During the 25 or so years following World War 2 governments, world -wide, regulated the behaviour of banks and the finance sector. Our economies thrived and living standards rose at an incredible rate
.
All that changed at the beginning of the 1980’s thanks to the international neoliberal agenda that somehow persuaded us that we would all be even better off if the banking and financial rules were relaxed so that a few of us could get really, really, rich through the creation of new ways for money to make money.
This new wealth, we were led to believe, would trickle down through society and we would all be better off.
Well, it was a lie.
Today’s generation of young adults are the first generation in recent history who will be substantially worse off than their parents .
So to those who are moaning about the idea of a Capital Gains Tax I say suck it up.
We have to do far, far more to address the gap between the rich and the poor in our country.
It’s time to confront the core issue of our time.
Do we want capitalism to serve the State?
Or the other way around as it is today?
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
