The last two weeks reminds me of the time when I was a new activist in the Labour Party. I went to my first Annual Conference and although I was a branch secretary of a general electorate, I became a member of the Maori Policy Committee of the party. I assumed that the whole purpose of the committee was like the name said; POLICY. Instead the meetings for three nights resulted in a wrangle over who should be the new Chair person because the current one was in South Africa on behalf of the NZ Rugby Union! Those of us who were new to "politics" were stunned. However, on the last night at midnight we finally got to write policy for the Conference that morning. It took us one hour.
Now forget the hornets nest disturbed by Hager and Slater and korero policy, all be it briefly;
Tax: No civilised society can survive without a fair tax system. Increase income taxes for those who can afford more and decrease taxes for those well under the average income. Stop tax avoidance and close those loop holes. There should be no income tax for those under $20k especially if the GST is to be retained at 15%. There has to be a capital gains tax. Also profits made in NZ should have an extra tax before they are remitted off shore. Don't let profits from overseas investment leave without a substantial royalty for NZ.
Education: NZ has had for most of the last century, a well funded, and egalitarian education system. My experience as a teacher is that smaller classes results in better education outcomes at all levels. The learning and teaching process enables more participation of learners and those with learning difficulties are best taught in smaller classes. It pays at teen age levels to go from fundamental and generic knowledge and skills to vocational and tertiary skills and experience. However, a learners future is not only to get a job. History, (including the Treaty of Waitangi and Land Wars of the 19th Cebtury), politics, civics, culture, languages and media are also part of an adult future.
Health: NZ has a well developed health system of private and public provision; We should continue with what we have done well and focus more on the health of babies, children and youth as well as the old. Certain diseases should be targeted especially as they effect those in poverty, and as obesity proliferates, measures to combat it should be a higb priority.
Employment: It's not enough to blame off shore market forces for pricing us out of jobs. It shouldn't stop us from achieving full employment again; We must add value to raw materials like logs, dairy products and any other of our agricultural and forestry products. Also it's a no brainer if we build our own railway rolling stock instead of buying cheap Chinese ones that break down. Adding value increases the number of jobs. Innovations in technology, science and transport should also create more jobs. The retention of state assets also are more likely to generate employment than privatizing them.
The Economy: Free trade is all very well if it applies to all our trading partners; The market is largely a failure and has resulted in a huge awning gap between rich and poor. There's no question about that. However to redress the balance requires an economic rather than only a fiscal redistribution of wealth. We must diversify our economy and open overseas markets especially those that have barriers to our products. Also its no use gambling on striking oil, gas or some other get rich quick product from the ground or sea bed. It's better to diversify what we grow on the land.
These are just some thoughts about policy from the top of my head as the election approaches. Don't forget. Look at the policies leaders and parties are presenting. Vote for the policies you agree with as well as the parties and leaders. But VOTE anyway.
Health: NZ has a well developed health system of private and public provision; We should continue with what we have done well and focus more on the health of babies, children and youth as well as the old. Certain diseases should be targeted especially as they effect those in poverty, and as obesity proliferates, measures to combat it should be a higb priority.
Employment: It's not enough to blame off shore market forces for pricing us out of jobs. It shouldn't stop us from achieving full employment again; We must add value to raw materials like logs, dairy products and any other of our agricultural and forestry products. Also it's a no brainer if we build our own railway rolling stock instead of buying cheap Chinese ones that break down. Adding value increases the number of jobs. Innovations in technology, science and transport should also create more jobs. The retention of state assets also are more likely to generate employment than privatizing them.
The Economy: Free trade is all very well if it applies to all our trading partners; The market is largely a failure and has resulted in a huge awning gap between rich and poor. There's no question about that. However to redress the balance requires an economic rather than only a fiscal redistribution of wealth. We must diversify our economy and open overseas markets especially those that have barriers to our products. Also its no use gambling on striking oil, gas or some other get rich quick product from the ground or sea bed. It's better to diversify what we grow on the land.
These are just some thoughts about policy from the top of my head as the election approaches. Don't forget. Look at the policies leaders and parties are presenting. Vote for the policies you agree with as well as the parties and leaders. But VOTE anyway.
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