Last week I was in New York at a conference on Rethinking International Investment Governance – the investor-state dispute system (ISDS) that lets transnational corporations enforce special rights through secretive, offshore, pro-investor tribunals.
If those on the lowest incomes pay the highest tax rates that means the average Maori or Pasifika taxpayer pays a higher proportion of their income in tax than the average Pakeha family – or the average beneficiary pays a higher tax rate than a rich lister.
Even for the fucking NZ Herald this is deceitful beyond belief.
There was not a single sex worker on the streets, not a single neon sign advertising a brothel and absolutely no large signs advertising a sex menu the last time I drove down the main street of Waihi. I stopped for coffee and nosed around to make sure I wasn’t missing something before declaring loudly to nobody in particular “I told you so.”
Once again, a horrifying statistic – the ‘provisional’ number of suicides as assessed by the Chief Coroner for the most recent 12-month period, a 10% increase on the previous year, but still one that doesn’t fully record the true level, given that ‘suspected suicides’, a very significant group that Police, ambulance and health services and many families will attest to, are not included, nor are ‘missing persons’ and a further number of deaths that are, for various reasons, not investigated.
It is well known that New Zealand is a kind country. Visitors often rave about the smiley, friendly, helpful kiwis they encounter. We have a very large number of charities and volunteers who do good things for no reward. We rate highly on global indices of peace and happiness. The Prime Minister can say with confidence that we are a kind lot.
Jesus wept, is there any possible way that the co-leader of the Greens could be properly briefed correctly before she fronts news interviews at all?
After shaking my head at the total lack of a media plan to boost the invisibility of the Green Party Welfare reforms, Marama has appeared on the AM Show and given a trainwreck of an interview.
This sudden desire to force NZ’s cultural values upon refugees and migrants is an absurdity. This is a liberal progressive democracy that loves alcoholism, rugby and domestic violence, I’m not sure how forcing migrants or refugees to get drunk, become an All Blacks supporter and bash their loved ones or risk deportation is much of a step forwards.
Er … they want to do what? Potentially deport people for, among other things, not being in favour of recreational access to alcohol?