August 18, 2005 12:27pm by David Farrar

U-turn, u-turn, u-turn

I predicted that Labour would do a u-turn on the tax issue due to the polls, and sure enough they have. It isn’t a total u-turn as it is not actually reducing tax rates, but just handpicking 60,000 families to get tax credits which you have to apply to IRD for.

I prefer tax relief for all working New Zealanders, not just a few handpicked ones. It’s okay to target some relief, if you will also deliver across-the-board tax cuts, but Labour continues to take every dollar it can so it can redistribute it.

So much for the months of claims that there was no room for tax relief. I also note Labour have not provided a costing of the package.

Tiberias

peasant: “It is no secret that in the last 3 years Labour has presided over the largest wealth transfer of any Government in NZ history.”

This is news to me – particularly since over the last 3 years our unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in the OECD, and is now the lowest (or second lowest, can’t remember). Can you rachet down the level of spin for a moment and say what you’re basing this on? Obviously the gross totals are irrelevant, can you point to some relevant and recent per-capita figures? I suspect they will show that per-capita government spending* is actually going down and is certainly a long way below where it was last time National was in power.

peasant: “International comparisons are irrelevant”

How so, exactly? I think they’re often very relevant.

* this of course doesn’t count the savings going into the Cullen fund since National has agreed that’s a good idea and will keep doing it.

gd

Our economic performance is largely due to external forces Notice how all governemnts are quick to blame these when there is a downturn in the economy and quick to take the credit We are a trading nation The last 6 yrs we have done really well despite an overtaxing Socialist lot that has stymied growth at every opportunity with new taxes and more compliance costs

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