Posts by uroskin
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to Thomas Johnson,
As old Mac used to say about why political careers failed: "Events, my dear boy!", this lot is obviously careful they (and their ilk) don't get damaged in the process, hence the no-shows in the media as it's all the fault of Previous Labour Gummint/Glocal Financial Crisis/Mother Earth/Overseas shipping and mining companies. Better to smile, wave and walk on water instead.
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to Tom Semmens,
Two National governments, one Bill English, same results.
For this Government there has only been one national disaster under its watch that has been deigned worthy of a speedy response with unlimited resources: South Canterbury Finance investors were immediately bailed out with $1.7bn (double the figure of all Treaty claims, iirc), no questions asked about preserving private profit and rewarding of reckless behaviour with state support (i.e. socialised losses for the taxpayer) or why this is suddenly consisdered by free marketeers a necessary and appropriate state function. Rena, Pike River and quakes are merely trifles that happen to the little people.
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If the ABs win the world cup, will Mussollini McCully lead the "Moobs on Bikes" victory parade?
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Hard News: Auckland City Nights, in reply to nzMM,
It shouldn't be too difficult to remedy the view blocking screens on the K Rd bridge. Regards the no-protection aspects, the designers must have taken a leaf out of the monstrosity that has been gracing QEII Square. An awning too high up to be of any use: not against the rain, not against the wind and because it's transparent not against the sun either. What is it actually for?
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Mensch isn't a mensch.
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Hard News: How much speech does it take?, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
I had to shake hands with the queen and swear allegiance to Dick Hubbard.
I had to shake hands with John Banks before I could become a NZ citizen. Still one of the most traumatic moments in my life here.
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Hard News: How much speech does it take?, in reply to Russell Brown,
one denizen warn another that I was an “extreme Marxist” and should not be listened to
Bomber Bradbury called you a middle class fog horn, so take your pick which one is the more insulting.
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15% CGT doesn't make sense as it also distort the market for investment. It should be levied at the personal marginal tax rate. And I don't think 'family homes' should be exempted either as there can be some creative accounting applied there too (who qualifies for owning a family home? All family members individually? And can they all own another home tax free too?) Plus family trusts should be busted open by CGT. And it should be applied retrospectively, after all Council rates don't take into account the price you bought your bach for but it's now rated at (unrealised) millions.
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BBC Newsnight proved again why it is the best news programme on the planet.
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Cracker: Another Capital Idea..., in reply to Stephen Judd,
Incidentally, do Swedes emigrate much these days?
You may be thinking about the punitive tax rates of the 60s and 70s (99% rate bands, from memory) but Sweden is now only slightly out of step with the average OECD in tax to GDP terms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tax-Revenues-As-GDP-Percentage-%2875-05%29.JPG). The reason it is higher at 50% is because both employees and employers pay income tax on the employee's salary. In other countries, such as the UK, the employer's portion is labeled as social security contribution. So, no, Swedes don't emigrate much for tax reasons. If a low (or no) tax rate is the main attraction for migration, why aren't all the Randians on a Greek beach?