Oddbean

Oscar Sims, the Auckland Central Labour candidate, dropped this clanger; "We're not doing a wealth tax... it's not the right time for it, there isn't the public support for it. That's why the Green Party are polling at 11%." https://theworkinggroup.podbean.com/e/nz-taxpayers-union-and-working-group-election-debate-auckland-central/ Wrong, wrong, and wrong. First, both Greens and TPM leaders said during the Powerbrokers debate that it's a bottom line. So if Labour want to remain in government, they *are* doing a wealth tax. (1/?)

@0deb4fad > So if you don't get one, Labours out and National is in? Read my post again. > both Greens and TPM leaders said during the Powerbrokers debate that it's a bottom line So is Labour have the numbers, and... > want to remain in government, they are doing a wealth tax

@0deb4fad > So you're happy to go to the benches if you don't get your way. Thanks for letting us know You seem to think I have some say in this. I'm not involved in either party. I'm just reporting what's been put on the public record. What's your point here?

Second, polls have consistently shown a clear majority support taxes targeted at the wealthy. In May, with support for the idea from Labour's own Finance Minister: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/05/newshub-reid-research-poll-kiwis-support-the-government-introducing-wealth-tax.html In August, with support from Labour's Minister of Trade: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/08/newshub-reid-research-poll-results-do-kiwis-support-chris-hipkins-decision-to-rule-out-wealth-tax.html Despite the NatACTs raging against it for months, even 74% of *ACT* voters polled in September said they support it: https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300979367/new-survey-shows-widespread-support-for-taxes-on-capital-gains-and-windfall-profits There is a clear public consensus in support of wealth taxes. (2/?)

Thirdly, let's say poll results are determined by opinions on wealth tax, which they're obviously not. When Hipkins ruled out wealth tax in mid-July, Labour were polling in the low 30s. Since then, they've dropped to the mid-20s. The Greens, in contrast, were polling 9-10% in early July. They climbed to 13-14% in the last 2 polls, after campaigning furiously on the importance of a wealth tax. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2023_New_Zealand_general_election So, whose polling has been hurt by their position on wealth taxes? (3/3)

That was an inspiring debate. All four of the relatively young Auckland Central candidates argued their position with confidence and a minimum of squabbling. Still got a few comments on the Young Leaders Debate that I couldn't post on Friday due to technical difficulties. Then the Kaupapa Māori Debate and the second Chrisfest hosted by Mikey Sherman to catch up on. #NZPolitics #Election2033

@adc6f0d6 > where is the best place to watch these? I wish I could tell you they were on a server run by the organisation hosting the debate. A server running PeerTube or some other video hosting software compatible with the fediverse. Sadly, the only place I know to watch them using Free Code software is YouTube. I'm using LibreTube (Android, installed with @12a5c038) and YewTu.be (web, an instance of Invidio.us) to search the YT database and play them. (1/2)

@adc6f0d6 > where is the best place to watch these? I'm not sure if there's video of them online. I listened to them as a podcast (see the link in the OP). I wish I could tell you they were on a PeerTube server run by TheDailyBlog.org.nz/ The Working Group/. Or a server running or some other video hosting software compatible with the fediverse. In fact I'd like to see an election debate channel on a video server run by the Electoral Commission, with video of every public debate held.

@adc6f0d6 > I did end up finding a few (like the youth debate) on TVNZ+ Oh sorry, I thought you meant The Working Group debates in particular. The Powerbrokers will debate was on TV3, so it will probably be on whatever DRM-encumbered streaming service TV3 provides. Sadly, the only place I know to watch the TV ones using Free Code software is YouTube. I found them using LibreTube (Android, installed with @12a5c038) and YewTu.be (web, an instance of Invidio.us).

@58db300d I'm definitely still learning about the parties and my context is US politics, but the Chrises seem to be two sides of the same neo-liberal coin. Some of the right leaning parties feel like GOP light for sure. The Greens and Te Pāti Māori really stand out as the main parties offering anything different and progressive.

@adc6f0d6 > I'm definitely still learning about the parties and my context is US politics Intriguing, are you living in Aotearoa, or just intrigued at a distance? You might also find these useful: https://policy.nz/2023 https://votecompass.tvnz.co.nz/nz2023 https://politicalcompass.org/nz2023 > The Greens and Te Pāti Māori really stand out as the main parties offering anything different and progressive I would add TOP to that list. #NZPolitics #Election2023

@adc6f0d6 > just moved to Aotearoa in March [from the US] Haere mai! You're in good company. @d72d5211 did that a couple of decades ago and never looked back? Do you have a matrix account? There's a few rooms in the matrix of interest to local techies. Particularly the NZ Open Source Society room..

@adc6f0d6 > Do we have a local provider you'd recommend for creating an account? There's mtrx.nz, which is run by the same people as mastodon.nz. There's also iridescent.nz, which @d72d5211 runs. I have no hesitation in recommending either.

@58db300d @adc6f0d6 our Matrix is matrix.iridescent.nz (with the Element front end at chat.iridescent.nz)... I'd be happy to make you a user if you'd like (we don't have open rego due to the spam risk)...

@adc6f0d6 Having just sold you on matrix, I ought to warn you that the software is a bit... temperamental at present. The core developers (Element.io) are in the middle of a big sprint to deliver Matrix 2.0, and implement all the changes it involves in dev versions of the server and apps (eg Element X): https://matrix.org/blog/2023/09/matrix-2-0/ But this has happened once before (Matrix 1.0 and Riot/ RiotX), and performance got *much* better once that work was shipped. Hopefully it will again. @d72d5211

@adc6f0d6 Having just sold you on @11a745dc, I ought to warn you it can be a bit... temperamental as present. The core devs (Element.io) are in the middle of a big sprint on stablizing Matrix 2.0, and making all the changes that involves in dev versions of the servers and apps (eg Element X). https://matrix.org/blog/2023/09/matrix-2-0/ Bit this happened before (Matrix 1.0 and Riot/ RiotX) and performance got *much* better when this work shipped. Hopefully it will again. @d72d5211