Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Majoritarian democracy, it seems simple, but is it too simple?
Don Brash has quite clearly drawn his line in the sand, to see it, you will need to head 200 miles off shore. One New Zealand, no buts or maybes. "But I believe in plain speaking. So let me be blunt." said Dr Don, and he certainly was, click here for the full text of his speech to the Orewa Rotary Club.
This speech could strike a very positive note with what he has previously described as the "silent majority". Particularly for those who feel that a disputed reference to Sovereignty in a Treaty signed over 150 years ago can not over ride majoritarian democracy in modern day New Zealand. It is certainly appealing to think that we could go down this road and simply move on, but is that realistic?
Clark has come out and critiqued the speech labelling it as "divisive". Steady on Helen, patently separatist policies also tend to be divisive. When you can demonstrate that one group receiving more than another due to the colour of their skin is not divisive, I'll take you seriously. Perhaps you are waiting to turn us into a republic before you address broader constitutional issues?
Again I go back to what I think everyone is missing, sort out the Foreshore and the Seabed, and what's next?? The Treaty was designed and signed to establish a colony, a co-habitation agreement between a small group of people. How can that make its way into modern day policy making on issues a specific as health, education etc?
There can be no denying that injustices occurred and need to be addressed, wrongs need to be put right before we can move forward. But to have lawyers and radicals cynically manipulating the Treaty does no one any favours. Does any person or group have the authority to legitimately represent the interests of ALL MAORI? That would help, rather than disparate and overly 'legal' case by case consideration of each possible claim.
That is something for Maori to do, establish a single entity to represent them in front of the Crown. Then we would be a lot closer being able to sit together and sign off the one big 'grievance' - and that is the injustice inflicted on Maori over a sustained period - it is not as specific as a single slice of beach, a road, a right to a hip operation.
And anyone who can define the "principles of the Treaty of Waitangi" for me, please do. There is a long way to go on this one - but one speech does not a democracy make.
