The Offal Pit: The tail wagging the dog

MORE TAXES? YEE-HA!: Hone Harawira and Kim Dotcom, the most unlikely political alliance, are captured sharing a moment in the election campaign. Why the bemusement?

I used to love politics, the cut and thrust of a good debate, totally biased reporting favouring one side or the other, and an outcome that was reasonably predictable and certain.

Now what a sideshow. There are some seriously deranged dudes trying to get us to vote for them so they can get their weird view of New Zealand utopia.

How did we let the tail wag the dog? Eighty per cent of voters vote for two sensible parties that could govern us reasonably (actually just one as the other says sorry too often).
The other 20 per cent is the lunatic fringe. It is all about more tax and more spending. At this rate there will be no one actually making a living from working it will all be coming from the Government based on the policy promises made.

Does it really just cost $3 million to buy Government protection from international laws? No wonder Winnie is so worried about overseas investors!

Or is $3m a fair price to ask for an inquiry about whether man actually landed on the moon, and to try to refute the theory of evolution.

Why do we entertain these crazy people and let them dominate the political process? New Zealand has moved from the can do country, where anything was achievable to the most regulated, bigoted, welfare dependent country in the world.

Farmers need to be very aware of the consequences if there is a change of government to the loony Left.

The big one is a water tax. Basically this will be set at a level that makes farming with water very risky.

This will be a take or pay tax, so if it rains you will still pay even if the irrigators are off. And sheep farmers in the hill country don't get too smug as you will be paying as well.

The old piston pump that chugs away for stock water and house water in the dry summers will now cost a lot more than just power and the odd repair bill.

Then there is a carbon tax, or ETS or whatever crazy name it is given. Eight cents/kg milk solids, and nothing for sheep farmers.

Although, once sheep farmers think about having a good year that will taxed as well -so watch out.

And to cap it all off a Capital Gains Tax. So if by luck you have farmed your way through all of these taxes, developed your land, invested in it to improve production and want to retire, whammo 15 per cent will be taken by the government.

There goes succession, and with the Left stopping foreigners buying in New Zealand, banning them from living here, there goes our export markets and any chance of paying any tax.

Add in swimming standards for all waterways and the costs are astronomical. This policy means that the sulphur lakes in Rotorua will need to be cleaned up so people can swim in them.

Ludicrous and sums up the slogan politics that we have to put up with. So congratulations on being a smart successful farmer, vote wrong and look forward to becoming a peasant farmer.
? The Offal Pit is a contributed piece whose identity is a closely guarded secret. It does not reflect the views or policies of Federated Farmers.