I appreciate the dark gifts of public relations. When politicians say: "NZ is not a tax haven because we ask people to tell us if they have one", it almost sounds like, they care, while actually not giving a rat's. Brilliant!
Not long ago I met a man who shared his inner thoughts on wealth, mostly his; with me, I'm guessing because I'm white and can sound plummy on a good day. He lauded New Zealand's laissez faire attitude to things financial. He had managed to pack all income into a trust to the point where he actually qualified for the unemployment benefit. Genius really. He used the word "free" a lot. Free trade. Free markets. Freedom, especially his own, was good. Rude people might ask for the freedom to expect that any civil society provide public goods paid for by, er ... tax. Not me. He had inherited millions and ploughed hundreds of thousands into profit disappearing "businesses" like vineyards and "a staff team-building centre", which sounded remarkably like a coastal bach to me. I always thought shouting things like; "Show me the money!" over and over again to win an argument to be a bit coarse, but I'm learning. It is all about the money. Ask the kid flipping burgers who pays more tax than the corporation who employs him. Even things like the Weet-Bix supplied for all those breakfast clubs that are so resented by those of us who prefer to blame parental inadequacy rather than a failing economic system is inspiring. What's particularly genius about successive politicians with their photos with prominent Seventh Day Adventists offering their product to schools, looking charitable, is that everyone forgets to ask why they don't pay tax, just like every other multi-million dollar revenue corporation in New Zealand. It's not like we really believe in public health or education anymore anyway. Which is what makes the National Party ties with the Exclusive Brethren so breathtakingly brilliant. Not only do they not pay tax; the public purse has to subsidise (around $15 million) for their private school system because the mainstream one isn't really good enough for their kids. At least the Brethrens are ardent supporters of the local liquor businesses. All that tax eradication and creating successful smear campaigns against any National opposition is thirsty work.
What's so hysterical about the Panamanian papers is everyone pretending to be worried about laundering money and tax evasion. Why would you bother with some dodgy law firm in central America when you can just pay your local law firm to set up tax avoidance mechanisms, sorry; asset protection, or just buy a house or five in Auckland and get a 75 per cent interest on which you pay no tax? What I really admire though is when politicians, property developers and bankers laud the benefits of a "level-playing field". Like it means anything in this country anymore. Like wealth is the currency of merit.