
The Budget
Posted on June 2, 2011 by admin in KoreroNotice how during the reading of the budget, the Nats were all cheering and clapping but the Maori Party spent most of their time with their heads buried in their paperwork? Well, it’s because they got bugger all and they’re too embarrassed to show their faces over it – that’s why.
The Maori Party trumpeted millions of dollars in Maori spending, but the truth must have been on holiday, because the reality was far, far different. In fact, highlights of the budget for Maori Party were that Whanau Ora got a bit of extra money (about .1% of the Social Welfare Budget) from money taken off domestic violence programmes; and Kura Kaupapa got some extra bus money; and … that’s about it.
That’s got to be hugely disappointing for the Maori Party who like to trot out the line that “Maori must be at the table to influence government decisions”, and the resounding lack of applause from Maoridom shows how divorced the Maori Party has gotten from the people who put them into power.
Getting a few crumbs won’t hide the fact that the Maori Party voted for cuts in health, education and housing, and putting the interests of their own ministerial portfolios before the needs of their people shows how shallow, desperate, and irrelevant the Maori Party has become.
And yet, that is where the Maori Party is now sitting; at the right foot of John Key, and alongside their new best mate Don Brash. Long may that relationship last …
The Candidate
So there you have the criteria for the next Maori Party candidate (whoever that might be). 1. shut your mouth (Maori Party leaders don’t like strong and independent people). 2. vote for bills that 90% of Maoridom are opposed to (the increase in GST and the marine and Coastal Area Bill). 3. be willing to vote for cuts in health, education and housing. 4.
don’t bother asking your people for their opinion anymore because they know you aren’t listening anyway. 5. clap when John Key is giving millions to his mates and bugger all to yours, and 6. smile like you just got another slice of watermelon whenever your new mate Don Brash comes in the room.
MANA and the HONE HEKE TAX
A few weeks back I proposed a completely different tax scheme that would get rid of our national debt, increase our capacity to help those in genuine need, and enhance our economic potential by placing the tax burden where it properly belongs – on those who spend the most.
A number of political commentators wanted to scoff at the notion except I think they know that it’s a bloody good idea.
- We call it the HONE HEKE TAX.
- In other places it’s called the Financial Transaction Tax;
- Presidents Merkel of Germany and Sarkozy of France have both expressed their support for it;
- The European Union and the G20 are also considering it;
- The UK has a public campaign for their own version, the Robin Hood Tax;
- Two weeks ago, one of New Zealand’s most respected financial commentators, Bernard Hickey, agreed that the scheme has potential;
- And this week, the Deputy Prime Minister of Finland said that “Finland will push for a global financial transaction tax, but that if there is no agreement, Finland is ready to have a domestic one”.
- Which proves that an international HONE HEKE TAX is not only possible and desirable
And it’s based on the simple premise that everyone pays 1% on all financial transactions.
It would nearly double the country’s tax revenue. Instead of cutting back on health, education and other core services, government would actually have money to spend in those areas. GST would disappear, making food, petrol, electricity and water far cheaper. And instead of having to borrow $300 million a week to keep our economy afloat, within a couple of years, we could wipe out our national debt.
Labour is making gurgling noises of support for it too now, which is a bit of a laugh, given that the reason we’re in such hock to the banks is because Labour sold them all anyway!
And as for the Maori Party, they might want to support it now, but when I was in the caucus, they actually rejected a paper on it (probably because their National Party advisers told them too).
Look lively folks. There’s a new wind blowing through the north, and it brings with it the promise of a new day, but only for those who are wanna get out of bed!!
Hau says:
Post Author June 4, 2011 at 9:09 amAll sounds good to me, three cheers for Hone and MANA, It’s so refreshing to have a politician that will speak his mind and say the things other’s refuse to
instead of leaving people to guess their intentions.
My vote for the Hone Heke Tax…..
Brian John Evans says:
Post Author June 5, 2011 at 12:21 pmKia kaha
to all freedom fighters
Graham says:
Post Author June 5, 2011 at 12:39 pmA financial transaction tax is well over due. There are many reasons why it is urgently required not least of which is that it would reduce inequalities in a significant and meaningful way. Thus, we would all benefit. The current tax regime benefits only the exploitative rich. No wonder they are strongly against a transaction tax.
Of course there is a need to reform and regulate other existing global institutions and monetary systems like the IMF but lets deal with our own issues first.
James Tobin, a nobel laureate economist, proposed a global taxation regime on currency speculation, a scheme not too dissimilar to the Hone Heke tax. This was, in brief, a very low tax on speculative currency transactions [ .1%-. 5% ], While there were flaws in the proposal [ it was an international taxation so had to be accepted globally ] its contentions underlined why National and Labour [ both of whom are captive to the money men] are unlikely to find the Hone Heke version acceptable. The currency market is now over one trillion dollars a day, all tax free. If there was a small impost on this transaction alone billions in revenue would be generated. Now, guess where John Key made his millions?? You got it, cuurency speculation. Ergo: is National and Labour likely to interfere with a process that enriches the rich?? Not likely eh.
A Hone Heke tax would not only be easier to implement than the current regimes, it would also generate signifcantly more revenue to improve this nations well being for all of us. While there many versions of such a tax, it would only require a 1% to 2 % tax on all transactions to generate almost double the current tax take. Even if it were restricted to withdrawals only it would return much better gains. Make sense? Sure does but the ” rich pricks” [ quoting Cullen] and the conservative white population/ Tory lovers most likely won’t want a bar of it. Under the current policy the rich can get away with paying huge tax obligations. That’s why they love it. The Hone Heke tax won’t permit this. Bring it on.
Tipene Curtis says:
Post Author June 7, 2011 at 4:27 pmThis would be beneficial to our citizens and our country.
John Longbottom says:
Post Author June 5, 2011 at 5:26 pmHone Heke tax is well justified and well overdue. Perhaps there should be a distinction though between transactions that are purely speculative and add nothing to the material wealth of the country and those transactions that are related to manufacturing and exporting.
Teresa Cameron says:
Post Author June 11, 2011 at 11:42 amSimple, fair and honest. No one in their right mind can argue the merits of the Hone Heke Tax. The question needs to asked “WHY would those currently in power reject such a system?”.
Etta says:
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patrick diack says:
Post Author June 12, 2011 at 1:12 amSorry guys I don’t agree, try and explain a financial transaction tax to the ordinary punter, they won’t get it. It would be better to go for GST of food, and tax the rich by other means a surcharge on the pension-means testing and death and estate taxes, tax their inheritance money-this is how the rich acquire most of their wealth.
LOL says:
Post Author June 12, 2011 at 10:09 amI see you are going after the dumb vote
LOL 2 says:
Post Author June 19, 2011 at 5:31 pmSo I supposed you’ll be voting for Hone then?
patrick diack says:
Post Author June 30, 2011 at 8:07 pmthe financial transactions tax sounds good in theory but won’t work in practice, ie no government will implement it, even if Mana holds the balance of power after an election. It is an old idea from the failed Alliance Party. Hone has to ditch these left wing loonies. Mana has to say what it means, and mean what it says. Yes will vote for Mana.