Part 3 of a three part interview with George Ridley.
If you haven't already, you may want to read
Part 1.
A new direction is urgently needed, but what options are there? Some suggestions:
A shift in taxation
Shift taxes from things that are good to things that are bad, such as
consumption of resources, pollution and waste.
Tax on use of the common resources
Tax use of the earth's resources of land, air, water and minerals in
recognition that these should be shared equitably with the present and
future generations.
Land tax
A land tax should be instituted which is progressive. All cultures
place
a high value on land. In Western societies agricultural technology
has led
to massive migration from country to city. In the city people have
relied
on business to supply jobs to maintain their livelihoods. For many
this no
longer holds. A land tax would allow the public, as a whole, to get
some
benefit from the land which is a major natural resource like air and
water.
In New Zealand consideration would need to be given to issues arising
from the Treaty of Waitangi.
"Experts" in economics consider this to be the tax with the fewest
distortions.
A universal basic income
Give a universal basic income (UBI) to everyone in recognition of the
value
of unpaid work, whether in the home, in birthing, in nurturing, in
voluntary work and as a share in the commons.
Energy tax
Institute an energy tax as an incentive to economise in the use of
energy.
This impacts more on the affluent than on the poor. It should lead
to a
lessening of transport congestion. It should help conserve
non-renewable
resources and move technology towards renewables.
Shift from GDP as a measure of society's well-being. Taxes should be
applied at source wherever possible. A good starting place would be
a
carbon tax on coal, hydrocarbon fuels and natural gas. such finite
resources as natural gas, LPG, petroleum and coal. These resources of
the
planet are a commons which should be shared equitably with everyone.
Those
who are trying to keep these assets as their own should be prevented
from
doing so or made to pay in some way. The Universal Basic Income
would
ensure that everyone has a share.
Tax on alcohol, drugs and tobacco
Increase taxes on alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Cannabis should be
treated
consistently with alcohol and tobacco and controlled with regulations
and
taxes. These taxes should be used to raise revenue as well as to
discourage harmful effects.
Changes to be made as a package
George believes that the whole range of changes would need to be
treated as
a package, even though they might take some years to implement fully.
To increase taxes on energy without introducing UBI would be unfair on
those on low incomes.
All people are entitled to a share of the planet's resources.
but no
person nor corporation is entitled to free consumption of them nor the
freedom to pollute them. A tax on those who use or damage the air,
the
water, the land and the minerals should encourage their
preservation.
Removal of taxation on benign activities
Investment, savings and productivity which are benign should be
encouraged
by the removal of taxation on them. Income and profit taxes would be
reduced as the other taxes were implemented.
Tax on international financial transactions?
Possibly it would be worthwhile to investigate the Tobin Tax which
would be
a tax on international financial transactions to provide funds for
international bodies like the UN and to discourage short-term capital
movement.
Full implementation could be expected to lead to:
* A universal basic income which would mean a massive
simplification of
the benefit system with reduced costs and elimination of the poverty
and
unemployment trap.
* More equitable distribution of resources between men and women
* The elimination or at least a massive reduction in poverty
* A reduction in the crime that is associated with poverty, which
in
turn would result in reduced costs in policing
* A reduction in the taking of hard drugs as people's self
esteem
improved
* An improvement in school attendance as more parents would be at
home
and able to check on their children's activities
* Better home care as was highly valued in the code of social
responsibility
* A solution of the unemployment situation. As there would be no
need
for a minimum wage people could bargain for jobs which they would be
happy
to take. Employers would have to pay more for the unpleasant jobs,
but
employer-employee relations should improve and lead to efficiency
gains.
People would be able to take part-time jobs or work of short duration
without losing their benefit as at present.
* The removal of the stigma which some people feel is attached to
being
on the dole or the DPB
* Reduced stress in a society which offered security without
stigma.
* A reduction in the youth suicide rate.
* More scope for creativity
* A settlement in the superannuation debate
* Recognition of the work of unpaid work
* Resolution of the difficulties over de facto or partnership
relations.
Why is it urgent for changes to be made?
The longer we wait before changing direction the harder it will be to
make
the changes.
Why should New Zealand lead the way?
Interest in these changes is worldwide, and New Zealand is a small
country
and in a good position to set an example.
How would the people of New Zealand react to the changes?
There would be a lot of resistance to the changes in the beginning,
but
George believes that if we embrace them with courage it would be a
good
foundation for the future of all people and the planet on which we
live.
