I've recently been talking to experts on charities and taxation. The message to government is clear - keep your greedy controlling fingers off them, and leave charities alone.
The family is the most important institution we have in society! Whoever upholds & promotes that is worthy of support & recognition! Family in this case being a biological 'mum & dad, & their kids'! Gen 1:26-28, Gen 2:24
The stronger & more loving families are, then the less social problems we will have including crime, & therefore a more productive & happy society!
Most issues we have are due to 'dysfunctional families', which in of itself is a pretty 'broad demographic'!
We need to be more focused on preparing people for married life, raising kids, budgeting, & being responsible citizens who understand how a democracy works!
In this current environment we are seeing people in 'positions of power' having biases & particular ideological preferences that undermine & cancel those with different views, without good reason!
The 'conservative' voice in Parliament is almost non-existent! If we just become focused on material things, ignoring our spiritual nature & the need for righteousness & justice, we will become a divided & hostile nation as we see happening already!
Self-control & discipline, morality & ethics, the truth, are necessities for a society to function properly, & productively!
If we compromise, acquiesce to 'bullies' & their 'ideological agendas', then we will also fail!
The RCR interview was so eye opening for me! Please listen to it Buffy…I’ve worked for a charity in admin and also worked for business…both hard but both much needed in our world! Taxes are sure too much in NZ already! Seems they can print money but keep putting more taxes on all of the hard working people of NZ. The govts agenda is clear!! Control is the word that is making me feel sick!🤒
Many years ago, a good political sociologist trend of mine came up with a schema which in his mind presented the last 2500 years of a key human social dynamic.
Stage one sees what we shall call the religious for the moment as the primary framework which arranged human society. Within the framework was everything else: politics, family, military warfare, trades and guilds, et cetera.
Stage two sees a movement starting in the middle ages that separates politics from religion, state and church. The first to write about this was a man called Marsilius of Padua. This framework gets enshrined in the United States Constitution at the end of the 18th century.
Stage three erupts with the French revolution and the likes of the French utopian socialists who wish everything to pass through a political prism. All human reality is political! Sounds very familiar, since that is where most current ideological forces lie.
Of course like all schemas, this is too abstract and simplistic but it helps to explain an awful lot that has gone on down through the ages. Nor is it simply a case of sequential ages. Values and perspectives get in fact all mixed up so that what some call religion others castigate as superstition.
The crux of course is every single human being and every single human culture inhabits frameworks of one kind or another. The trick is to cultivate a degree of self transcendence, in order to better sift and critically evaluate reality with a capital R alongside such perspectives.
So; when the values of the National party change seemingly to take control of charities, once more, we see an uncritical exercise of power … nor will this aid at all actual delivery of goods and services to those in need! As for the Supreme Court and its staggering overreach – parliament must attempt to do something about it otherwise our political system of checks and balances will seriously fall apart.
As a very hard working small business taxpayer, I would dearly like charities and charitable trusts to define by %, what portion of their income is charity and what is business. This reflection may help them understand paying a portion of their business tax is appropriate instead of expecting the hardworking struggling tax payer to carry the load by subsidising those pseudo charities. What about some charity for us?
They've tried that before. I think they call it 'unrelated business income tax' or UBIT. I'm told it's pretty much a mess/disaster whereever it's been tried e.g. the USA. An upcoming podcast touches on this and I will share via Substack too.
It’s still worth revisiting as the balances have changed. No financial wizz can tell me that Sanitarium is a full charity? Or Ngai Tahu with 71+ companies, the Brethren’s? They all have a significant portion of business that profit and doesn’t get given back to the people.
God's Purpose of Creation was to establish sinless families beginning with Adam & Eve in the Garden!
Through 'obeying & keeping' God's Word, therefore embodying the Word, mankind would have established God's Kingdom, the veritable 'Kingdom of God on earth', Mt 6:33, at the dawn of human history!
We didn't, & so began the long history of 'restoration & salvation', salvaging that which was lost! Hence the rise of religion!
The purpose of religion has been to reconnect man to God, His Will, therefore His Original Purpose of Creation.
How:
Mt 6:33, Mt 6:9-10, Mt 28:18-20, Jn 17:20-23, Ezek 37:7-10 = Is 9:6-7, Dan 7:27 + Ezra 1, Hag 1:12-15 = Gen 1:27-28 = God's Kingdom!
This simple Biblical Template is the 'formula' to achieve that!
Without taking ACTION, belief in God & Jesus is meaningless! Dan 11:32, Rom 2:13, Lk 8:21, James 1:22-25, Rev 20:12, Rev 3:1-3
There is no salvation if we don't ACT, just as there is 'no house' if we don't build it! It's that simple!
Even if atheists take action, they will 'blessed' accordingly, as was Tamar; Gen 38, Rahab; James 2:25, the Centurion; Mt 8:5-13 & non-believers; Rom 2:6-16
Remember, Abraham was the son of an idol maker, Terah!
Right now, the 'law of spiritual entropy' has taken hold, because those who believe in God & righteousness have allowed 'false gods & religions' to be brought into the 'temple', into the nation, as in Cultural Marxism, LGBTQ dystopia, moral relativism!
As a nation, we have to fight back against it, including what the government is doing that doesn't represent nor reflect the will of the people!
The people are being 'led by their noses' regarding many issues! That is, forced into compliance against their will, as are some politicians who have to tow the Party line contrary to their own conscience!
Our nation is being subverted by people with agendas that 'supersede & ignore' the 'Will of the People'!
Parliament for decades has been passing Laws that were not supported by the people, & therefore they had no mandate to do so!
That is why we are in a mess, because Democracy has been subverted by hidden agendas & activists!
E.g. the recent 'Treaty Principles Bill' being voted against without any reasoned argument for doing so! Only rhetoric, fear mongering, & irrational statements of outrage being made by the Left, & the Right 'keeping mum'!
This is a clear subversion of anything remotely resembling Democracy!
As for 'submissions' vs a 'referendum', the outcomes are historically totally different!
Furthermore, the whole submission process needs to be looked at, as much as the 2020 US Election, which it will be!
If people aren't engaged in the Democratic process beyond voting every 3 years, "Houston, we have a problem"!
'Charity' begins at home, but it doesn't end there!
I actually think that deregistering all charities should be the option rather than cherry picking which ones. For some charities, they will be free from the shackles of government and able to direct their energy fully to their mission e.g. Family First , without interference or threats from the government of the day. I think if this happens, charities that employ staff rather than having volunteers will be affected the most. In a true sense of charity, real charities would thrive.
I think cherry picking is the current problem, as we have seen with the likes of Family First v. Greenpeace (or other groups active in lobbying for change). For me, it's more about being hands off - as long as a charity is seeking it's good, then we don't need much interference at all.
I question why we need to have charitable status for any group?
There are some charities that I personally view as little more as a pressure group mining unfair profits or a business 'hiding' in plain sight. No doubt others would think the same of charities that I'm in favour of.
I'd like to see them all varying 'tax status situations' abolished for simplicity and clarity.
I think we want to ultimately avoid picking and choosing based on whether we like them or not. I'm very much a hands off person in this space, as the Substack probably indicates. To become a charity requires a few conditions are met (and these are well-established) but also the financial reporting requirements. This is all very public so if a charity is mis-spending, it can be seen easily e.g. the current questions around the Waiperara Trust
The family is the most important institution we have in society! Whoever upholds & promotes that is worthy of support & recognition! Family in this case being a biological 'mum & dad, & their kids'! Gen 1:26-28, Gen 2:24
The stronger & more loving families are, then the less social problems we will have including crime, & therefore a more productive & happy society!
Most issues we have are due to 'dysfunctional families', which in of itself is a pretty 'broad demographic'!
We need to be more focused on preparing people for married life, raising kids, budgeting, & being responsible citizens who understand how a democracy works!
In this current environment we are seeing people in 'positions of power' having biases & particular ideological preferences that undermine & cancel those with different views, without good reason!
The 'conservative' voice in Parliament is almost non-existent! If we just become focused on material things, ignoring our spiritual nature & the need for righteousness & justice, we will become a divided & hostile nation as we see happening already!
Self-control & discipline, morality & ethics, the truth, are necessities for a society to function properly, & productively!
If we compromise, acquiesce to 'bullies' & their 'ideological agendas', then we will also fail!
Yep, a reason why activists target family. As Burke once wrote, the family is like a little platoon.
The RCR interview was so eye opening for me! Please listen to it Buffy…I’ve worked for a charity in admin and also worked for business…both hard but both much needed in our world! Taxes are sure too much in NZ already! Seems they can print money but keep putting more taxes on all of the hard working people of NZ. The govts agenda is clear!! Control is the word that is making me feel sick!🤒
Juliet was great; her insights were appreciated.
Many years ago, a good political sociologist trend of mine came up with a schema which in his mind presented the last 2500 years of a key human social dynamic.
Stage one sees what we shall call the religious for the moment as the primary framework which arranged human society. Within the framework was everything else: politics, family, military warfare, trades and guilds, et cetera.
Stage two sees a movement starting in the middle ages that separates politics from religion, state and church. The first to write about this was a man called Marsilius of Padua. This framework gets enshrined in the United States Constitution at the end of the 18th century.
Stage three erupts with the French revolution and the likes of the French utopian socialists who wish everything to pass through a political prism. All human reality is political! Sounds very familiar, since that is where most current ideological forces lie.
Of course like all schemas, this is too abstract and simplistic but it helps to explain an awful lot that has gone on down through the ages. Nor is it simply a case of sequential ages. Values and perspectives get in fact all mixed up so that what some call religion others castigate as superstition.
The crux of course is every single human being and every single human culture inhabits frameworks of one kind or another. The trick is to cultivate a degree of self transcendence, in order to better sift and critically evaluate reality with a capital R alongside such perspectives.
So; when the values of the National party change seemingly to take control of charities, once more, we see an uncritical exercise of power … nor will this aid at all actual delivery of goods and services to those in need! As for the Supreme Court and its staggering overreach – parliament must attempt to do something about it otherwise our political system of checks and balances will seriously fall apart.
But enough from me!
“Trend” is of course predictive twaddle for friend. Apologies!
As a very hard working small business taxpayer, I would dearly like charities and charitable trusts to define by %, what portion of their income is charity and what is business. This reflection may help them understand paying a portion of their business tax is appropriate instead of expecting the hardworking struggling tax payer to carry the load by subsidising those pseudo charities. What about some charity for us?
They've tried that before. I think they call it 'unrelated business income tax' or UBIT. I'm told it's pretty much a mess/disaster whereever it's been tried e.g. the USA. An upcoming podcast touches on this and I will share via Substack too.
Thanks for reply.
It’s still worth revisiting as the balances have changed. No financial wizz can tell me that Sanitarium is a full charity? Or Ngai Tahu with 71+ companies, the Brethren’s? They all have a significant portion of business that profit and doesn’t get given back to the people.
I think we should abolish the special tax status of charities completely.
Yes you are right
That would be absolutely grand!!!
The real charities like Lions and Rotary etc could apply for an exemption !!!
People ‘in the know’, should have the opportunity to oppose certain charities having an exemption
Charity, love, begins at home!
God's Purpose of Creation was to establish sinless families beginning with Adam & Eve in the Garden!
Through 'obeying & keeping' God's Word, therefore embodying the Word, mankind would have established God's Kingdom, the veritable 'Kingdom of God on earth', Mt 6:33, at the dawn of human history!
We didn't, & so began the long history of 'restoration & salvation', salvaging that which was lost! Hence the rise of religion!
The purpose of religion has been to reconnect man to God, His Will, therefore His Original Purpose of Creation.
How:
Mt 6:33, Mt 6:9-10, Mt 28:18-20, Jn 17:20-23, Ezek 37:7-10 = Is 9:6-7, Dan 7:27 + Ezra 1, Hag 1:12-15 = Gen 1:27-28 = God's Kingdom!
This simple Biblical Template is the 'formula' to achieve that!
Without taking ACTION, belief in God & Jesus is meaningless! Dan 11:32, Rom 2:13, Lk 8:21, James 1:22-25, Rev 20:12, Rev 3:1-3
There is no salvation if we don't ACT, just as there is 'no house' if we don't build it! It's that simple!
Even if atheists take action, they will 'blessed' accordingly, as was Tamar; Gen 38, Rahab; James 2:25, the Centurion; Mt 8:5-13 & non-believers; Rom 2:6-16
Remember, Abraham was the son of an idol maker, Terah!
Right now, the 'law of spiritual entropy' has taken hold, because those who believe in God & righteousness have allowed 'false gods & religions' to be brought into the 'temple', into the nation, as in Cultural Marxism, LGBTQ dystopia, moral relativism!
As a nation, we have to fight back against it, including what the government is doing that doesn't represent nor reflect the will of the people!
The people are being 'led by their noses' regarding many issues! That is, forced into compliance against their will, as are some politicians who have to tow the Party line contrary to their own conscience!
Our nation is being subverted by people with agendas that 'supersede & ignore' the 'Will of the People'!
Parliament for decades has been passing Laws that were not supported by the people, & therefore they had no mandate to do so!
That is why we are in a mess, because Democracy has been subverted by hidden agendas & activists!
E.g. the recent 'Treaty Principles Bill' being voted against without any reasoned argument for doing so! Only rhetoric, fear mongering, & irrational statements of outrage being made by the Left, & the Right 'keeping mum'!
This is a clear subversion of anything remotely resembling Democracy!
As for 'submissions' vs a 'referendum', the outcomes are historically totally different!
Furthermore, the whole submission process needs to be looked at, as much as the 2020 US Election, which it will be!
If people aren't engaged in the Democratic process beyond voting every 3 years, "Houston, we have a problem"!
'Charity' begins at home, but it doesn't end there!
I actually think that deregistering all charities should be the option rather than cherry picking which ones. For some charities, they will be free from the shackles of government and able to direct their energy fully to their mission e.g. Family First , without interference or threats from the government of the day. I think if this happens, charities that employ staff rather than having volunteers will be affected the most. In a true sense of charity, real charities would thrive.
I think cherry picking is the current problem, as we have seen with the likes of Family First v. Greenpeace (or other groups active in lobbying for change). For me, it's more about being hands off - as long as a charity is seeking it's good, then we don't need much interference at all.
Thanks Simon.
I question why we need to have charitable status for any group?
There are some charities that I personally view as little more as a pressure group mining unfair profits or a business 'hiding' in plain sight. No doubt others would think the same of charities that I'm in favour of.
I'd like to see them all varying 'tax status situations' abolished for simplicity and clarity.
Cheers
I think we want to ultimately avoid picking and choosing based on whether we like them or not. I'm very much a hands off person in this space, as the Substack probably indicates. To become a charity requires a few conditions are met (and these are well-established) but also the financial reporting requirements. This is all very public so if a charity is mis-spending, it can be seen easily e.g. the current questions around the Waiperara Trust