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| Thread ID: 102952 | 2009-09-07 09:50:00 | Maximum Wage | Twelvevolts (5457) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 807648 | 2009-09-07 09:50:00 | I saw a few comments on here about the Telecom guy earning so much. Well folks your spiritual mentor John Minto has apparently suggested a maximum wage for New Zealand. Now expect before long we'll crank this maximum wage down to something like the same as the minimum wage, then we can call ourselves Commies. So in the meantime, get out and work hard, get well qualified and earn as much as you can, because some people want to bring you down to their level. |
Twelvevolts (5457) | ||
| 807649 | 2009-09-07 10:09:00 | Unfortunately he doesn't seem to understand that such policies will completely destroy this country, as anybody with the skills to build successful businesses (i.e. create jobs, bring in export dollars) will leave. The world isn't fair, people aren't all equal, humans are inherently selfish and that's just the way it should be - any attempt to change that is just fighting human nature. For the sake of our nation's future, I hope he doesn't have the same approach to public education (which he seems to be heavily involved with) as he does to looking after our economy - i.e. let's tell kids to just scrape through, and penalise high achievers who get A and A+ grades (or "Excellence" marks as they call it these days); pay our best teachers the same as the bad teachers; etc. etc. </rant> |
somebody (208) | ||
| 807650 | 2009-09-07 10:19:00 | humans are inherently selfish and that's just the way it should be - any attempt to change that is just fighting human nature. For our entire history we have been nasty, slefish, greedy creatures, subjecting various other people to brutal and inhumane (hah, who came up with that contradictory word?) treatment justifying it with various creeds, beliefs and excuses so that ultimately one or two could prosper with a minimum of effort on their own part. Thats human nature. We should accept it should we? Let's cancel the idea of police then. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 807651 | 2009-09-07 10:27:00 | For our entire history we have been nasty, slefish, greedy creatures, subjecting various other people to brutal and inhumane Probably the only features in us that made us so successful as a species. Rather disheartening. |
qazwsxokmijn (102) | ||
| 807652 | 2009-09-07 10:50:00 | For our entire history we have been nasty, slefish, greedy creatures, subjecting various other people to brutal and inhumane (hah, who came up with that contradictory word?) treatment justifying it with various creeds, beliefs and excuses so that ultimately one or two could prosper with a minimum of effort on their own part. Thats human nature. We should accept it should we? Let's cancel the idea of police then. You've misinterpreted my point. |
somebody (208) | ||
| 807653 | 2009-09-07 11:55:00 | The desire to innovate, make great new things, etc, stems at least significantly from the desire to make money. It's a sad reality, but people need a financial incentive to improve their career, start businesses, invent things, etc, and a maximum wage would cap that. Not to mention the issue of the brightest, highest paid people (no, these are not ALWAYS the same people, but a lot are) in the country leaving. A person with his philosophys should not be arguing for a maximum wage, but for higher taxes on high income earners, eg 50%+ for above $1m. However I have heard even that sort of thing can be very bad for an economy. |
george12 (7) | ||
| 807654 | 2009-09-07 12:33:00 | Oh did you forget the memo, we turned into a socialist empire overnight. You earn based on your importance and needs. Duhh This man needs a kick before he influences anyone important. |
wellyg33k (11804) | ||
| 807655 | 2009-09-07 12:44:00 | The desire to innovate, make great new things, etc, stems at least significantly from the desire to make money. It's a sad reality, but people need a financial incentive to improve their career, start businesses, invent things, etc, and a maximum wage would cap that. Not to mention the issue of the brightest, highest paid people (no, these are not ALWAYS the same people, but a lot are) in the country leaving. A person with his philosophys should not be arguing for a maximum wage, but for higher taxes on high income earners, eg 50%+ for above $1m. However I have heard even that sort of thing can be very bad for an economy. How about this for a radical (not really) thought. If money motivates most people - an assumption, I know, but I think a valid one for most - then let's tax everyone the same percentage, no matter what they earn. The harder (smarter) they work, the more they make. Someone could then get three jobs and know that he/she wasn't going to pay in tax almost more than he/she made on the second and third job. There's a huge disincentive to extending yourself by getting secondary employment here in NZ - the tax on the second and subsequent job(s) makes it more worthwhile to sit back and do nothing. A more radical thought would be to have no income tax, but a tax on spending (flat rate, say 25%) - everyone has to spend money to live, therefore the tax would keep rolling in (just have to jump hard on the black economy)... |
johcar (6283) | ||
| 807656 | 2009-09-07 13:03:00 | How about this for a radical (not really) thought . If money motivates most people - an assumption, I know, but I think a valid one for most - then let's tax everyone the same percentage, no matter what they earn . The harder (smarter) they work, the more they make . Someone could then get three jobs and know that he/she wasn't going to pay in tax almost more than he/she made on the second and third job . There's a huge disincentive to extending yourself by getting secondary employment here in NZ - the tax on the second and subsequent job(s) makes it more worthwhile to sit back and do nothing . A more radical thought would be to have no income tax, but a tax on spending (flat rate, say 25%) - everyone has to spend money to live, therefore the tax would keep rolling in (just have to jump hard on the black economy) . . . Secondary job tax is often misunderstood - including by myself until only a year ago . You don't actually pay more tax for second jobs . If a person earns $30,000 in one job and $20,000 from a second job they will pay the same amount of tax as someone earning $50,000 from one job, provided they file a tax return . The reason secondary tax rates are higher is because if all jobs were taxed at the same rate bands, the $20,000 per year job would be taxed as though the person was earning only $20,000 (a mix of 12 . 5% and 21%) instead of according to the real income which is $50,000 . The tax return fixes up any difference as of course this will never be 100% correct . Thus there is no disincentive to work in NZ as no work will ever result in more than 38% tax . A flat tax I think would be a problem as the tax paid by low income earners would have to be MUCH higher . I've heard that 3% of the country pay 15% of the tax, and 15% of the country pay 50% . Thus a flat tax rate would probably only benefit those earning above $50,000 or so (purely guessed figure), and would bring down the after-tax income of everyone earning less . A tax on spending is an interesting idea . I, for example, am a student living at home and would benefit dramatically from such a thing as I spend very little money while working lots and for a reasonable income . But the people who would need tax relief most are those who are forced to spend every cent they earn to support their families . I'm not sure it would end up being a fair balance . Not saying it couldn't work though . |
george12 (7) | ||
| 807657 | 2009-09-07 18:11:00 | Hello Communism. | Cato (6936) | ||
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