DPF has posted the voting record for the Second Reading of the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. Highlights include Taito Phillip Field being the only Labour MP to oppose the bill (which is another reason to vote against him in Mangere), over half of supposedly "liberal" ACT opposing a liberal measure, and Don Brash - who had previously indicated that he would support the bill - again deciding to chase the bigot vote. Do we really need any more evidence that the guy has no principles beyond getting elected so he can cut taxes to the rich?
Kudos to Peter Dunne for standing by his principles in the face of his overwhelmingly traditionalist caucus, and to the Greens and Progressives, who were unanimous in support. It is now crystal clear which parties offer social liberals the most bang for their vote, and it isn't the opposition...
The tricky part will come when "relationships" are defined and determined by state welfare agencies in order to determine whether one qualifies for a benefit or not. Will Winz and the police actually come check your bedroom arrangements to categorise your relationship status? The solution is obvious: remove the silly rule that you cannot qualify for a benefit (or full superannuation) when you are living with someone in the nature of a marriage. But that will cost several $100 million and considering the aim of the Civil Union Bill was to cut that cost by removing the right to a benefit by all these unionised gay couples, the Government will hardly change those rules now. But it's another argument to remove your relationship status from the state's sights.
ReplyDeleteA Universal Basic Income would of course remove any need for benefit entitlement to relate to relationship status.
ReplyDeleteMake it so rich.
ReplyDeleteSo when is the march?
The people effected most directly by there not being a UB are not the unemployed it is the struggling people or families facing a 90% marginal tax rate. that sort of lower middle class (and even middle class propper) people are the darlings of society and the home of many swing votes a smart politician could realy get somthing going politically based on that.