Walter Brueggemann quote

A Love Affair With More - Walter Brueggemann
Though many of us are well intentioned, we have invested our lives in consumerism. We have a love affair with 'more'---and we will never have enough. Consumerism is not simply a marketing strategy. It has become a demonic spiritual force among us, and the theological question facing us is whether the Gospel has the power to help us withstand it.
Source: Christian Century, March 24, 1999, via Ministry of Money newsletter

Oliver is 3 months old today!

Rodney Hide's ultimatum

Silly old Rodney Hide - here's what you do when someone tries to corner you with an ultimatum (in this case Rodney has declared to the Prime Minister that if it is decided to have any 'Maori seats' on the Auckland Council and he is out as Local Government Minister) - SACK HIM NOW!

Whether there ends up being Maori seats or not (and I think there should be - this is the kind of way we honour the good principles of the Treaty of Waitangi) - he can't behave this way. He didn't get elected as the Government and he is lucky to have any voice at all. Sack him now!

And more... Hide is playing the Winston Peters game - being the populist, playing to people's prejudices... especially on race. Of course there is a constituency of people who are anti-Maori and who think that it is reasonable for the manuhiri (visitors) to dominate the tangata whenua (people of the land - Maori) - it is easy enough to build a base from these people. But Rodney has forgotten something important - he has been granted a place in the cabinet of the Government. The Government does not exist to appeal to disaffected constituents - the Government exists to serve the people - all the people. As Local Government Minister, Rodney has to look out for all NZers, and in this case, ensure that all of the people are served by leaders who will understand them. In a NZ, that means a partnership with Maori because we are in a treaty relationship. Maori should be at the table in the leadership of the proposed Auckland supercity for this is the context of NZ life - especially in a City Council that will be quite massive.

John Key, be warned - if you don't sack him now you will only have a worse Rodney on your back in a year or two. Anyway - he is a dictatorial Local Government Minister who doesn't seem to be interested in listening to the voices of those who are democratically elected to serve their towns and cities - and we need better than that. Sack him!