tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post3500134409937204498..comments2024-03-28T00:33:53.397+13:00Comments on Local Bodies: Pregnancy, Punishment and Poverty.Dave Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-91460682239746142212012-05-13T17:32:03.462+12:002012-05-13T17:32:03.462+12:00Totally agree, Owlinalarkworld.Totally agree, Owlinalarkworld.Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-63686772053012336532012-05-13T12:36:14.442+12:002012-05-13T12:36:14.442+12:00I am uncomfortable with singling out beneficiaries...I am uncomfortable with singling out beneficiaries for free contraception. Making it available to all those with a Community Services card might be a fairer option.Ella Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14844313799300842560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-66534257540955202252012-05-10T01:02:48.945+12:002012-05-10T01:02:48.945+12:00You've lost me, Shunda, it is all about politi...You've lost me, Shunda, it is all about politics. Political decisions change legislation and regulation, which then provides incentives or disincentives to businesses, industry and private citizens. <br /><br />The over investment in property and not into productive sectors can be changed through introducing a capital gains tax. Limiting our dependence on cars and fossil fuels can be changed with improved public transport and limiting motorway developments (which will save huge amounts of money. To change attitudes and values around what is sustainable and improve our sense of community then we need to properly fund and support enviroschools. And politicians can have an impact on inequality if they increase the minimum wage, put a cap of the huge salaries of local government CEOs and state service heads and tax the rich at similar levels as Australia. And the list of political solutions could go on.....Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-43224049865472745562012-05-10T00:17:57.877+12:002012-05-10T00:17:57.877+12:00Sprout, I am not sure why you think I would see Na...Sprout, I am not sure why you think I would see National as having sustainable economics.<br /><br />In fact, I can't find a single point I would disagree with in your summary of our past two governments.<br /><br />But where I disagree is when it comes to the ability of a political solution to work, I believe this to be quite impossible.<br /><br />There will be more flailing at the branches, but they can't fix the issues facing our economy (or the global economy).<br />It's all about values and what people seek to achieve with their lives, as long as their is a lust for 'things' that are unsustainable (both material and ideological) there will be no real chance of positive change.Shunda barundahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07219083543563439917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-58414525872495677362012-05-08T23:32:29.394+12:002012-05-08T23:32:29.394+12:00I'm afraid I disagree, Shunda, a large amount ...I'm afraid I disagree, Shunda, a large amount of the inequities we are suffering from are the direct result of this Government's (and previous ones) actions.<br /><br />The economic downturn in New Zealand was only partially caused by the collapse of financial institutions overseas. We had our own collapse of finance companies due to unsecured investments and poor regulation. <br /><br />Under Labour we had no government debt but huge private debt. The private debt was due to the explosion of property values that was not controlled by a capital gains tax. The dairy farmers in Southland are operating in a booming industry but many are struggling because the cost of land and level of borrowing necessary to get into the industry means minimal equity. <br /><br />The fact that our governments allowed land prices to rise may have fed profits for their rich mates but it has resulted in the fact that New Zealanders couldn't afford to buy the Crafar farms. We now have the ludicrous situation in our under populated country (in comparison to others) that a growing percentage of us cannot afford to buy our own homes and overseas buyers will push the price of farms beyond most New Zealand farmers.<br /><br />Our rising government debt is also not because of a struggling economy, the wealthiest New Zealanders have seen a 20% rise in incomes over the past year and most of our largest companies have seen similar profits. Westpac alone saw a 65% increase in profits and Australian banks have taken $2 billion in dividends across the ditch. <br /><br />The tax cuts to the already rich was obscene and unnecessary when 40% of their income (on average) is derived from untaxed capital gains. These tax cuts cost the government around $1 billion a year in lost revenue that we are borrowing to make up. <br /><br />Bill English claimed that the cuts would be fiscally neutral because of income generated from an increase in GST, however he didn't factor in the fact that those who didn't receive tax cuts (the great majority) were mainly struggling on low incomes and reduced their spending. <br /><br />Yes, we did have a large private debt but the factors that caused it still have not been properly addressed and the growing government debt is due to poor management. What is even more appalling is that the National Government intend to fix the debt that they created themselves by selling off some of our most valuable assets and reduce future revenue even more. This doesn't sound, or look like sustainable economics to me!Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-7150398537285089482012-05-08T20:42:42.888+12:002012-05-08T20:42:42.888+12:00Sprout, we won't eliminate poverty without a c...Sprout, we won't eliminate poverty without a clearer understanding of sustainability.<br /><br />Sustainability is not just limited to natural ecosystems, it is an eternal principle that effects all aspects of life on this planet, including human relationships.<br /><br />We do have a crisis in NZ, a crisis brought about by unsustainable living, a crisis that both the political left and the right have presided over.<br /><br />Politicians won't fix this, they will periodically flail at the branches but they will never get to the root of the issue.<br /><br />The only way forward is for true community based solutions to emerge, politicians won't and can't fix inequality.Shunda barundahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07219083543563439917noreply@blogger.com