An Independent Commissioner?

The new Children's Commissioner, Dr Cindy Kiro, has already nailed her political colours firmly to the mast by revealing to Janet Wilson on Radio Pacific yesterday that she thought Scandinavian countries had a far better approach to child poverty.

According to Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a parliamentary review of the DPB, "Scandinavian countries have extremely high tax burdens to pay for extensive social policies. Denmark, for instance, has 50 percent direct tax and an estimated further 20 percent in sales and excise taxes. This is the cost of an egalitarian society."

"Is it worth it?" Mitchell asked. "Denmark is now struggling with a very shaky welfare state. Who would blame their youngsters, who are faced with losing so much of their earned income, for wanting to leave that country? One of the proposals to keep them at home to contribute to the upkeep of Denmark's 'egalitarianism' is to bar them from leaving unless they repay the cost of their education first. Sounds like Denmark's becoming something of a prison."

"Fighting child poverty would be better approached by encouraging families to be independent, have initiative and work hard; to stay together; by supporting policies that would see the economy grow. When the economy grows, everybody benefits, including children."

"If Dr Kiro genuinely cares about children she should be advocating for ALL children. Why should some face a future burden of carrying many? The current generation is already having to repay student loans, raise their own families and concurrently fund the governments biggest bill - welfare."

"More redistribution of earned income isn't the answer."

Lindsay Mitchell

Petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB

(petition forms available from www.liberalvalues.org.nz) e-mail dandl.mitchell@clear.net.nz

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