Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Rationalisation is at hand!

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  • Russell Brown,

    Oh, and just for something completely different, a citizen journalist captures the bigotry and knuckle-dragging stupidity of punters at a Sarah Palin campaign rally:

    Ugh.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And sorry for the whorish self-promotion, but on PAR this week I propose a real taxing question that isn't being asked of either National or Labour (which hasn't quite got around to releasing any policy yet, but never mind) - but should be. Not that I'm planning to hold my breath waiting for anyone to bother...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    and something else different (and hillarious) - a California ad against the anti-gay marriage initiative:

    from YouTube

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I almost think the decision to cut the R&D tax credit is going to hurt National the most. It's not only short-sighted in terms of growing the economy, it's short-sighted because it's going to hack off businesspeople who otherwise were more likely to be pro-National (as opposed to the tax cut format, which screws low-income families, who I'm pretty sure National saw as Labour voters to begin with.) There is an aspect of give-and-take-away in that employers will save on Kiwisaver costs, but overall it's just not very bright.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It's not only short-sighted in terms of growing the economy, it's short-sighted because it's going to hack off businesspeople who otherwise were more likely to be pro-National

    To play devil's advocate for a moment, how about someone having the balls to ask the business lobbyists why the only form of welfare they never have any problem with is corporate welfare pointed at their beneficiary-members? As I've said elsewhere, I wouldn't mind the business community being told to take their begging bowls and fuck off - just once.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And one more impertinent question, this time for all the economic pundit who are brim-full of ideas how the Government can "fix the economy":

    Have any of you people ever - in your whole lives - stood for an elected public office, or had to go through a legislative process to implement any of your prescriptions.

    And having said that, have a nice weekend folks. Going to Taupo tomorrow for a family birthday party, and we're staying somewhere with no radio, no television and a five mile walk if you're mad enough to want a newspaper.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I agree - I have a company heavily in its early R&D phase - early next year I'm going to be shopping my prototypes around looking for money to finish it all off (ie actually hire some people, start up a sales force, fire up manufacturing, etc etc) things like R&D tax credits show up in ones business plan - questions like "why don't you do it over here in the US, it would be cheaper" will need to be answered

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Helen Clark, on the other hand, seems to have had a happier week,

    On Wednesday night, before she went to the Music Awards, she was at the Auckland Kindergarten Association's centennial celebrations, and she was happy there too. And well informed. She made a great speech about the value of early childhood education, and of public kindergarten in particular. She knows her audience and does her homework, and I know that we all appreciated it. I watched the Music Awards on C4, and I was impressed by her there, too. She's savvy, alright.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    To play devil's advocate for a moment, how about someone having the balls to ask the business lobbyists why the only form of welfare they never have any problem with is corporate welfare pointed at their beneficiary-members?

    I'm with you on this one, Craig. The free market ain't so free anymore, but comes at a cost to taxpayers and wage earners?

    Russell: I may be jumping the gun but I can get to the Media 7 screening next Tuesday. Could you put me down for a cumfy seat?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Can somebody help me out here?

    National will:
    · Reduce the minimum contributions demanded of employees. From April next year, the minimum contribution rate for employees in KiwiSaver will be 2% of gross salary. Employers will also be required to make minimum contributions of 2% of gross salary, for each of their employees who are KiwiSaver members.

    As a teacher my employee is the Ministry of Education. In other words the government (quite possibly the National Government in a few months so help me god).

    Does anybody have any idea if they match whatever I put into it (up to say 4% like now) ? or if they will chuck in 2% and leave me to take my pick with how much I put in?

    I've already worked out that 4% from me and my employee for the next 40 years will struggle to see us through retirement. 2% would be SFA ($90,000 total over 40 years at my current pay + interest).

    This whole "freedom" thing to spend your money how you want is all well and good but I'd say NZers to a significant extent in the last decade or two have shown no ability whatsoever to be able to do this sensibly.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    And having said that, have a nice weekend folks. Going to Taupo tomorrow for a family birthday party, and we're staying somewhere with no radio, no television and a five mile walk if you're mad enough to want a newspaper.

    Say "hi" to Samwise Gamgee for me.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Media 7 was a bit of an eye opener for many I believe. The tie up between Fontera and the fertiliser industry could have been covered a little deeper in my view. The Probitas story is still interesting in that it shows a connection not only between Fed. Farmers and Spreadmark but also The food safety authority and the European Union. If you really want to know why so much fertiliser ends up in our waters, there is a good place to start.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • David Cormack,

    it has been conceived in a lonely hotel room under an accusing naked bulb.

    That is my favourite sentence I have read in weeks.

    As a PR man, that has me in awe. Kudos.

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    a citizen journalist captures the bigotry and knuckle-dragging stupidity of punters at a Sarah Palin campaign rally

    I can't bring myself to click on that video, and the sad thing is I don't really need to. We've been living through the results of such people's voting decisions for at least eight years now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I'm with you on this one, Craig. The free market ain't so free anymore, but comes at a cost to taxpayers and wage earners?

    OTOH: if you want to keep people with degrees here, especially science/eng/tech degrees, you've got to persuade companies to do their R&D here, rather than overseas. In general I'm not a big fan of the taxpayer propping up businesses, but I think R&D is one of the areas where tax credits *are* justified.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Evan Yates,

    @Craig

    As I've said elsewhere, I wouldn't mind the business community being told to take their begging bowls and fuck off - just once.

    Unfortunately the ones now with their begging bowls out pay the salaries of a lot of the downtrodden masses.

    I'm not really smart/rutheless/brave enough to go it alone at this stage so I'd be happy if my employer didn't decide to give me the arse because they have to savagely cut staff to stay afloat.

    I know that popular opinion is that the fat cats need a whippin' but there are quite a few innocent kittens hanging off the teat...

    Wait! Is that the sound of the world's smallest violin playing just for me?

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    Here is exclusive fly-on-the-wall coverage of Tim Murphy writing this morning's editorial:

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Yamis - you put in 4%, the employer will only have to put in 2%. That's the most they will be required to (and lets be honest, most employers are going to stop right there).

    And there already is a 2+2% scheme in place (2% from you, 2% from your employer)! It's currently due to be removed in March 2010 but for National to claim that their move is making it affordable is absurd. If they'd extended and promoted that existing option until 2012 or so then they'd have had the same affect.
    But oh no, they have to water it down even more permanently.

    So so angry over that and the R&D tax credit. Was optimistic for a "new National" that understood modern economies and the need for long-term support over short-term opportunism. Guess not huh!

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Here is exclusive fly-on-the-wall coverage of Tim Murphy writing this morning's editorial:

    Brilliant! Citizen journalism is getting so good these days.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • mic weevil,

    <i>"pardon?"</i>

    is that your justice policy russel?

    zero tolerance for herald editors!

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 52 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    On Wednesday night, before she went to the Music Awards, she was at the Auckland Kindergarten Association's centennial celebrations, and she was happy there too.

    Maybe she'd had a heads-up on the new Roy Morgan poll.

    Um, wow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Oh, and just for something completely different, a citizen journalist captures the bigotry and knuckle-dragging stupidity of punters at a Sarah Palin campaign rally

    So many arguments for a quick intelligence/current affairs test before you are allowed to vote.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Maybe she'd had a heads-up on the new Roy Morgan poll.

    Caveats: two week polling period, systematic overstatement of the Greens blah blah blah.

    But: run it through the MMP calculator and see the results: Nat 52, Lab 48, Greens 11, Maori 4-7, ACT 4, Progs and UF 1 each. Its a three-way coalition either way, with the Maori Party as kingmakers (and ACT as the other partner in their menage a trois).

    If other polls are heading the same way, then this is a real fight, and not just a cakewalk for the right.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    So many arguments for a quick intelligence/current affairs test before you are allowed to vote.

    Yeah. Because that has worked so well in the US before (for the ignorant, it was used to stop black people from voting).

    But seriously: stupid people have interests to, and they are just as deserving of representation. And to get all Hobbesian for a moment, they're just as capable of killing you if you try and systematically exclude them from any sniff of power.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    So many arguments for a quick intelligence/current affairs test before you are allowed to vote.

    I've just read a long blog post from a friend where she analysed both candidates based on her criteria. In conclusion, McCain looks like a chipmonk, and Obama's ears and teeth are too big, ergo she won't be voting.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

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