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Capitalism is the act of attempting to derive benefit from the use of available resources (e.g. human, energy, financial, time etc). We are ALL capitalists to varying degrees, regardless of our view to who should be taking responsibility for actions & outcomes.
Xi Jinping & the CCP act in just as much (possibly even more) a capitalist manner than an Investment Banker in the Canary Islands, or TeslaGod & SBQ, for that matter.
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To assist further, once we cut out all the fluff, ask what do we 'know' so far?
- His net worth is >$10,000,000
- He owns a house which is mortgage free. Presumably this house won't be the cheapest in the lowest value suburb of ChCh? Regardless, he just like TeslaGod, will have experienced "massive financial gains" in recent times.
- He has various other investments, including equities (but not residential housing assets).
- During these "Everything Bubble" times the "massive financial gains" in equity markets have well & truly exceeded that of residential housing assets.
- He owns a Tourism based business, which up-to Covid times has provided good income & likely "massive financial gains".
Question: When he eventually moves that business on, for hopefully also "massive financial gains", will he stand by the standard he expects of residential Landlords and insist to pay a % of those gains to the State?
- He has given himself an Autobahn's width of wriggle room with his argument, by not clearly defining what his "massive financial gains" are in $ or % returns. Where has he drawn that line and which side of that line does he sit one wonders?
- That he hasn't proudly & boldly stated that he has stood by his beliefs & values & already actively acted on his belief that a CGT should be paid on any "massive financial gains" in NZ.
In short, SBQ seems to be in a very very good position financially. Clearly in NZ's top 1%.
And to be clear, I personally have no qualms with that per se, regardless of whether that financial wealth has primarily come through inheritance or through ethical 'hard/smart sweat & toil'. Well done!
But I certainly have issues with sincere or confused lefties (often called Chardonnay drinking socialists), who from their relative "privildged position of financial wealth", continue glibly postering on what standards are best for everyone else. All whilst somehow being exempt to the same standards & principles themselves!