Apparently the junk tank that calls itself the #taxpayersunion has put out a report saying that inequality in NZ is decreasing.

Conveniently they cherry picked data which doesn’t take into account a) the full time period for which we can look at, which stretches before and after the period they chose, and b) capital gains, which contribute far more to the income of the rich than the poor.

Fortunately Max #Rashbrooke at the #InstituteforDemocraticandEconomicAnalysis does a superb job of analysing what they did (and more importantly didn’t) include.

#nzpol

https://goodideasnz.substack.com/p/is-the-taxpayers-union-right-that

Seems Nicky NoBoats is under pressure from the hard right for not doing austerity ruthlessly enough. Although the debate itself is not ruthless since the Taxdodgers Onion are planning to wheel out Ruthenasia Richardson to debate NoBoats;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/mediawatch?share=6745c208-fb27-4b55-9355-72527f2a9bdb

A clash of the neoclassical titans. Like a debate between 19th century orphanageers, over whether the current one is beating the orphans enthusiastically enough to get them adopted.

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#podcasts #RNZ #MediaWatch #TaxpayersUnion

This #MATA investigation into #Act and #DavidSeymour by journalist Mihingarangi Forbes just dropped.

I am only 3 minutes in but it looks like it's got a bit to reveal. #AtlasNetwork #NZInitiative #TaxPayersUnion #NZPol #CDNpoli #IndigenousRights #TiritiOWaitangi #TreatyPrinciplesBill

https://youtu.be/QLOjiiC3P1Y

Maybe Aotearoa needs a nonpartisan citizen's organisation that does what what the Taxpayer's Onion purports to do; evaluate spending by publicly-funded organisations against the public benefits it realistically creates. While also pointing out corporate welfare in its various forms, eg public entities paying rent to property "investors" instead of putting that money into publicly-owned buildings;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/558659/wall-street-style-fit-out-on-the-ratepayer-tab-taxpayers-union-criticises-tauranga-city-council-s-new-office

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#TaxpayersUnion #PublicSpending #CorporateWelfare

@ArrestJK @AnneleiseHall @scattermutant

The recent exposure of NZ groups operating under the control of the #AtlasNetwork umbrella such as the #NZInitiative #TaxPayersUnion and #FreeSpeechUnion is helping wake up many NZers to the threat of multi national corporate control of #NZPol and policies. #DavidSeymour 's Treaty Principles Bill has helped shine a light on the ACTlas Network Party's treacherous motives.

Anyone feel like setting up a kiwi equivalent of this to challenge the so-called "Taxpayers Union"?

"Taxpayers Against Poverty advocates for a society where everyindividual has access to secure affordable housing, fair wages and a life free from the burden of poverty."

https://www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk/

#TaxpayersAgainstPoverty #TaxpayersUnion