PM forced to release his tax details

Not our PM, the UK’s David Cameron. Our PM is under pressure to do the same, but refuses. He claims that all his taxes are “beyond reporach”. But he has form (TranzRail shares) on lying about his financial affairs.

Netflix tax – another one for you peasants

While Key is fighting to make sure our country remains a haven for his rich mates, he’s about to hit you and I with yet another tax. I don’t have a problem with taxes, but I do take issue with the hypocrisy.

Panama tax rort stirs world leaders but not Key

The Panama Papers highlight a significant problem for the countries of the world.  The actions of the 1% is robbing countries throughout the world of funds needed to run their countries and underlines that the capitalist system is based on greed.  Most leaders see this but not John Key.

Panama Papers: NZ is a tax haven

The Panama Papers show that NZ operates a tax haven. Key’s denials don’t hold up, particularly in the light of at least two three prior warnings that his government has received.

Fonterra faces liquidity issues as rivers of “white oil” dry up

Pundits, most residing in the National Party, just three years ago predicted the economy would surf high on “rivers of white oil” flowing from the dairy industry, but they now have cow pats splattered on their faces as Fonterra today announced another payout downgrade and signalled liquidity pressures.

National the party of economic lunacy

A “$17 billion hole in the economy”. An estimated $18 billion lost because National stopped investing in the super fund. A record national debt. And we’re still talking about tax cuts? Lunacy!

The problem with free market capitalism

This morning’s Herald contains a story about a young man who with a family gift has managed to purchase eleven houses over the past five years and can afford to pay World of Warcraft all day.

Getting mommy to dispense the drugs

Now that cannabis is going legal and heading for the neighbourhood social gatherings where mothers sell addictive substances (like cosmetics and kitchenware) to each other. Lets legalize it, tax it HEAVILY, and could someone please give Helen Kelly and others like her the relief that they can use.

No, National shouldn’t have balanced the books.

Simon Louisson recently made a post about National’s profligacy, and all of the debt they have racked up. Guest poster Michael disagrees with Simon and says that “Yes, National was profligate.” and “No, National should not have balanced the books.”

In face of share market meltdown, Govt’s options limited

John Key says New Zealand has options in the face of a share market meltdown and is not like Greece (well that’s a relief). Simon Louisson asks how real are John Key’s options? Thanks to this Government’s profligate past spending, including irresponsible tax cuts, our options have narrowed drastically.

NRT: This is wrong

“Auckland’s median house price rising a record 26 per cent to $755,000 over the past year..”. This is what a bubble looks like: when your house “earns” a top-end salary just by existing. And its a perfect example of why we need a capital gains tax.

Lets restrain those damnfool knights eh?

“THE struggle has been long and arduous. But gazing across the battered economies of the rich world it is time to declare that the fight against financial chaos and deflation is won. In 2015, the IMF says, for the first time since 2007 every advanced economy will expand.”. But lets restrain the damn fool ideological idiots from screwing it up. Like Bill English and his damn stupid taxcuts…

The myth of “Retirement Savings”

Advocates of Kiwisaver and other funded “retirement savings” schemes perpetuate the fundamental misunderstanding that “conventional” in New Zealand’s case “neo-liberal” economists, speculators, finance companies, politicians and those with a lot of share holding wealth in non-productive enterprises like to perpetuate.

Superannuation and Government forecasts

National has again refused to consider doing anything about the future of Superannuation.  Yet its policies of increasing Crown debt, stopping contributions to the Cullen Fund and attacking Kiwisaver have made a discussion about the future of superannuation more important than ever.

Rushed policy is bad policy

National’s policy opens the door to more effective capital gains tax, thus irritating investors and their base, while probably not achieving anything in practice. The worst of both worlds. Bonus question – does this policy effectively underwrite losses when the property bubble bursts? Plus another bonus John Key lie!