PRESS RELEASE
LIBERTARIANZ
Local Government
Is Theft OK If The Majority Agrees?
Libertarianz spokesman Stephen Berry today rebutted comments by Richard Prebble regarding rates rises by local councils.
"Richard Prebble says that ACT will 'look at the feasibility of a private member's bill to amend the Local Government
Act whereby ratepayers can request a referendum on any rate rise greater than the rate of inflation.'" Berry expressed
his disappointment, saying, "Is this the best we are going to get out of this newly 'liberal' party?"
"There is no denying that it is an absolute disgrace for the Auckland Regional Council to be demanding rates bills
inflated by up to several hundred percent with less than two weeks to pay," Berry said, "and I think that Mr. Prebble
will agree. Unfortunately, that is where the agreement ends." The ACT party is positioning itself as opposed to rates
increase without due process, which Berry is not impressed with at all. "All true liberals instinctively know taxation
to be theft, which is why the Libertarianz party stands up and loudly declares it to be so."
A referendum is conventionally seen as the fairest way to deal with volatile issues, especially in a democratic country.
Berry says, "The use of democracy does not make any form of theft legitimate. No one has an automatic right to my money,
regardless of whether ten, fifteen, or even ninety percent of voters think that they do. Every cent that I earn belongs
to me, to be spent as I see fit and that goes for any other person who lives in a truly free society." Berry finished,
"Only Libertarianz recognises that the money in your pocket is truly your own - as opposed to the 'liberals' in ACT, who
seek only to steal slightly less from you than other parliamentary parties."
Libertarianz - More Freedom Less Government
www.libertarianz.org.nz
ENDS
Stephen Berry
Libertarianz spokesman
(09) 6292750 or 0210375720
stephenberrynz@hotmail.com