Comments on: Kerr is a contrarian, even with himself http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/ hopping along the corridors of power Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:41:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ari http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40180 Ari Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:12:36 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40180 The Greens' policy is most certainly friendly to business growth, as it is intended as tax-neutral overall. What it is unfriendly to is pollution and lack of responsibility for external costs. The Greens’ policy is most certainly friendly to business growth, as it is intended as tax-neutral overall. What it is unfriendly to is pollution and lack of responsibility for external costs.

]]> By: geoffp http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40170 geoffp Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:15:57 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40170 I predicted in 2005 that the people behind the "Axe Carbon Tax" campaign would eventually be begging the government to introduce a carbon tax - once they'd had a good look at the alternative. Alas, they didn't realise their blunder quickly enough to stop work on the ETS going ahead. It would be politically impossible now to revert to a carbon tax (even though it really is a better idea), because its natural champions are the very people who professed not to want it three years ago. Oh well. At least we'll have a price on carbon. That's the main thing. I predicted in 2005 that the people behind the “Axe Carbon Tax” campaign would eventually be begging the government to introduce a carbon tax - once they’d had a good look at the alternative. Alas, they didn’t realise their blunder quickly enough to stop work on the ETS going ahead.

It would be politically impossible now to revert to a carbon tax (even though it really is a better idea), because its natural champions are the very people who professed not to want it three years ago.

Oh well. At least we’ll have a price on carbon. That’s the main thing.

]]> By: BucolicOldSirHenry http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40135 BucolicOldSirHenry Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:09:33 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40135 Sorry, enemy, but Kerr was vociferous in his opposition to a carbon tax when it was mooted a few years ago. Now that we have an ETS, he's changed his mind (go look at his speeches/columns archived at the Roundtable web site). You clearly have a short memory. Nothing wrong with changing your mind in the face of new evidence, of course. But I'd have a higher opinion of Kerr's probity in this matter if his organisation wasn't so keen to fly in people like Nigel Lawson and Bjorn Lomborg. Sorry, enemy, but Kerr was vociferous in his opposition to a carbon tax when it was mooted a few years ago. Now that we have an ETS, he’s changed his mind (go look at his speeches/columns archived at the Roundtable web site). You clearly have a short memory.

Nothing wrong with changing your mind in the face of new evidence, of course. But I’d have a higher opinion of Kerr’s probity in this matter if his organisation wasn’t so keen to fly in people like Nigel Lawson and Bjorn Lomborg.

]]> By: enemyofthestate http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40131 enemyofthestate Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:25:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40131 Agreed. The Greens' tax policy is hardly conducive to business growth, therein lies the problem. Nothing for businesses whatsoever - hence why Kerr's proviso of tax cuts in return for a carbon tax would indeed require such compensatory steps as income and company tax rate reductions. Hence it most certainly not a 'flip-flop', and the disingenuous Frog knows this full well. Agreed. The Greens’ tax policy is hardly conducive to business growth, therein lies the problem. Nothing for businesses whatsoever - hence why Kerr’s proviso of tax cuts in return for a carbon tax would indeed require such compensatory steps as income and company tax rate reductions.
Hence it most certainly not a ‘flip-flop’, and the disingenuous Frog knows this full well.

]]> By: kahikatea http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40101 kahikatea Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:30:52 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40101 # enemyofthestate Says: March 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm > Plus you have conveniently ignored the words ‘at least initially’ and ‘which would allow other taxes to be reduced’. Those provisos aren’t exactly the words of someone who’s suddenly become a supporter of the 2005 carbon tax plan. the Green Party always supported the carbon tax with the proviso that other taxes be reduced at the same time. However, Roger Kerr may have a different idea of what those tax cuts should look like. I prefer the certainty of a carbon tax, but I thought Roger Kerr would prefer the cap and trade scheme, as it makes the NZ price of carbon the same as the world price. # enemyofthestate Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm

> Plus you have conveniently ignored the words ‘at least initially’ and ‘which would allow other taxes to be reduced’. Those provisos aren’t exactly the words of someone who’s suddenly become a supporter of the 2005 carbon tax plan.

the Green Party always supported the carbon tax with the proviso that other taxes be reduced at the same time. However, Roger Kerr may have a different idea of what those tax cuts should look like.

I prefer the certainty of a carbon tax, but I thought Roger Kerr would prefer the cap and trade scheme, as it makes the NZ price of carbon the same as the world price.

]]> By: Ari http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40050 Ari Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:46:20 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40050 Bryce: Not really, the Greens have been pretty consistent as I remember it on saying that without significant shrinkage of emission caps and quick entry of key emitters into the scheme, an ETS is pretty useless. The scrapping of the emissions tax, instead of applying it universally, was about the worst failure of environmental policy the Government has made thus far. Bryce: Not really, the Greens have been pretty consistent as I remember it on saying that without significant shrinkage of emission caps and quick entry of key emitters into the scheme, an ETS is pretty useless.

The scrapping of the emissions tax, instead of applying it universally, was about the worst failure of environmental policy the Government has made thus far.

]]> By: enemyofthestate http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40016 enemyofthestate Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:57:50 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40016 Good grief Frog, that is not in any way a 'flip-flop'. Kerr never said it was desirable to have a tax, just preferable to the ETS in that it would give more certainty to business. Plus you have conveniently ignored the words 'at least initially' and 'which would allow other taxes to be reduced'. Those provisos aren't exactly the words of someone who's suddenly become a supporter of the 2005 carbon tax plan. Good grief Frog, that is not in any way a ‘flip-flop’. Kerr never said it was desirable to have a tax, just preferable to the ETS in that it would give more certainty to business.
Plus you have conveniently ignored the words ‘at least initially’ and ‘which would allow other taxes to be reduced’. Those provisos aren’t exactly the words of someone who’s suddenly become a supporter of the 2005 carbon tax plan.

]]> By: Bryce http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40015 Bryce Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:41:54 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40015 Hang on. Hasn't the Green Party effectively flip-flopped as well on the idea of a carbon tax? I seem to remember the Green Party being enthusiastic about the ETS despite their former strongly-voiced preference for a carbon tax. Suddenly since then the Green Party has gone fairly quiet on a carbon tax. Does that make the Green Party opportunistic too? Or just sensibly pragmatic? Bryce www.liberation.org.nz Hang on. Hasn’t the Green Party effectively flip-flopped as well on the idea of a carbon tax? I seem to remember the Green Party being enthusiastic about the ETS despite their former strongly-voiced preference for a carbon tax. Suddenly since then the Green Party has gone fairly quiet on a carbon tax. Does that make the Green Party opportunistic too? Or just sensibly pragmatic?

Bryce
http://www.liberation.org.nz

]]> By: Tushara Kodikara http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40007 Tushara Kodikara Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:13:24 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/28/kerr-is-a-contrarian-even-with-himself/#comment-40007 In a way, he is right.. Labour should have used a tax, but gees... at least he doesn't deny climate change... that would be far worse. In a way, he is right.. Labour should have used a tax, but gees… at least he doesn’t deny climate change… that would be far worse.

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