Gareth Morgan's Opportunities Party

What sort of political party calls itself Opportunities? It's a lame name, what a shame.

I visited their website and I was underwhelmed. They had one policy and that was to change tax, making it fairer. That's it, tax. They didn't have anything else. Note that when I say 'they' I'm pretty sure I'm talking about just one man and his ideas. I don't imagine any room exists for ideas that Mr Morgan doesn't agree with or hasn't thought of himself.

Why do I say that? Well remember when he used to write his columns, the one that appeared regularly in The Press in Christchurch and no doubt other publications? At the foot of each piece was a suggestion to go to Mr Morgan's website to discuss the issues. When I did that and expressed ideas that criticised Mr Morgan, I was summarily banned. I think I lasted one day on his site. Mr Morgan is not in favour of open debate. He's a sensitive soul.

Let's face it with regard to Mr Morgan. He's only notable for having bred someone good, and that good person is Sam Morgan, the founder of Trade Me. Gareth Morgan, who appears to promote himself as some kind of guru, has assailed the New Zealand public with his wackadoodle views, which in short amount to putting a bob each way and then popping up to say 'see I told you so' when whatever it is happens.

What was this latest whiz bang idea? I think it was that total assets should be taxed. A classic example of theory getting in the way of practical reality. Here's why such an idea is stupid:-

1. New Zealanders have been trained since forever to put their life savings into their house. You can't just go shifting the goal posts, people are not good at changing course and do not have the skill sets to make investment decisions apart from which house to buy;

2. What happens when there is yet another collapse? There have been seven major economic crises in NZ in my lifetime (do I need to list them?), and the only constant that has saved me and the rest of NZ from ruin was the safe haven of owning our own home, thank heavens it is not taxed apart from Rates;

3. If the tax is not paid, Inland Revenue will be foreclosing people's homes, the IRD could become the biggest seizer of Kiwis homes;

4. Farmers prices at the gate fluctuate, and farms are valuable immovable assets, if farmers are taxed on their total assets they'll be forced to play the financial markets, or set up businesses in towns where businesses are already closing their doors. This puts NZ's productive base in jeopardy;

5. Property prices go up and down, whereas income tends to rise, albeit slowly. The government tax take would fluctuate and create uncertainty with regard to basic services like defence, health and education;

6. Seeing as Auckland has the most valuable real estate, the policy is highly Auckland-centric;

7. Kiwis would be forced to deal with investment advisers which have a very dubious record.

The policy as developed by Morgan and his Opportunities party would have the opposite effect of that intended, it affords less opportunity for Kiwis. The practical effect would be to move control over many assets to so-called investment professionals, and dodgy shells set up to fleece the masses. The history of New Zealand is littered with shonk after shonk. The only thing Kiwis can do is buy as good a home as they can afford, they don't need people like Gareth Morgan looking to whittle away at what little nest egg they have.