Dr Cullen may be a little upset that the average tax cut of $16 per week is being compared to the cost of a block of cheese. That was not what the money was intended for. With a recent "investment" of $9 million dollars in the racing industry, and a state monopoly on lotteries, he was no doubt hoping gambling would be on the increase. Well, I hope he's cheesed off.
The budget looks to be a rather pathetic effort, with a small tax deduction around election time, and others kicking in over the next three years.
Problem is, last time Cullen promised to up the tax thresholds, he turned around and cancelled them.
Given that Labour's budget didn't really address any plans for growth; for interest rate abatement; and for tackling energy issues, there's every excuse Labour's bad economic management will force some serious belt tightening in 2009.
Question is, will it be government that is asked to tighten their belts, or the tax payers, pensioners, students and beneficiaries? If I was a gambling man, I'd lay odds on the latter group doing the Jenny Craig.
How about you? Wanna bet?
Question is, will it be government that is asked to tighten their belts, or the tax payers, pensioners, students and beneficiaries?
ReplyDeleteGiven it'll likely be a National govt by the end of the year, my money is also on it being us getting shafted for the next 3 years. However, they will no doubt do a sterling propaganda job on convincing us that their programme of wealth redistribution from the lower orders to the already-rich is an inevitable consequence of Labour's poor governance.
Sterling it might be, but with Cullen ensuring the family has no silver, the point will be moot.
ReplyDeleteNational would be receiving damaged goods, and Labour voters gamely claiming that the parrot was merely sleeping will not be that convincing.
National still have an opportunity to go to the polls with policies aimed at growth. Probably too scary a prospect for them at this stage, and therefore, a miserable outcome.
Unfortunately, one that might be better than Labour blundering on with a set of pledge cards that have discounts on really old, stupid ideas that even pensioners would think worse than their new, unimproved Gold cards.
But wait, there's more....
...oh, with Labour, maybe not.
Sounds like you lot have just about had your fill of Labor, i hope so Zen. Then maybe the hard working and law abiding might get to keep a bit more of their own money and not have it passed off to the parasites and spongers.
ReplyDelete