ACT's David Seymour - i like his style.

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Originally Posted by mistaTea

Seems logical.

I mean, if you position the opposite - massively unequal society whereby the vast majority of assets are owned/controlled by a small minority while ‘the rest’ struggle along to various degrees - it is hard to imagine that society being a very happy one.

The trick is to get the balance right whereby everyone chips in proportional to their wealth without removing incentives (which causes other issues). Not as easy to do as some politicians might have you believe.

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Originally Posted by Panda-NZ-

Plus we are all heavily into debt now to keep this thing going, we weren't prior to Reagan.

Debt for everything - mortgages, student loans, national debt. cool aye.

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Unrestrained capitalism at its worst.

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Originally Posted by Daytr

Unrestrained capitalism at its worst.

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Funnily enough the only countries which have resisted "credit" funded lifestyles are Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Australia.

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Originally Posted by Daytr

The results are a reflection of our unfair system where the baby boomers have created wealth through tax free investments whilst not paying sufficient tax to keep our infrastructure maintained.

Whereas the new generations are faced footing the bill and a very expensive property market.

NZ only 20 years ago was a relatively cheap country. The lack of courage of the various governments in that time has cost the country dearly.

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I think you forgot to add that compliance costs are far higher now than they were years back, adding to costs everywhere. Another thing this current generation has to deal with, more red tape and more paperwork. There are jobs now that need two people to do things where it used to only take one. Someone needs to pay for that.

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Originally Posted by Ggcc

I think you forgot to add that compliance costs are far higher now than they were years back, adding to costs everywhere. Another thing this current generation has to deal with, more red tape and more paperwork. There are jobs now that need two people to do things where it used to only take one. Someone needs to pay for that.

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Very true. The old 'how many to change a light bulb' seems quite appropriate here.

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Originally Posted by Ggcc

I think you forgot to add that compliance costs are far higher now than they were years back, adding to costs everywhere. Another thing this current generation has to deal with, more red tape and more paperwork. There are jobs now that need two people to do things where it used to only take one. Someone needs to pay for that.

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I guess an increasingly wealthy country can afford better heal and safety for those that work, provided the wealth does not just continue to accumulate to the already wealthy retired.

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Originally Posted by Bjauck

I guess an increasingly wealthy country can afford better heal and safety for those that work, provided the wealth does not just continue to accumulate to the already wealthy retired.

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Increased number of people working on OSH related issues and hugely increased red tape in this field, does not always equate to improved safety outcomes.

Not sure if the data is correct.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/...rate-tax-rates

Does not say much but low tax rates may not be the solution to every nations problems.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/...rate-tax-rates

Interesting looking at the 1980 to 2023 comparison. What a change in view regarding contributing to society.

I wonder why this was. Something to do with high inflation or perhaps we had not quite finished investing in the young people of our nation. 1980 is this before the neoliberal ideology gained hold and we turned inwards and selfish. Seems to be more room to run amongst the NZ voting public if that is the case.

Not sure if how accurate the data is. It has Aussie at 55% personal tax rate but "income taxes" are 45% at the top rate.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other...ei=12#image=28

Anyway not sure it proves that high taxes results in the devastation of a country. Most of them seem pretty decent. Not sure I want to live in China though.

All these young people heading to Aussie must not understand that low tax and small govt makes for a better country. Aussie must be on the cusp of collapse.

Probably just added 10% for GST.

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Originally Posted by 777

Probably just added 10% for GST.

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Maybe but it is not an income tax as stated in the article heading. Fluff piece anyway so accuracy is probably not important.

Maybe they included capital gains tax as well and averaged it with the lower income tax rates. Who knows?

To me the article if accurate appears to further refute the low taxes, small govt better country argument.

Admittedly high taxes do not equal non-wasteful spending so personally I think the public service cuts are most probably a good idea in some cases, but not sure we need the tax cuts as well. Why not run a surplus, or start the journey with a new small tax free threshold that we would all enjoy and it would probably help those who are struggling the most. Probably a bit more complicated than that.

I wonder how much a zero to $5,000 tax free income threshold would compare with moving the current tax thresholds up. I know it is not Chris Ls target demographic but they have been hit hard with Adrian's and Labour's inflation.

I do not really oppose moving the tax thresholds up either as inflation has been running hot and even if Adrian could manage 3% it has been so long since these thresholds moved Labour was being a bit sneaky not beating national to the punch raising them.

Not that I disagree with the proposals to get kids to school, education is important but David Seymour as a libertarian must be struggling with his ideals, forcing stupid/selfish parents to get their kids to school. Maybe they feel that a Fiji vacation is a better learning experience for their children.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politi...B3L3MIPUIEKQM/

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Originally Posted by Aaron

Not that I disagree with the proposals to get kids to school, education is important but David Seymour as a libertarian must be struggling with his ideals, forcing stupid/selfish parents to get their kids to school. Maybe they feel that a Fiji vacation is a better learning experience for their children.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politi...B3L3MIPUIEKQM/

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Just a throw away comment to let people know he can also put rich people on notice not just the disenfranchised pearls that the left will clutch to