Sick and tired of Cullen

[Maki]

Am I alone in this or do other people think M Cullen is sounding like a tired old broken record. "If we give you tax cuts it's just going to mean cutting down government services".

The fact is that in most countries that have offered tax cuts that reward people for working more and increasing productivity have actually seen more money coming in to the government, not less.

Is it so hard to see that a tax policy that stifles, and punishes people for working is actually going to bring less money in than a tax policy that rewards work. If you work more you get slammed with at least a double whammy, you lose "working for families" assistance and you get placed in a higher tax bracket. You may also lose other benefits because of your "high income".

How about a fair tax policy that does not punish people for producing wealth that can go into health care, roads and education.

I also want to see families taxed as a unit so that families where one of the partners decides to forgo payed work to care for children is not slammed into the highest tax bracket at an absurdly low income level if taking care of a whole family is taken into account. It's only fair, but will auntie Helen have a bar of it? No, apparently it does not buy her enough votes...

When pension time come a married couple gets less pension than individuals do. When people are working the fact that one of the partners may be the families sole support is conveniently ignored.

[Pussy]

Yep, it's a no-brainer, isn't it? I'm also sick of social engineering, and the government's "when I want your opinion, I'll give it to you" attitude

[jim.cox]

Bye bye, Aunty Helen & Co - it was nice knowing you - NOT

[chubby]

Yes.. your very right.

But what gets me steamed...... is that above all else

Cullen comes across, in my opinion, as a smug, condescending twat.

PS there is a review/study/submission going on about taxing the family unit. One of the biggest issues is defining a family unit (seperated people but still married, defactos, some who appear in both etc) but that is for way passed the election.

[MSTRS:Me]

Too bloody right. The prick had his day some time ago.
What group of gullible voters will he attempt to buy this time? Or are there none left that are stupid enough to be sucked in?

[enigma51]

You guys seem to forget what a great job working for families are doing and we cant have cuts on that cause how are people suppose to survive then you are all selfish the labour gov has done a great job for the last 9 year

[MIXONE]

Yep the man pisses me off bigtime!We are in the position where my wife works and I do the house husband thing.She's in the high tax bracket but if we both worked at more menial jobs, at half her present salary each,as a family unit we would be $17k a year better off!Imagine the bikes I could buy with that in my back pocket.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.

[jim.cox]

the labour gov has done a great job for the last 9 year

I strongly disagree

The country is now in a significantly worse position than it was when Aunty Helen came to power

The bureaucracy has bloated, the country has gone to the dogs (bitches?), the pigs have been wallowing at the trough and its little surprise that those who can are leaving for pastures green

We're fucked, Mate

[MSTRS:Me]

You guys seem to forget what a great job working for families are doing and we cant have cuts on that cause how are people suppose to survive then you are all selfish the labour gov has done a great job for the last 9 year

Yeah right Like ACC for self-employed people...

[MIXONE]

You guys seem to forget what a great job working for families are doing and we cant have cuts on that cause how are people suppose to survive then you are all selfish the labour gov has done a great job for the last 9 year

TUIS anyone?

This must be a pt.They have done such a great job that kiwis are leaving the country in droves to be replaced by immigrants that often end up being a further tax drain.

[Nasty]

You guys seem to forget what a great job working for families are doing and we cant have cuts on that cause how are people suppose to survive then you are all selfish the labour gov has done a great job for the last 9 year

I am sorry but it does nothing for those of us that choose not to breed ... its teaching people that its ok to have kids if you can't afford it ... YAY to them.

[ManDownUnder]

What group of gullible voters will he attempt to buy this time?

Just one - but he has a lot of say in the electoral process...

Ben E. Fishery

[MIXONE]

Just one - but he has a lot of say in the electoral process...

Ben E. Fishery

He should have a lot to say as he gets the biggest cut of the tax take.A full ONE THIRD!!!!

[avgas]

When pension time come a married couple gets less pension than individuals do.

SHhhhhhh
Don't tell anyone but your about to loose that altogether.
Or do you truly believe that Kiwisaver was to YOUR benefit. In 30 years time people will say, "Man it sucks that we have lost our pension, good thing we can fall back on that Kiwisaver they set up for us 30 years ago - now i can pay off that mortgage still".
Its not conspiracy theory, its too bleeding obvious for that.

[ManDownUnder]

The ugly truth as I see it... with very few exceptions being in Parliament is not some higher calling, some noble stand enabling those voted in to make a lasting mark in the annals of New Zealand history.

For most it's a job. A job with defined lined of responsibility, a boss from whom you must take orders, and you need to compete for business (aka votes).

You do what you can to get the business (votes) from the competition (opposition). If you come across as a smug twat then so be it - the #1 rule is KEEP YOUR JOB. Check out Winnie the poo at the last election. Beaten in his own electorate but got in as a list MP.

If that means pissing off a lot of people from time to time then they do it, so long as the ones that get them back into power on the nominated date are willing to do so. So what does that mean for a Labour Govt?

Bribe the poor. Throw them a few baubles, set their expectations low, right up until the critical date then give them $20/week. For 5/8ths of fuck all they just bought a lot of votes and - most importantly to them - kept their jobs!

Know your enemy... they're a pack of powerful, intelligent, self serving people that club together and busily scratch each others backs first... and THEN think about the country as a whole.

Don't think they're always at each others throats either... just take a quick look at how parliamentary pay rises get pushed through under urgency.