Explore the archive
Find articles and conversations by date, subject or search expression.
Searching: posts Sorted by: newest Results: 1,111–1,140 of 2,328
Post
According to Gareth Morgan, “all income should be taxed if it is a fair income tax”. So where are taxes coming from right now? The three main areas are PAYE (pay as you earn personal income tax), GST (goods and services tax) and Company tax.…
Post
The right wing of politics likes to moan and wail about all forms of "red tape" and regulation. History frequently shows them to be fools. It's not always easy finding the balance, but a healthy dose of sensible regulation is essential for the smooth running…
Post
Generally, no-one likes taxes, so Labour's polling shows that Kiwis are surprisingly receptive to capital gains tax with 31% supporting CGT on its own merits to 43% opposed. But head to head with National asset sales plan, the choice was clear: 55% prefer CGT vs…
Post
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
Back in April I posted how when Helen was PM, visitors to Beehive offices had to leave their cellphones in the foyers. I understand it's still the practice. It's not because Ministers suspect officials of bugging them. It's because cellphones can be accessed remotely and…
Post
Russel Norman put a dagger into John Key yesterday in question time asking whether a series of national and international economic authorities really wanted to "put a dagger through the heart of growth" with a CGT. Key waffled and whined and contradicted himself: 'it won't…
brand key capital gains Economy making shit up russel norman
Post
Screen grab from 3 News web site last night:
Post
We can expect a lot of economic rhetoric in the lead up to November from our political leaders. What does history suggest with respect to two key economic indicators: production and employment? If past performance is anything to go by we can expect either a…
Post
There are murmurings in ACT today over their new 'high profile' candidate, ex-farming guy who's on the telly sometimes ranting about climate change Don Nicolson. The party's current policy priorities are lower wages for young people, weakening student unions, and beating up on Maori and…
Post
[x-axis is number of quarters since economy peaked] So, the Great Recession has not yet been not as deep as the Ruthanasia Recession but it's going to be a whole lot longer. Even if growth suddenly went into recovery mode like the previous recessions, it…
Post
John Key is getting shriller and shriller on the topic of capital gains tax (CGT). How's this for starters: Key: Tax system envy of the world New Zealand's tax system is the envy of the world and does not need Labour's capital gains tax which…
Post
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
I was in the middle of the scrum on Molesworth Street on the night of July 29th 1981 when anti-apartheid marchers were batoned by the police. This was four days after the Springbok tour's first match had been called off, a seminal event leading to…
Post
National Contributes to Africa's Misery Written by The Jackal at 8:02 PM Once again we're witness to the horrendous images of starving people arriving at refugee camps in east Africa, with nearly 12 million people facing starvation across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. 3 million of…
Post
After coming to office, National cried 'crisis at ACC' as an excuse for raising levies, cutting cover, and privatisation. In truth, the 'crisis' at ACC was only ever the decrease in the value of its investment as a result of the global financial crisis. The…
Post
Capital gains is a good policy that builds the credibility of Labour's economic and fiscal plan. Labour's brilliantly run pre-launch has sparked interest and discussion. The destruction of John Key's economic credibility has been a welcome side benefit. And it is a blow, Vernon Small…
Post
A feasible plan to power 100 percent of the planet with complete renewables exists. This plan excludes Nuclear and Biofuels, which the Scientific American authors of this plan also considered to be ultimately unsustainable technologies as well. Instead this plan revolves around Wind, Water and…
Post
The matter of Christchurch "looter" Arie Smith (Cornelius Arie Smith-Voorkamp) has taken a worrying new turn. The story so far. Smith was arrested for looting an Addington home building after the February 22 earthquake. He became the publicised "face of looting" - a scapegoat for…
Post
Two ministers went head to head calling each other racists last night but it looked more like two old hobos fighting over a tin of beans. Pathetic. Even Rodney Hide has come out against Brash's racism, but our Prime Minister doesn't give a damn. John…
Post
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
In today's DomPost Andrea Vance has a tell-some-of-it op-ed piece about her days working in the Scottish edition of the News of the World. In it she says "it was The Guardian that has, rather sanctimoniously, pursued the News of the World." I've been following…
Post
Labour has been chipping away at National's case for asset sales for months. The hole in the budget has been exposed, the 'mum and dad investors' myth has been quashed, the efficiency argument has been broken. Now, Bill English has been caught out lying to…
Post
There were two ways that the Mana vs Maori Party confrontation could have gone. Some form of cooperation could have seen them holding or increasing their seats, and thus Maori representation in parliament. Alternatively all out competition between the two will see them diminished or…
Post
Wayne 'Tipple' Mapp went to Crete recently with veterans to commemorate our heroic defeat there in World War 2. Naturally, the old fellas who risked their lives and lost their mates 60 years ago got pride of place, like their Australian counterparts, eh? Nope. Mapp…
Post
Paediatrician Professor Innes Asher has written an open letter to the Welfare Working Group lauding their aims, but warning that their recommendations will harm children. Child Poverty Action Group and Every Child Counts have endorsed the letter, bringing with them a considerable number of academics…
Post
We keep getting told that Government is the problem and that the Private Sector is the answer. This Reserve Bank data indicates that up until 2008 Government Debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (red) consistently tracked downwards. At the same time Corporate debt (blue), which includes the overseas…
Post
ACT adman John Ansell has resigned in the fallout from the race-baiting ad he designed for ACT, which Brash proudly endorsed. The Maori Party has effectively ruled out working with ACT. Isn't it time for John Key to do the same? He cannot avoid responsibility.…
Post
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
The Tax Working Group said in its report: There is a major hole in the tax base for the taxation of capital, which is manifest, for example, in high investment and low taxable returns in the property market. (p. 21) and: New Zealand’s high personal…
Post
Murdoch-watchers have long known there's something rotten in the Newscorp media empire. The extent and reach of the phone hacking scandal in Britain has finally seen the biter bit by its own corruption. Murdoch sought power over governments around the world to entrench his extreme…