Posts by Don Christie
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Oh god. This thread is depressing for the lack of comprehension over something that used to be very well understood by most people.
There are reasonable economic reasons for having GST but please let's not pretend that fairness is one of them. GST hits the poorest hardest. to claim otherwise was the Friedman tosh I was referring to.
There are certain necessities of life that take up more of your income if you are poorer. 12.5% is quite a premium to be paying on these necessities.
As for the simplicity argument, I agree, the Aussie tax system stinks but that is for reasons other than GST. Removing GST from food would be relatively simple. All the accounting systems I have worked with have multiple GST levels anyhow (at the very least zero and 12.5%).
Finally, as an employer, I would like to address this issue before anyone gets the wrong idea:
Plus, Jo earns more because he owns a company (probably an over-capp'd LAQC), so writes his beer off as a bogus business expense, paying no GST at all.
Yes, but the chances are fringe benefit tax will apply and that is higher than GST. No free liquid lunches here.
-
And to see a left wing site like the Standard falling for the same Friedman like tosh is pretty depressing.
-
But the idea itself is completely daft.
No its not. GST is a regressive tax that has a far greater proportional impact on low income households than higher income households. Sorry Russell, you have got that side of the argument totally arse about face.
There is an economic case for having the broad tax base that GST gives but it sure ain't that it is fairer on the poor, especially when compared to income tax regimes.
-
Thanks Russell, and of course, Simon.
I was at the Massey memorial on Saturday looking at all the wreaths. The was one from Indonesia, as well as Germany, China, Iran, Cuba and the French sailors whose ship was tied up right next to the Homegrown venues.
It's a funny world.
-
Don, we're hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and you think we shouldn't have expressions of nationalism?
Not in China I don't.
Simon, there is also a not so subtle difference in being asked to represent your nation at a generous event of remembrance and other forms of nationalistic posturing.
-
These are not rent-a-demos - they are heartfelt expressions of nationalism.
Yeah right. In that case keep it within your own borders.
I don't buy the "evil China" for reasons many have expressed here but "expressions of nationalism" have no place on other peoples' countries. I regard it as the same as colonial muscle flexing. It is threatening and unsavoury and in the past is the sort of thing that has been used as an excuse for starting wars.
-
This line could fit nicely into centuries of anti-Catholic rhetoric.
look, I'm an immigrant to NZ and my "loyalties" could be to a number of countries. I would prefer my loyalty to be judged on beliefs and the sort of government/society I support (it so happens that NZ is a pretty darn good fit).
That being said, taking part in astro-turf demos on behalf of an overseas Government with strong authoritarian overtones seems a tad...unseemly if not outright stupid.
There also seems to be a touch of myopic naivety in dealing with the Chinese powers that be. As Umaga might say, they're not playing tiddlywinks so they don't need us as their apologists.
-
Both were fantastic.
They were indeed, but Weber's is also good and probably comes without all the subsidies, sponsorship and huge price tag of the festival equivalents. So worth giving them a plug.
-
And meanwhile I'm in yr city reveiwing yr signature waterfront eventz?
Using our free tickets IIRC. There were not that many to go around.
Still, we did happen by the front door during the So So Modern wrap and the atmosphere in Wellington has been great this weekend.
If you were at the bands and missed the Weber Brothers Circus you still have time to make up for the omission :-). In fact, if they were part of the Arts Festival I suspect the entry price would be three times higher and the tent need to be twice as large.
-
wimmin winnin. shock