Comments on: Right plans give away to rich at your expense

By: Pragmatically, the tax changes need to go at The Standard

Pragmatically, the tax changes need to go at The Standard — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:30:06 +0000

[...] – 80% of National’s cuts go to the wealthiest New Zealanders. [...]

By: CTU calls for fairer tax cuts at The Standard 2.02

CTU calls for fairer tax cuts at The Standard 2.02 — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:19:58 +0000

[...] The Council of Trade Unions is calling on National to re-jig its tax package to give it more balance. And fair enough too – despite the media narrative about National’s ‘moderate’, ‘centrist’ policies the figures show it tax package is actually incredibly regressive. [...]

By: All the facts at The Standard 2.02

All the facts at The Standard 2.02 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:53:07 +0000

[...] only question is, given his enthusiasm for Gordon Brown’s plan, will Farrar now be rejecting National’s regressive tax plan – where families on less than $44k pay more tax so the rich can pay less – in favour of a system [...]

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:09:30 +0000

unrelated to the content of the post…

I don’t know if anyone else noticed the change in Steve’s Graphics… What do you think of Excel 07, Steve?
It’s a culture shock compared to 03, that’s for sure…

By: Chris G

Chris G — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:45:46 +0000

Felix:

“The Nordic countries also have a very high proportion of very good looking citizens which tends to make people fitter happier and more productive”

My mate went to Sweden last year and he said it was absolutely ridiculous how good looking everyone was (He, naturally, tended to mention the women)

Very off topic I know, but apparently its like a must see thing. haha

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:42:05 +0000

lprent, I just find this constant ridiculding of anyone remotely wealthy to be rude and quite petty. They deserve tax cuts just as much as anyone else. Yet some people commenting on this site seem to treat them like second class citizens.

By: Billy

Billy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:35:53 +0000

Iamac said: I know Farmers who have paid virtually no tax for years, since the Farm is a Family Trust which by the time all the farm expenses are paid , new car, new house, power then the identifiable income is almost nil.

The trust makes no difference to this. Deducting expenses incurred in procuring assessable income is something all taxpayers are able to do, whether they are trusts, companies or individuals.

By: Mr Magoo

Mr Magoo — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:32:53 +0000

I have no problem with rich pricks being rich pricks. Swilling wine, looking down noses, counting money, smoking cigars and all the other cliches. They like criminals are here to stay – short of a truly successful communist revolution.
The problem I have is when their money, power and influence is used to skew society’s balance so that they can tip the wealth balance even more in their favour than it already is. When the majore news outlets and media start running biased stories about how terrible “Helengrad” is and then promptly calling her “one of NZ’s best prime ministers” 5 minutes after they manage to throw her out. When any action taken to protect and/or help people/the environment/society is taken as “nanny state”.
When the man in the street is so f’ing confused I see a paint-covered handyman taking a pamphlet from a young nat in a suit, snarling and sneering about how “they” are going to show helen. (true story)

That is when there is a problem. Something needs to be done.

Phase one is complete. National, Act and (unfortunately) the Maori party have been given the reins at the worst possible time. It has become quite clear to those paying attention that they ARE going to try and get through a right wing agenda whereever they can.

Phase two will be to call them out on this shite at every available opportunity. Make sure they don’t get away with ANYTHING.

Phase three will begin in 2011.

By: Ianmac

Ianmac — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:19:22 +0000

gingercrush and Ag: As a spectator your dialog is fascinating as you both explore the debate. Thanks.
Mr Magoo: Yes I did misread your post. OOps. The people that have made their own wealth by their own efforts, impress me. Perhaps I even envy them a little from the point of view as a salary earner. Yet I regard myself as a very lucky chap; family, friends with the sparrows and growing stuff for fun. I suspect that some of my rich friends have a different value system.
Felix: Wot a great plan to have a reciprocal sexual attraction arrangement. Perhaps NZ could set up a Ministry of Sexual Collaboration MOSC (or Musk for short.) Appoint as Minister …..um.

By: the sprout

the sprout — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:56:14 +0000

yes disingenuous allegations of dirty tricks seems to be National’s primary dirty trick at the moment, which is really just another permutation of their very successful Jewish Lightning campaign.

they must have got tired of the “make baseless allegations to authorities in order to reject subsequent dismissals of allegations by said authorities as politically motivated” technique.

they have many such tools in their toy box.

By: Jum

Jum — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:43:52 +0000

Randal

“it is typical rightwing tactics from hooten and his mob to gang up on people and make mass complaints”

This is happening on Colin Espiner’s blog. I first encountered it on the toxic Kiwiblog. It was a nasty experience for me to realise that people like that existed. I’ve learnt a lot since I lost my political ‘innocence’ on Kiwiblog.

It makes me laugh that over nine years of personal attacks on Helen Clark and Labour was quite ok, but 2 weeks of questions about Key’s personality and National’s ability to keep to the policies it has agreed to and they’re bleating about being picked on.

(This is my third post. I’ll stop for awhile!)

By: Jum

Jum — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:18:39 +0000

Ag
You ‘hit the nail on the head’. Why do people continue to equate lots of money with an enriched lifestyle.

This 3 year cycle of right-wing Government will not improve matters.

Maybe we should ask the perennial question as people seem to have forgotten; who will be gathered around your bed on the day you die and will you want them there? (That’s two questions)!

By: Mr Magoo

Mr Magoo — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:09:28 +0000

Ianmac
How do the hardworking people like Mr Magoo feel about the Rich who have never actually produced anything but gained their wealth by wheeling and dealing in money markets?

I could not work out if you were being sarcastic, in agreement, or just completely misread what I wrote?? You do realise that I was agreeing with you, right?

I AM one of those rich pricks. So I feel quite happy with myself. As for my other rich peers I am not. (some of which shown drunkenly swinging their pot bellies and swilling red wine at National’s victory party )

And yes, I also agree that trusts and such allow people to bury wealth and assets which are earning them effectively an income and pay little to no tax. (no cap gains for example on a house that is having tax expense CLAIMED ON IT!?!?!?)

By: Jum

Jum — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:08:45 +0000

Tane
I accept your apology for removing the first post I have put on your blog for a little while. Please accept mine for lowering my standards in calling you names.

I don’t know the history with you and Travellrev – I should have checked. Maybe one thread on your blog for Travellrev to vent her off topic spleen on and we can reply to that and keep your other threads sacrosanct??

I did find her post interesting and that’s why I replied to it. I haven’t changed my thinking on your blog as being a leveller of the media – it will be even more valuable now.

[lprent: Thanks - I think so which is why I and the others support it (and it does take a lot of time). The thing with tev was likely to happen for a while. We tolerate quite a lot of off-thread in a thread, but this was starting to jump threads. It was also getting bloody tedious to read. It was interesting (as much to see what info could be extracted from the net) but just too much and too often.]

By: Tigger

Tigger — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:15:11 +0000

Ag – superb post.