed. Minister of Foreign Affairs Te Rauperaha has said that the current High Comissioner in London is to be recalled. He said Sir Johnathon Hunt has carried out sterling service in London over the years particularly to the London Wine Sellers Retirement Trust and as patron of the London Cabbies Benevolent Fund. However his services are now required here in his homeland where his expertise is expected to help enable feeding the needy who starved under the last Labour Administration. The whole National party abstained when the vote was put (citing that cannibalism was an offence but under some circumstances a fitting end for some) but the seven Maori MPs rubbed their stomachs and rolled their eyes. The speaker declared that the vote was 7 for and none against. Sir Johnathon is expected to return to New Zealand sometime next week and has not been allowed to eat the large block of stilton presented to him as a going away present by the visibly upset English Cheese Manufacturers Society.
Sir Johnathon is to be escorted on arrival in Auckland to a marae at Otara where all customary formalities will be observed.
Hemi Anzac the marae spokesman said that “Its all kapai bro, the only worry is how to incorporate stilton into the traditional hangi. Apart from that we expect a huge turnout from South Auckland as this will be the biggest feed most of our people will have had since 1999″.
May 4th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I would anticipate National bringing in a minimum income before tax kicks in. In this way more people will get the benefit of a tax cut (including that big block of voting superannuants) If ACC is market driven (via competition) then rates and levys will decrease (lower petrol prices anyone?). Gee if employers get lower ACC levies they may be able to employ more people – who knows?
May 4th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
John Boy, Hunt has allready retired
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=305&objectid=10501977
Maybe Margeret Wilson would like the job
But the dining room table at the High Commision still has the lean on it after the last minor NP non-enity who …graced the position
May 4th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
“I think it would be reasonably to assume that they do regret cancelling the 2005 tax cuts.”
Given the following OECD data I can’t see why they would think tax-cuts for “middle New Zealand” necessary”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg
Of course with the child poverty problem that we have tax cuts for all lower income families are well over due.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
“I think it would be reasonably to assume that they do regret cancelling the 2005 tax cuts.”
Given that the OECD have us at 3rd lowest out of 27 OECD countries for “median personal tax as a % of income” I can’t see why they would think tax-cuts for “middle New Zealand” necessary”.
Of course with the child poverty problem that we have tax cuts for all lower income families are well over due.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
However under liarbore are we not the third last in the world to reach tax freedom day (June 4th?) and rising rapidly to finance the liars party disasterous policies of envy of the rich. (rich means all the people who can still afford to feed their families without going begging cap in hand to WINZ)
May 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Roger: “Given that the OECD have us at 3rd lowest out of 27 OECD countries for “median personal tax as a % of income”….”
Roger – you are a poor, deluded soul. Do you believe in Santa? The tooth fairy? That DBP isn’t a paedophile?
the figures don’t wash. Come to think of it, neither (probably) do you.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
nome : “Of course with the child poverty problem that we have tax cuts for all lower income families are well over due.”
Is this the child poverty problem that Labour has had three terms to deal with?