Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: There is no alternative

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  • giovanni tiso,

    It's still a legislated requirement for primary schools to identify and provide for their gifted kids

    We should only reward hard earned children, enough with these bludgers.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Andre,

    We have a right-wing government. i think they will privatise everything possible, even though their movement's laissez-faire prophets like Greenspan have had to acknowledge that the central tenets of their belief systems are wrong. In Greenspan's case, after the credit crunch he basically said that Greed wins out. Businesses will actively hurt the weak to make money. The long-term good is of no consequence to business people. They will make more money now even if they know that if they do so their organisation will fail further down the track. So why is the government still acting like a wet dream Roger Douglas had in 1987? If you accept that free markets give no protection to the weak or poor then I suppose either you're heartless or a moron to continue following Thatcher or Reaganite economic policies. Are these guys evil or just stupid?

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Tom: "In a society which supposedly values secularism in education and egalitarianism and merit in society, ..."

    What ever gave you that idea? State School, like our National Anthem, Courts, NZDF, Parliment etc, are all Anglican with some allowances for difference.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Mikaere: My suggestion is that anyone who thinks that tax cuts are the work of Satan, yet is quite happy to pocket them, is a hypocrite.

    Jesus Craig, where did you pick up *that* strawman? At the uncut toe nails of Ms. Rynd?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    WORD Mr Slack!

    And at the risk of sounding like an idealistic hippy (oh well, what the heck, that's pretty much what I am...)

    I want to live in a society where our sick are taken care of properly, where everyone has access to a decent education, where there are libraries and swimming pools and roads without potholes, a decent public transport system, accessible funding for those with special needs and where the rubbish gets picked up regularly (and hopefully recycled).

    In a society larger than a small village that requires us to pay taxes to cover the cost of providing those services to all of us - and as someone who earns a reasonable living, I believe it's my duty to pay a reasonably high level of tax. I can afford it - I should pay it.

    Assuming the government spends my money wisely, and doesn't go blowing it on rushing off to war or handing out money to select groups of their "friends" while the majority get nothing, I'm cool with that. I don't like paying taxes much, but I don't mind paying them.

    The runup to last two elections made me so mad - all those people being interviewed saying stuff like "Well I think I might vote National this time because I want my tax cut" - as if 'their tax cut' was a god-given right, rather than something that has to be paid for by reducing services across the board. Grrr!

    It's something that (as a formerly English person) I find very strange about New Zealand politics. How can you not know if you're left-wing or right-wing? How can you vote one way one election, and then vote the opposite way in the next election? Unless you've had a fundamental shift in your world-view, how is that possible? - unless all you're thinking about is looking after number 1 and you're simply voting for the dudes who wave the shiniest baubles in your face.

    To me, politics underpins everything in our lives, because the decisions made by whichever party is in power affect us all in fundamental ways. Taxes (and tax cuts) are an important aspect of that.

    *sigh* it's gonna be a long 3 years...

    Oh, and Craig? How about, instead of trying to give one's tax cut back to the IRD (because realistically they aren't going to accept it, are they?), those of us who didn't want the bloody thing in the first place make an effort to give the equivalent to the charity or charities of our choice - because you know damn well they need it right now. That's what I do - as, it seems, do others here (hi Dan!).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    It's something that (as a formerly English person) I find very strange about New Zealand politics. How can you not know if you're left-wing or right-wing? How can you vote one way one election, and then vote the opposite way in the next election? Unless you've had a fundamental shift in your world-view, how is that possible? - unless all you're thinking about is looking after number 1 and you're simply voting for the dudes who wave the shiniest baubles in your face.

    If you can scare people enough, they'll believe anything.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    I gave my October tax cuts to charity, as did several acquaintances.

    Gave? Or Give?

    You know they're ongoing, right? =)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    Now, I feel really vulnerable about this, but here goes.

    My kid started school this year. She's spoilt for choice, in zone for two and a Steiner primary school just over the hill.

    We went mainstream. Seems ok. But I really like the Steiner one we can't afford.

    So, contrary to my life-long voting preferences, I've found myself asking: for what reason would the gummint withold its per-child sponsorship from my child to attend the school that best meets her needs?

    I mean,why limit people's access to the school that's best for them? They may have to pay a top up levee anyway, but then, that's exactly how the decile system works, so what's the difference?

    The whole thing is cock-a-hoop.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Increase taxes during a recession?

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    webweaker

    Assuming the government spends my money wisely

    Tee hee.

    Seriously, the schools in my neighborhood fairly reek of wisely spent money. And yet they're stil just not as good as the Steiner school which lives off the smell of an oily grass roots community support network, despite not receiving a tax from your or my lovingly earned and paid tax dollars.

    And in that regard, I suspect that wacky, culty alternatives are no different to the fancy dancy places the PM sends his kids to.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Oh and while were at it lets all enjoy the drive in the morning to the school of our choice. You gotta love Auckland and the school run.

    Tell me about it. I live in the near vicinity (under 10 minutes' walk) of St Cuthberts and Dio, with sundry other schools inside a 1km radius. It's patently obvious by the traffic when it's school holidays. There's some impact from university holidays, but nothing like as marked as when schools are out.

    Disgustingly, Hamilton's rush hour is between 3.00pm and 4.00pm.

    Oh, has the 'tron shifted to its own time zone? The last time I had the misfortune to try and drive through at 6 on a week night I would've been entitled to believe I'd never left Auckland. Or are you saying that the afternoon rush is worse than the evening one? That's scary, especially given how sneery Hamiltronians are about Auckland traffic.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    But we have a government at the moment not for all New Zealanders, but of, and for, a particulary vengeful and spiteful minded "middle New Zealand" ...

    Is the proportion of National MPs who attended (what are now) state-integrated schools wildly out of whack? By my count, 11 out of the 58 either attended or taught at religiously demonimated schools, which is a little under 20%. The Nat caucus also includes a former head girl of Corran School and former head boy of Auckland Grammar. The number is, I guess, not surprising considering the demographic that the Party traditionally draws its MPs from, but it's certainly not representative of the population at large.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    What ever gave you that idea? State School, like our National Anthem, Courts, NZDF, Parliment etc, are all Anglican with some allowances for difference.

    I draw your attention to s77 of the Education Act 1964: in primary schools at least, "the teaching shall be entirely of a secular character."

    (Hmmm... tweak that to apply to state secondaries - there's an idea)

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Pfft, "inherited" Decade of Deficits.
    I think you'll find the surplus/deficit is an annual operational position - i.e. it comes each year from YOUR spending and YOUR tax levels Mr English. Don't pretend like somebody else is still in charge.

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

  • Dan Slevin,

    I gave my October tax cuts to charity, as did several acquaintances.

    Gave? Or Give?
    You know they're ongoing, right? =)

    It's a fortnightly automatic payment so, yes, "give".

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    What kind of tax cut did you get, Dan? Mine was simply a deduction of the amount of tax paid. Do you adjust your wage based on the old tax brackets? That's going to require a bit of work I would think.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    webweaker

    Tee hee.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    What kind of tax cut did you get, Dan? Mine was simply a deduction of the amount of tax paid. Do you adjust your wage based on the old tax brackets? That's going to require a bit of work I would think.

    I saw how much more money was being credited to my bank account each fortnight and (as I hadn't been given a cost-of-living wage increase) assumed that was the value of the tax increase.

    I'm going to muddy my own point slightly by saying that I then set up an automatic payment back to my employer: a registered charity.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    Yeah - and you can fill in a form at the end of the tax year and get that tax deduction also paid to the charity of your choice. It's easy to do - Greenpeace sent me the form this year which made it a no-brainer to do just that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Argh. Recursive tax deductions. I already have a headache thanks to my cold, damn you!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I'm going to muddy my own point slightly by saying that I then set up an automatic payment back to my employer: a registered charity.

    No you are not.Good on you..I hope you encouraged others at your workplace to try the same.Thank you for your efforts.:)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Can we say that, these remarkable and commendable efforts notwithstanding, the charge that people who were against tax cuts and yet don't voluntarily overpay are somewhat hypocritical, is supremely idiotic?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    G'n'T, You can say whatever we like ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    State School, like our National Anthem, Courts, NZDF, Parliment etc, are all Anglican with some allowances for difference

    Not so. Section 77 of the Education Act is the successor from an 1890s act that was one of the four pieces of social legislation aimed at maintaining New Zealand as an egalitarian society.

    Education was to be "free, secular and compulsory"

    The other pieces of legislation, if I remember School Certificate History correctly, were the votes for women act, the IC & A Act which established tripartite wage bargaining, and a social security act which established a modest social security pension (based on a third of a working man's wage) available to those who were poor, of good character (designed to exclude criminals, drunkards and wife-deserters) and who applied in a public court session.

    There's a really interesting history of pensions here

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • oga,

    In the disability sector (I'm on the executive board of Deaf Aotearoa NZ) we had a lot of problems convincing Deaf youth not to vote National. They were (and not just the ill-educated) sucked in by the "need" for change, and wanted more money in their pocket.

    I had an argument with one particularly smart young 20-year-old Deaf woman who'd just bought a house with her boyfriend. They both were staunchly going to vote National at their first election. I predicted everything that has just happened and they flat-out disbelieved me. I'm looking forward to seeing them again and asking them who they'll vote for next time round.

    National (and middle NZ) do not care for supporting those who are less fortunate and who are least able to support themselves, i.e., the cover story kids in today's paper. Who gives a damn about these cripples anyway? They should be bunged in an asylum or thrown out onto the street at birth . . .

    Yes, it's the early 1990s all over again.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 47 posts Report Reply

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