australian capatalism

BIBLIOGRAPHY A Current Affair with Ray Martin Media Transcript No. 53, 1998, "Tax Reform" (online). Available at URL: http:/www.taxreform.gov.au/media/tsr053.htm (Accessed 25 March 1999). ACOSS Media Release 1998, "Two million living in poverty", (online). Available at URL: http:/www.acoss.org.au/media/1998/poverty_facts.htm (Accessed 30 April 1999). ACOSS Media Release 1999, "ACOSS EXPOSES RAW NERVE: What the Treasurer giveth in tax cuts he mostly taketh away in GST", (online). Available at URL: http:/www.acoss.org.au/media/1999/mr990215.htm (Accessed 30 April 1999). ACOSS Media Release 1999, "GST: a million worse off now, another million worse off late", (online). Available at URL: http:/www.acoss.org.au/media/1999/mr990413.htm (Accessed 30 April 1999). ACOSS Media Release 1999, "Tax figures show a divided Australia", (online). Available at URL: http:/www.acoss.org.au/media/1999/mr990317.htm (Accessed 30 April 1999). Anon 1999, "Senator wants rethink on GST compensation", The Daily Mercury, 22 April. P.16. Bennett, R. (1992) Australian Society and Government (5th ed.) Sydney: M.M. & B. Book Company. Macionis, J. and Plummer, K. (1997) Sociology a global introduction. London:Prentice Hall Europe. NTAA Media Release 1998, "GST and Education - Beware!", (online). Available at URL: http:/www.ntaa.com.au/07gstand.htm (Accessed 25 March 1999). NTAA Media Release 1998, "Kerry Packer Pays $2.87 In Tax", (online). Available at URL: http:/www.ntaa.com.au/10kerpac.htm (Accessed 25 March 1999). Sargent, M., Nilan, P. and Winter, G. (1997) The New Sociology for Australians. (4th ed.) South Melbourne: Addison, Wesley, Longman. The Howard Government's Plan for a New Tax System (1998), Tax Reform: not a new tax a new tax system, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service

e nation's wealth, while the bottom half owns a paltry 3%." On balance, does a capitalist economy promote a fair distribution of wealth and social power? I say not. Political support is gained by appealing to members of society with promises to act in their interests, more often directing this appeal to those individuals with wealth, social power and influence. The multi-million dollar advertising campaigns supporting the Federal Government's tax reform package and in particular the proposal of the Goods and Services Tax is funded by big businesses. The same big businesses that will benefit from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and that will benefit from the 30% cap on the Capital Gains Tax, an option being considered that can only strengthen the big businesses social power and capitalist ventures within Australian society. This supports the Marxists theory that states "Basically, the state always works in the interests of the dominant, ruling, economic class: it favours and supports 'capital'." (Macionis et al 1997, p.452) A media release issued Wednesday 14 October 1998 by the National Tax and Accountants Association in regard to the inequity of the proposed income tax system also supports the Marxist theory. According to Ray Regan, President of the National Tax and Accountants Association, "under a GST big businesses will continue to fly first class, travel around in their limousines, go on junket trips overseas and live a lavish lifestyle, but not pay one cent more tax". This is not a fair taxation system; an efficient taxation system should not be beneficial to some and not others. Bennett (1992, p.222) writes, "Politicians rarely confront the public face to face to discuss issues and policy" yet it is accepted practice in the Australian political arena. Instead of making an effort to understand issues too many people base their decisions on what they are told and accept this at face value, they do not question or seek out the underlying truths. An example of this is the initial media representation of the Goods and Services Tax exemptions. The government believes that to apply GST to education would discriminate against private providers (Th

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