9 November 2005
NEED, GREED AND RESPONSIBILITY - WILL THIS CHRISTMAS BE ANY DIFFERENT?
As we are about to enter the pre-Christmas season the spending and consumer patterns of Australians is questioned in an article published on the Edmund Rice Centre website.
Despite enjoying the highest material living standards in history it seems from a recent survey that even many of the richest amongst us believe they did not have enough money to buy everything that they really need.
The belief that spending money on an infinite variety of products and services is one way to happiness seems to have become deeply entrenched in our society. At the same time the signs are that this has not led to greater contentment, and as well, we are producing and consuming at such a rate that resources are being depleted and cannot be replaced.
The easy availability of credit means that debt has reached record levels, Australians are building ever bigger houses whilst the size of families continues to decrease and we are working longer and longer hours in order to pay off debts and afford purchases. The justification for the new industrial relations provisions seems to be that they are necessary to sustain economic growth. The desirability or sustainability of continued, unlimited economic growth seems never to be questioned.
Perhaps now is a more important time than ever to re-examine our lifestyles and spending patterns. Perhaps the approaching Christmas season is a good place to start.
Despite enjoying the highest material living standards in history it seems from a recent survey that even many of the richest amongst us believe they did not have enough money to buy everything that they really need.
The belief that spending money on an infinite variety of products and services is one way to happiness seems to have become deeply entrenched in our society. At the same time the signs are that this has not led to greater contentment, and as well, we are producing and consuming at such a rate that resources are being depleted and cannot be replaced.
The easy availability of credit means that debt has reached record levels, Australians are building ever bigger houses whilst the size of families continues to decrease and we are working longer and longer hours in order to pay off debts and afford purchases. The justification for the new industrial relations provisions seems to be that they are necessary to sustain economic growth. The desirability or sustainability of continued, unlimited economic growth seems never to be questioned.
Perhaps now is a more important time than ever to re-examine our lifestyles and spending patterns. Perhaps the approaching Christmas season is a good place to start.
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