Of course there is a fucking cost of living crisis in this country!
Labour’s insistence that there isn’t a cost of living crisis is driven by their total failure to create political solutions.
When you listen to Jacinda’s attempt to answer that challenge that there is a cost of living crisis, she goes all tax wonk.
She points to a dozen little tinkerings at the edges and seems to think that the working poor and beneficiaries in this country are all certified tax accountants who are filing every month to reap the huge gains of $10 extra a week and pretends that masquerade is a fucking solution to the chasm of cost our wage pittance is being asked to fill each week.
Rather than live in denial that there isn’t a massive cost of living crisis, rather than pretend the obtuse necromancy of working for family credit bureaucracy is a solution, rather than all that spineless lack of vision, Labour should acknowledge this cost of living crisis and actually be bold enough to present true Left policy as the solution!
Petrol is crippling people’s pockets, so make public transport free as a means to insulate people from that cost rise while freeing up the roads for users to gain some efficiency despite the petrol cost.
Food prices are crippling, so the Government should step in and become a 30% stakeholder in the Supermarket duopoly while removing GST off fresh fruit and vegetables.
Housing is a nightmare, a massive build for State Housing IS an actual solution!
Social media disinformation is eclipsing public broadcasting while draining advertising dollars, so TVNZ makes TV1 commercial free to boost advertising revenue to other broadcasters while placing a super tax on social media platforms to fund journalism.
We want the State to use its muscle to make living good choices a cheaper option than living bad choices!
Reward public transport users and people choosing healthier food options for all the massive knock ons climate and public health benefits they create. Solve the immediate needs while building in better outcomes for the future!
That would require a Labour Party that had some idealogical spine.
We don’t have that kind of Labour Party, instead we have Jacinda policy wonking us all with the grim bureaucracy of the tax puritan that sounds far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, 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far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, 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far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, 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far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, removed from day to day reality of the lived experience.
When can we get a Labour Party that’s actually a Left wing Party and not some centrist Wellington bureaucratic mediocrity?
It feels like we are being led by people who think they are better than us.
Being better than us is one thing, believing it is another.
You know things are bad when Chris Luxon who owns 7 properties can make Jacinda look out of touch when it comes to a cost of living crisis.
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When last in office National failed to reconize a housing crisis and paid the price at the ballot box . Now Labour fail to reconize cost of living caused in part by enormous rent rises and due to compliance costs of government policies. The last Roy Morgan indicates they may suffer the same fate as National.
It is a pity we cannot have a cross party group to sort out housing otherwise this back and forth will carry on to no one’s benefit and make the Nation worse off.
We won’t get a Labour Party like that because coming up to 40 years of neo liberalism, monetarism and managerialism has rooted it. Such left forces as existed, were driven from Labour in the 1980s as the formation of New Labour and the Alliance showed.
The hope is the new gen fronting up, organising and getting active rather than voting Nashnull because they are “not Labour”.
The campaign on Housing that John Minto posted is actually a bloody good idea that people could rally around and illustrate the necessity of rolling back the NZ neo liberal state in 2023 and 2026. What parliamentary political form that would take who knows–something new or a Labour/Green Govt that has been lined up. New gens stonked with extortionate rents for overpriced dumps while working precariously and paying off student loans! should be into and, a newer issue of “Elder poverty”, not all boomers are property hogs thousands actually have to go flatting or live in a camper van in their 60s and beyond.
We won’t get a Labour Party like that because tribalists still vote for them.
The only way to force a rebuild of the party is to vote them out until they resemble something useful.
Left wing parties in the west have moved to a bureaucratic, white collar circle jerk. Middle management corporate, NGOs, Trade Unions and academics is where they pull from now. These are occupations by-and-large (teachers accepted) that get graded pay increases consummate with cost of living expenses that are not always salary-based.
The blue collar will over time gravitate right. In New Zimbabwe that will take longer as the right in this country still haven’t adopted strategies to pull this vote ala US, UK and Australia. We are seeing the upheaval of the political cycle finally in this country and hint, old school lefties (who I have a lot of time for) won’t like the long-term implications.
There reaches a point in the cost of fuel where it damages the economy and gets quickly worse. I’d say we’ve arrived there now. The worse the price gets the less we can get around, meaning the less we buy, equals less tax take. All round.
Petrol average price in South Australia for 91, $1.76 per litre. Auckland $3.08. Come on Labour, this is bullshit!
Both Labour and National have put so much tax on petrol that your average worker can’t afford it. And few want to use public transport owing to Covid.
I couldn’t care less for the excuses why it’s taxed through the roof, pull a chunk of the excise tax from fuel now, plus that bloody 11 cents per litre ripped off Aucklanders for Auckland Transport to waste!
By the way Labour, doing nothing or pretending to do something ain’t going to cut it! But I’m looking forward to your political demise if you don’t do something!
“I’ say we’ve arrived there now”. Just wait for the West’s ill thought out sanctions to take hold. We are in very deep dooda indeed- the repercussions are going to cripple us.
Exactly!
Hold the phone!
That spend on train infrastructure is looking better by the hour what with price of fuel as it is.
The propertied class just don’t see it the same way as the filthy peasants do. Luckily the number of filthy peasants grows apace. Street justice, anyone?
I have no idea where you come from politically Beast, ie supporting Wellington occupation or what ever, but street justice has to come if the legacy of Rogernomics is ever to be retired for good.
A nice start would be occupying and using empty residential and commercial properties for accomodation and small business activities.
Agree in the main. I think permanent shantytowns in public spaces would be a good start, as a form of non-violent protest.
Not all peasants are filthy
Cost of living crisis – see here for a start: https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/03/09/nz-banks-make-an-obscene-6billion-profit-during-covid-why-the-left-cant-respond/.
Crisis! Lol
It will only get worse if National will get in. Wages, benefits, transfer payments and public service spending will be slashed. Toll roads will be imposed, pricing the poor and their ‘bombs’ off the roads, so the wealthy in their Ford Rangers dont have to share the road with the smelly family of 6 in their people mover. Home owners will be wiped out with hikes in interest rates, which will also cut wages, increase rent and throw thousands of New Zealanders out of work. National will destroy this country. We are still better off with Labour. No US style health care, high wages and almost full employment National will take it all away.
What planet are Labour living on?
Planet Wellington mate!
It exists in another dimension where people are driven around in government cars and never lose their jobs, no matter how bloody inept they are.
Food prices are crippling, so the Government should step in and become a 30% stakeholder in the Supermarket duopoly while removing GST off fresh fruit and vegetables.
Yes. Absolutely.
Remove the damn 15% GST on all essential foods!!
In particular, Fruit and Veggies!
It is criminal that people here in our own food producing country cannot afford the exorbitant prices of foods that are GROWN RIGHT HERE! …While people in other countries can feast on our foods far more cheaply.
And, the policy that allow that to happen is harming the planet – Why subsidise the world flights of food to other – wealthy – nations, before allowing us to eat what we ourselves have grown with out taxing and taxing and taxing to the max???
No more “too hard” BS!!
Just DO IT!!
It was NZF Policy but they didn’t do anything about it, Winston spent the last year in Court defending himself for fiddling his Superannuation Claims.
Its a bit late for the brakes, our people (Maori) are already tenants in our own land what land we have left that hasn’t been stolen or confiscated by the crown.
Not all peasants are filthy
Why isn’t Neo Liberalism not identified as the root of the problem as quickly as mentioned by anyone in powet it is denied as the problem or (it does not exist). I heard even Damien denied it on the working group as if it is a figment of imagination. But it’s well known to work best if hidden away cause it benefits the few nicely. We all know its real because it was started back in 1984 with Rogernomics and still exists to this day. Nothing has really changed.
If this government are serious about our children’s HEALTH, then they will remove the 15% (!!!) GST on ALL essential basic healthy foods.
If this government are serious about our children’s medical, dental and psychological/mental health as they mature, then they will remove the 15% GST on ALL essential basic healthy foods.
I would ask each and every MP of AO/NZ, of whatever stripe or party:
DO YOU WANT A FUTURE WHERE CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY???
Physically healthy? Less prone to viruses of ANY form?
Mentally healthy?? – To begin to combat the waves of depression, anxiety and yes, suicide that will otherwise affect them in the future?
Then REMOVE THE GST from ALL essential, basic healthy food products – Especially those grown and produced here!! There is NO EXCUSE!! to continue the facade, the pretence that the ugly tax on the poorest and on the most vulnerable is in any way “needed”. NOT if you care one iota about the present and future health and wellbeing of all Kiwi children.
Please define the healthy food with no gst . Bread is that just the wholemeal type not white. Rice just brown as white rice has far less healthy parts. Potatoes but not chips or mashed . Fish but not fried . Meat but not marinated or in hamburgers.
Bake beans but not the ones in tins that are full of sugar.
I know where your going with this Trevor but how about a compromise. Just fruit and veges. 5 to 9 servings a day are recommended. Sadly the cost is prohibitive for so many that it is in fact cheaper to fill our children and our stomachs full of unhealthy alternatives, leading to diabetes and obesity.
Growing ones own isn’t all that straight forward either, given not all soils are equal.
So I would agree to take GST off fruit and veges whether it be fresh, frozen or in a can.
Poland and Hungary removed GST on food as a response to inflation. We can follow AU example.
As for free public transport, it should be substantially improved, so that you can get where you want in reasonable time without having to walk more tham 1km.
All the time I encounter people caught between being productive and creative and having to comply with losing a certain amount of their pittance which allows survival due to their entrepreneurial efforts, so yes, the tax situation stands on it’s head unless you are onto a rort of the system and then you can do very well at the expense of the unsuspecting. All the royal commissions are, imho, also rorts.
Last year I saw a great deal of these ‘shovel ready’ projects getting the oil which silences the squeaky wheel but as our manufacturing base has been decimated by corporate raiders and the old generation of number 8 wire personalities fade into the sunset it maybe time to quietly start from scratch. Making stuff. Like wool clothes. Remember the old Swandri? I sure miss that red and black checked, lined, dependable jacket. Somebody usurped it and I can’t replace it, all there is in the store is microfleece, plastic-fantastic which sheds microparticles into the biosphere. Ick.
Making stuff like wool carpet.
I think democracy died with Big Norm- may he rest in peace- but I also believe Lange’s signature for the government printing office was fake and the story behind that whole scenario outrageous to the max. The farce that is Boris Johnson extends way beyond his crude and crusty mop of a colonial hairdo. Peace out sisters.
“Let’s Do This!”
Those words were so inspiring.
Maybe conjuring up 100,000 homes in zero time was a little over-ambitious.
However, removing the artifice of the many taxes that have been placed on fresh fruit and veggies that we grow, here in AO/NZ, is something that is absolutely doable.
It requires one thing only: political will.
So please, please dear PM, “LET’S DO THIS!!”
New policy idea…Why don’t the Labour Govt give all if us with very old cars a basic electric vehicle. Paid for by fuel taxes..fuel price problem solved and climate change. Because at the moment it’s only the ‘rich’ who can afford to drive
I believe that any personal income below the national median should only be moderately taxed. This is the only way that those on low incomes will be able to afford to pay for the price hikes in rent, food, and petrol without having to face the embarrassment of going to a government agency for additional assistance.
So, income up to $30,000 a year per person would only be taxed at around 12 percent; the next $20,000 would be taxed at 17 percent; then the next $10,000 in income after that, 24 percent. It then gets higher quickly. $60,000 to $80,000 per annum, 30 percent; up to $100,000, 35 percent; up to $120,000, 40 percent; up to $150,000, 48 percent; and everything above $150,000, 55 percent. It may seem harsh to those on higher incomes but they still live in a country where they are able to have access to free education and healthcare and cheap University fees just like everyone else.
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