Thursday, September 02, 2004
We are being robbed people
John Key has started on what should be a year long campaign to demonstrate what is essentially one of the last defining differences between 'the left' and 'the right' - tax.
National - you take what you need to ensure essential infrastructure, to provide public services, to provide welfare safety net and let people get on with life.
Labour - tax the bejesus out of 'the rich' to 'redistribute' to anyone that will vote for you next time.
Labour increased the top rate of tax by 6c to 39c after the 1999 election saying it would use the money for health and education and promising that only the wealthiest 5 per cent of taxpayers would be affected. That has since risen to 10 per cent with wage hikes.The doctors no cheaper for me than it was yesterday Helen, I am still repaying my student loan and the only other 'increased service' I have noticed is an increase in people ready and waiting to give me a speeding ticket. Leave enough money in people's pocket for them to afford a decent heater and the power to run it - and they may not need your doctors subsidy.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday a booming economy was the reason. She indicated Labour was unlikely to alter the top rate.
"In the end you have to weigh up whether you want to give tax cuts or keep pouring the benefits back into health, education and the services that the New Zealand public like and want and deserve and should have."
National need cogently demonstrate that this Government is making life as costly as possible for middle New Zealand. This is John Key's task for the next 12 months, he has started, good luck to him.
