OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Budget 2010: What’d you expect?

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  • George Darroch,

    What will it take for these people to notice the invisible? A Baader-Meinhof Group?

    No, because these people, the non-aspirational, are the problem. They're not getting rich and wonderful. They're not people, in the sense that media needs people it can identify with.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Andy Fraser,

    I can't help but agree with Tom Semmen's posts 101%

    Meantime - it's a wonder Terry Seripisos hasn't been interviewed by the msm

    Invercargill • Since Jun 2009 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Robeson,

    Julie - what Craig is saying is you are part of the stupid half of the top tax bracket who didn't illegally hide their income in trusts.

    Remember if you defraud the country and you are well paid it is unfairness that means you need a tax cut!

    If you don't, and genuinely believe in paying as part of your citizenship you are really just deluding yourself. Nobody really believes they should or have to pay taxes! After all it is just being stolen from you and you don't get anything from it.

    Since Feb 2008 • 87 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    Unless you're Greek, you can't run up continued spending with an ever-shrinking tax base.

    or american.

    seems like the grasshopper generation are voting themselves deferred debts pretty much world-wide.

    better start toughening the wee man up for a life of productive work to pay it all back. he's only 18months, but he'll likely start needing to be at work by the time he's 8 or 10.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Interestingly, when using the tax calculator linked to earlier, the difference in 'weekly income' clawed back for my partner and myself from the tax cut between this year while I'm earning ~$13K and next year when i'll be earning $0 is ~$1.50 a week. Why is this?

    I don't want to get all hyperbolic (will save that for any discussion of Bryers), but it's possible they don't see full time study for adults as something that the tax system should incentivise. Income of zero probably doesn't come across as very.. ambitious.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I wish PAS had been around when Dr Cullen introduced the 39 cent rate back in 2000. No doubt it would have been cheers and beers all around.

    I was above the 39% threshold then, as I am now, and I thought it was a good idea. It seems like you think most people are really venal, but I'm not sure that they are. At least I'm not.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    or american.

    Well, the one thing that consoles me is that we're not racking up huge debts to pay for military adventures and shiny new fighter jets. Clark bought a few new expensive things, and the occupation of Afghanistan costs us something, but for the most part they keep things modest.

    And does anyone know the source for Cunliffe's 5.9% inflation claim? It seems beyond belief. Usually RBNZ would be all over it, but since I'm overseas I might have missed something.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Robeson,

    the suspension of payments to the super fund
    note these have now been extended another two years to 2018
    Nice of them to choose to not save for our retirement.

    Well at least it also makes comparing our tax burden by suggesting we have super covered is a joke! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10644470

    Close-Up are just taking the piss. Four wealthy men selling the Budget to the rest of us.
    I think John Key is the token leftie in the discussion.

    3 bald 50 year+ white men. All in the top income bracket you would think. Key does love the numbers though. Closest I've seen him to being genuine and passionate about something.

    No credible analysis from the point of view of a country at all, though NZ corp might be ok. I wonder what Gareth Morgan thinks this will do to our health service- oh that's right they didn't ask him.

    Since Feb 2008 • 87 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    speaking of bryers, where's that arsehat mcvicar on this one?

    hmmm?

    garth, little word with you on some white-collar crime? hmmm?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Keith Ng,

    And yet Vernon Small tells us that the budget is "impressive" and "stunning" budget for debt reduction.

    GLARE.

    FISK: ON.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report Reply

  • Keith Ng,

    Does anybody know of a lobby group for the taxpayers of 2035 or similar? Seriously - a media-savvy group that could actually point out the implications of policy and tax decisions for any 30 year old who actually intends to still be around NZ in their 50s could be quite effective. Let alone pointing out to the baby boomers what they're doing to their grandkids young adulthood...

    I'd like to do that. I've got interest from others. Haven't actually put any work into it yet, but this is part of my plan for 2011.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Oh, and one last thing for tonight... there's nothing substantive in this budget to address climate change. #shortsightedbeyondbelief

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    It seems like you think most people are really venal, but I'm not sure that they are. At least I'm not.

    It's a core conservative belief: that all people are bastards. Of course if you happen to be a bastard it's probably something of a consolation. At any rate, it's not a matter of being venal. You don't need to be a genius to work out that the money you pay out of your taxes goes to pay for public services that you use, makes your community safer and generally does things that end up benefiting you personally as well as your fellow citizens on lower incomes.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    there's nothing substantive in this budget to address climate change.

    Heh. Our glorious minister for the trucking lobby was on the radio the other day talking about transport policy thirty years from now as if we'll never even run short of oil. If National can't come to terms with peak oil (which WILL have happened by 2040) what chance they'll do anything about climate change?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    It's a simple mechanism to transfer some of our private sector debt (which is a structural problem for NZ) to the public sector (which, relatively speaking, isn't).

    The man behind the tree in this case is the national equity we managed to build up despite the constant clamouring for tax cuts.

    Thank you Doctor.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Ah, National... I can't believe it's not Better.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Parker,

    The only solace I find in this budget is that they are going back on last year's budget announcement on cutting $45 million from the teacher staffing budget. This will no longer happen.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    As my 83yrold mother said, "Well, no surprises. Nats look after their mates." She is on a standard pension, with no additional income - no stocks. No Bonus Bonds. Because she raised six kids after being widowed at 31 - and after working (huh! raising 6 kids isnt work?!) thereafter until retirement, didnt exactly have a lot to splash around...

    (Her home-help care is being cut. The v. small tax-cut allowed her income group (under $15000)) just balances out the increased gst factor - because, while she still gardens, has a vegetable garden, woman cannot live on silverbeet alone-)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Mellopuffy,

    The only solace I find in this budget is that they are going back on last year's budget announcement on cutting $45 million from the teacher staffing budget. This will no longer happen.

    Where did they announce this?

    Dunedin, NZ • Since Feb 2007 • 63 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    I thought that part of National's cunning plan was to equalise the top personal rate and the company rate, it has been reduced from 8% to 5%, but that is still quite a gap.

    So, the rich get to cheat on their lower taxes. Wonderful.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    peak oil (which WILL have happened by 2040)

    happened last year didn't it?

    Where did they announce this?

    Don't be silly, that would make them look weak, especially Tolley the decider. Media will realise it tomorrow, though no doubt it will be spun to death as well.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Historically, the working wage was sufficient to support a stay-at-home parent, almost always the mother. New Zealand had full employment. The DPB was introduced to support those few mothers who did not have a man supporting them.

    And basically, we've been scammed out of a person's worth of time.

    I too will be interested to see the employment effect of this little disaster. Because if wages < childcare, then the economic incentive is to exit the labour force, or reduce hours - the very opposite of what National claims it is trying to incentivise with its tax cuts.

    (Not that people on a salary of $150,000 give a shit about "working an extra hour". That only motivates little people, who actually need money...)

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    And does anyone know the source for Cunliffe's 5.9% inflation claim? It seems beyond belief. Usually RBNZ would be all over it, but since I'm overseas I might have missed something.

    The BEFU. These are treasury's numbers, not Cunliffe's.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I too will be interested to see the employment effect of this little disaster

    Will have to find more time tomorrow, but saw cycleway maestro Key claiming Treasury projecting 190,000 new jobs as a result of all the "growth" caused by cutting rich people's tax (or is it the socking it to them?).

    Anyway you'll be stunned that I remain unconvinced, having some memory of the 1990s unlike most of the media it seems.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    we've been scammed out of a person's worth of time.

    Nutshell Brother, Nutshell.

    Not that people on a salary of $150,000 give a shit about "working an extra hour". That only motivates little people, who actually need money...

    Those on $150,000 are, rarely, working by the hour, sure some may charge billable hours but those hours are so ridiculously expensive they cant work the 9 to 5 shift without embarrassment, so they have long working lunches and expense accounts to ease the pain. Poor dears.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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