Is Russia more right wing than NZ?

With Russia finally being accepted into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) things are looking up for the country. Consumers will benefit immensely from the tariff drops that have been negotiated as European-made cars and trucks, furniture, clothes and all sorts of consumer goods and industrial machinery will be available at far lower prices than before.

I remember when tariffs were cut in NZ and the outrage from the left was hysterical. However every day families have benefitted immensely from having access to cheaper imports. Labour and Green MPs ignore this, but they are wealthy enough to pay extra for NZ made items. The same with Green taxes – they only serve to make flights, vehicles and household items exclusive to wealthy people. That’s why the ETS is a joke. That’s why when you buy an air ticket you find much of it goes in taxes. My latest flight to New York is only costing me £99 each way – but I’m being stung over £450 in taxes. How can families afford holidays when politicians are intent on killing the dream?

Part of the accession to the WTO involves the state privatising Government owned banks, wholesale, retail and franchise operations. Experts reckon selling these will bring in more investment, more economic certainty and confidence in the economy. Plus, no country can be truly free if the state is in control of assets, labour and the economy.

How come the Russians get it and we don’t?

How come countries that we used to laugh at in the 80’s like Poland and the former Czechoslovakia are now steamrolling ahead of NZ for several economic indicators – even despite the recession? They are embracing and enjoying the benefits of flat taxes and a winding back of Government intervention – I’ve seen this first hand.

What New Zealand needs is lower corporate taxes so that we can attract the likes of the tech giants and multinationals to our shores. Why do we sit on our hands as our head offices are all setting up in Aussie? Multinationals bring jobs and certainty – sneering at the wealth creators and attacking employers will bring ruin. Why is it that our trade unions can disable our entire economy and yet cannot be liable for the damages it causes?

The challenges facing New Zealand are clear. We need to be more competitive and we need to be attractive enough for people to want to come back. Too many Kiwis are selfish and envious – and want to punish those who pay more taxes. Too many Kiwis expect the Government to give them handouts. Working for Families is a left wing master-stroke – and should have been consigned to the bin as soon as Key won the election. Entrenching it is giving an entire generation of Kiwis the belief that Government is there to redistribute wealth.

Labour will not win the election, but they haven’t lost the war. Their ideology lives on within the National Party. Look at the polls. Many within National would rather go with the Greens than any other party. Many within National do not support asset sales.

This is why Keys second term needs to define the agenda better rather than trying to win a third term. Being in power for 6 or 9 years means squat, if you have not rolled back what the previous Govt did. Labour did – National should.

I'll be voting next week at the NZ High Commission for the party that recognises that hard work for more income is not a bad thing. I'll vote for a party that wants me to come home. I'll vote for a party that won't sneer at me or my friends if we choose to go on holidays to Hawaii. I'll vote for a party that doesn't sell my future by borrowing more to sustain a very unwell welfare state.

I'm confident my voting papers will have one or two options :)