Total Eclipse of the Mind.

Is it the end of days for the Accommodation Supplement?

All that you touch And all that you see
All that you taste All you feel
And all that you love And all that you hate
All you distrust All you save

Early tomorrow morning as the sun is rising in Aotearoa many people across North America, from Mexico to Canada, will be losing sight of it. The afternoon sun will darken completely for those in the path of a total solar eclipse.

Eclipses have long been observed by humankind and ascribed all kinds of supernatural meanings. Surprisingly it seems they still are.

I noticed on Facebook that people were marking themselves free from “believing the solar eclipse is anything other than the moon passing in front of the sun”, and asked - is that necessary? Apparently it was.

‘Murica eh? Of course there are conspiracy theorists. Funny thing is none of them ever seem to acknowledge that they were wrong after the fact.

We’ve seen it many times before, predictions of the world ending on a particular date, or the rapture coming. Each time the day comes and goes, but it doesn’t seem to discourage them in the least.

So if you can’t beat them (over the head with reality), then why not join them. I posted that I was safe, with just a small modification.

Others suggested that perhaps I shouldn’t be so hasty.

Maybe there was some merit in the idea. Some thought it would be wonderful if it happened. My friend Todd was especially looking forward to the downward pressure on housing prices due to the sudden oversupply.

There were even a few suggestions that the divine duo might like to take a few of their colleagues with them.

I liked the sound of the impact on housing. Mind you, if it’s the true believers about to fly off to the beyond that won’t free up a vast number. We’re a pretty secular bunch, and as for the believers - obviously none of them would have large property portfolios. That would be counter to the teaching of their religion.

Housing, as I’m sure you’re aware, is the number one cost for most people. If you own a house things might be tough, but if you don’t that’s a whole different thing.

Apologies for sounding like a stuck record, but decades of neoliberalism has changed our country from one where all could aspire to home ownership to one where it’s now a bad joke to many.

Something has to be done. Could it possibly come from an unlikely source? I don’t mean the eclipse, but what about Hurricane Upston?

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On the one hand, seeing taxpayer money going straight into the back pocket of property owners is not ideal. It has long been frustrating to see increases in government support, intended to help those most in need:

Go directly to landlord, do not pass to tenants.

But on the other, if Louise Upston is going to crack down on the accommodation supplement, which helps pay for the roof over people’s heads, that would result in thousands becoming homeless.

There would also be carnage in the market in terms of rental prices that would become unsustainable without the supplement.