Dear Mr English, I don't want a tax cut

[rainman]

so 28.5% of the working population paid 60.5% of the tax, and those are the ones that are getting some more of the tax cut, seems fair to me, they were paying the most anyway

Wikipedia has some sensible justifications for progressive taxation (and yes, some criticisms too). Perhaps you should read them.
Which countries out there have a flat tax? Where is the evidence it produces better outcomes, not just more inequality and therefore worse outcomes?

One thing I would LOVE to see is income splitting.

Me too. Doesn't affect me now (and the likelihood of it being to my personal benefit in future is minimal as the kids are older), but it would have been nice a while back. Pity it would make Dunne look good, though.Oh, and the revenue loss would have to be made up somewhere - maybe we could just up the tax on the really rich pricks...?

Brains are worth a lot more than brawn in this day and age. You simply fail to inderstand that

We're talking about effort, not value. Got it this time?

Not Suncorp by any chance, sounds very familiar to me.

No, but it's a too-common tale.

I've done 120+ hours/week in construction as a carpenter; there will never be more stress in any office job.
That's why I'm going back to university.

Good onya, and good luck. I'm keen to go back and study more but am struggling to find a way to pay the mortgage at the same time.

[rainman]

Depends on the office job - Ive had to made decisions that have made me physically ill.

Me too, and I'm not saying managing a business or people is easy. I've lived in both worlds, and I'd absolutely rather have an office job than a ditch digging or factory job. There are stresses in low wage labour too - mainly of wondering how you're going to pay for the mortgage/rent, the major service on the car, or the kids school uniform/trips. Or whether some senior psycho is going to come over from afar and can your unit and your jobs.

I've also had decisions made by others, affecting me, that have made me physically ill. It's not all one-way...

Perhaps when you are responsible for the livleyhood of people and understand that decisions you make can break people

To be fair, many managers I have come across don't have that much concern for others. I have personally overheard managers planning to axe someone because they "don't like them", no regard for the delicate personal circumstances of the person concerned. I've been given a really shit time by a manager because he didn't like my accent. And I've been given endless shit by seniorer managers for suggesting we take staff welfare into concern when going through the latest restructure, or take care with communication so that the process treats all affected with dignity. (Shit, following the fucking law would be a nice start in most cases!)

You may be an exceptionally decent chap and a fine manager. Not many are.

[aprilia_RS250]

We're talking about effort, not value. Got it this time?

YES! That's what I've been telling you. PEOPLE ARE NOT EQUAL! You can't charge a more valuable person too much tax as they'll fuck off overseas. You need the valuable folk in NZ. And that is what the budget being announced today is about.

Also tax cuts are good for an economy, read this from http://www.investopedia.com/articles...s.asp?viewed=1

According to a December 2004 article in Celtia.info, a magazine distributed in Celtic countries, tax cuts have also shown positive results in other countries as well. Ireland's recent tax cuts are believed to have improved living standards significantly. For years, the Irish were faced with high unemployment, budget deficits and high taxes. In 1986, Ireland faced a fiscal crisis. After reducing government spending, the government lowered taxes on both individuals and corporations. Over the next 13 years, Ireland's per capita income went from only 63% of the United Kingdom's average to besting it in 2000. Ireland now enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Europe.

According to a May 2007 article in the Herald Tribune, tax cuts in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary before their entry in the EU have spurred economic growth in those countries.

[MisterD]

Ireland's recent tax cuts are believed to have improved living standards significantly.

Now is probably not the right time to be holding up Ireland as an example to follow, you've heard the term "PIGS" right? Although the fact that we have control of our own policy and they, being part of the Euro, don't - is significant.

[aprilia_RS250]

Now is probably not the right time to be holding up Ireland as an example to follow, you've heard the term "PIGS" right? Although the fact that we have control of our own policy and they, being part of the Euro, don't - is significant.

It talks about how Ireland grew due to tax cuts since 1986... So yeah it's a good example to follow. You can't blame the tax cuts for the situation they're in at the moment.

[MisterD]

It talks about how Ireland grew due to tax cuts since 1986... So yeah it's a good example to follow. You can't blame the tax cuts for the situation they're in at the moment.

Ireland grew for a bunch of reasons - shitloads of European money for the government to spend, subsidies and a low corporation tax rate which made it attractive for companies to invest there to gain access to the European market are generally accepted to be the major contributors.

Ireland's in the crapper now because they increased government spending at the same time as cutting income tax rates and they allowed (caused) a huge property speculation bubble to happen. Living beyond your means is bad mmkay?

We're currently borrowing $260M per week to fund government spending - this has to stop. My argument is that shifting the balance tax burden from productive activity to consumption a bit is probably good, but spending needs to be reigned in.

[mashman]

Depends on the office job - Ive had to made decisions that have made me physically ill. I have ended up in hospital with panic attacks.

Perhaps when you are responsible for the livleyhood of people and understand that decisions you make can break people - and you are forced into horrid situations - then, perhaps you can comment on stress - but dont for one second discount the amount of stress in some office bound roles.

In which case I more than qualify and have been qualifying for the last 9 months (at least)...

some of this has been work related... but the work related "issues" have all come about because the business won't make the tough decisions it needs to make... one of our guys had a heart attack last year adn we've all, at some point, thrown the dummy to the extent we go fuckin home... and all because of, what we call, the incompetency of management at the top... these guys walk around with smirks on their faces making decisions that affect how the "employees" work... we have tried to educate them, yet they keep kicking our department in the balls because they make bad, business related, decisions (zero accountability that gave one of my colleagues a heart attack at the end of a busy day)... and with my 15 years of experience and actually having had some CEO's as my client, don't for a minute think that your experience is indicative of what's actually out there... and that goes doubly for the larger companies that i've worked for...

Yes the office can be stressful, BUT, it's only like that when the other business departments don't puul their finger out and try to blame us... My experiences.

[aprilia_RS250]

Ireland grew for a bunch of reasons - shitloads of European money for the government to spend, subsidies and a low corporation tax rate which made it attractive for companies to invest there to gain access to the European market are generally accepted to be the major contributors.

Ireland's in the crapper now because they increased government spending at the same time as cutting income tax rates and they allowed (caused) a huge property speculation bubble to happen. Living beyond your means is bad mmkay?

We're currently borrowing $260M per week to fund government spending - this has to stop. My argument is that shifting the balance tax burden from productive activity to consumption a bit is probably good, but spending needs to be reigned in.

Yes so the Irish governement went on a full out shopping spree while reducing taxes.... Hmmm this isn't the same as National wanting to reduce taxes while simultaneously cutting costs and reducing public expenditure.

[mashman]

It talks about how Ireland grew due to tax cuts since 1986... So yeah it's a good example to follow. You can't blame the tax cuts for the situation they're in at the moment.

The IRA taking their foot off the gas in the early 90's probably had more to do with it than cutting taxes. After all, market confidence is everything isn't it?

[aprilia_RS250]

The IRA taking their foot off the gas in the early 90's probably had more to do with it than cutting taxes. After all, market confidence is everything isn't it?

sure you're probably right

[mashman]

sure you're probably right

is there a hint of sarcasm in your voice lol... it was a turbulent time and i doubt anyone really wanted to invest at that point... could be very wrong though... EU grants, subsidies and "special conditions" help the "poorer" countries along until they can stand on their own 2 feet... but once back on your 2 feet you won't receive the billions in financial aid... clawback is a bitch... which is why we see flurries of guys fixing already fine roads come clawback time...

[MisterD]

The IRA taking their foot off the gas in the early 90's probably had more to do with it than cutting taxes.

IRA activity is a significant factor in Northern Ireland for sure...the Republic, not so much.

[mashman]

IRA activity is a significant factor in Northern Ireland for sure...the Republic, not so much.

true... pretty sure it would have helped though... after all they are/were the Irish Replublican Army... i know i know...

[aprilia_RS250]

the numbers are out...

to work out how this affects you go to http://www.taxguide.govt.nz/

[mashman]

granted i haven't looked at the budget yet... but, using the above "calculator" and just changing the figure for rent/mortgage to a higher value, the numbers, other than tax cut, go up and not down...

it's confusing me, which of course i'm sure a few of you will decide that that's like shooting ducks in a barrel.

But i would have thought that paying more rent/mortgage would have brought my weekly and annual income down????