Written By: - Date published: 12:36 pm, March 10th, 2008 - 41 comments
Categories: national, workers' rights -
Tags: national, workers' rights
If there’s one problem being a businessman in New Zealand today it’s this: years of growth mean unemployment is very low and since supply is constrained the price of labour is rising: wages are climbing. What is spent on wages can’t be kept for profits.
Despite having business conditions amongst the best in the world, all business leaders can do is whine that wage rises for working kiwis are ‘corrosive for profit growth‘. Small wonder, then, that the party of businessmen, National, has opposed every law that increases incomes and work rights, moans about rising labour costs (code for wages), and would ‘love to see wages drop‘.
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Scoopit!
What’s even better, rOb, is that Steve has selectively quoted the parts
No Dean, the further examples that you quote don’t seem out of spec to me. Downturns may be predicted as a consequence of a worldwide financial crisis, but that doesn’t invalidate claims relating to current achievements.
Also, while we’re looking at taxes, note what the linked wikipedia page shows us about personal tax. Third lowest of the thirty countries listed! That puts a lot of right wing bleating about how overtaxed people are into context doesn’t it. Where is the case for personal tax cuts based on this data?
The pressure put on Labour over this issue has been immense, and it is to their credit that they withstood it for so long. In my opinion Labour should put a hold on the currently proposed personal tax cuts. Recent events have shown how fragile the government’s supposed huge surpluses are – here today, gone tomorrow. Cullen is looking increasingly like a very prudent and successful manager of the economy wouldn’t you say?
Ahh yes – that was what I meant to add re company tax too. Labour recently reduced it. National voted against the reductions (and has not, as far as I recall, ever reduced company tax while in government). Why did National vote against? Looks to me like Labour is more business friendly, wouldn’t you say?
“Also, while we’re looking at taxes, note what the linked wikipedia page shows us about personal tax. Third lowest of the thirty countries listed! That puts a lot of right wing bleating about how overtaxed people are into context doesn’t it. Where is the case for personal tax cuts based on this data?”
It’s an idealogical deal, much the same as the calls for higher wages is. Personally I’m on the fence about personal tax rates, but I would point out that it’s only as much bleating as is the call for higher wages.
“The pressure put on Labour over this issue has been immense, and it is to their credit that they withstood it for so long. In my opinion Labour should put a hold on the currently proposed personal tax cuts. Recent events have shown how fragile the government’s supposed huge surpluses are – here today, gone tomorrow. Cullen is looking increasingly like a very prudent and successful manager of the economy wouldn’t you say?”
Hardly. Refer to high interest rates, low productivity, highest overall welfare payments in years, kiwisaver and 4th weeks holiday… really. If you want to continue down the line of Cullen being such a great manager of the economy and being so small business friendly then you are on a hiding to nothing.
Like I said earlier, the company tax cut doesn’t count for small business, because it’s been pretty much nullified by the increased costs the government has introduced by the 4th weeks holiday and kiwisaver contributions.
So, apart from leaving National policy intact, what exactly has Labour done to make the life of the small business owner easier?
Dean, I’d say today’s announcement of an R&D fund that can be accessed by any primary sector business (including small businesses) is a pretty good policy.
“Being so breathtakingly incorrect or misguided isn’t something I’m used to having to deal with.” Well you obviously don’t bother to read the tripe you come up with then.
This is my favourite line “Besides which, small businesses with motivation and determination don’t bloody well need this kind of airy fairy BS – they just go and do it”
Ahh yes so they can make it all by themselves but your going to complain when they fail that the govt didn’t help enough? You need to calm yourself donw Dean. Personal attacks and swearing don’t make up for the fact that you are wrong
Personally I’m on the fence about personal tax rates, but I would point out that it’s only as much bleating as is the call for higher wages.
Ahhh – no. Bleating about personal tax cuts was pretty much held to define the agenda at the last election. Higher wages didn’t get a look in. Fast forward to today and it’s the same story, every second headline seems to be about tax cuts, and outside of places like The Standard wages still don’t appear on the agenda (recent ripples over Key’s comments notwithstanding).
low productivity
By what measure?
highest overall welfare payments in years
Welfare to working age population is significantly down and still falling. It’s only up if you include superannuation from our growing and ageing population (as you well know when you use the word “overall”). Should we send the elderly to the poorhouse then?
kiwisaver and 4th weeks holiday
Kiwisaver creates funds for long term investment and growth, and a 4th week of holiday still leaves us only on a par with or behind most similar economies.
So, apart from leaving National policy intact, what exactly has Labour done to make the life of the small business owner easier?
Hmmm – cut their taxes? (Something National has never done as far as I recall). Created local funds for long term investment (Cullen fund, Kiwisaver). Modern apprenticeships to upskill the workforce. The kinds of initiatives that Robinsod and the bean referred to above. In short, plenty.