Spender Bender - Bad Medicine For A Bloated Nation

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday December 9, 2008

Everyone I know is horrified by the Government's plea to spend its handouts rather than pay off the credit card and save the house in the face of imminent recession. Our insatiable appetite for big houses, big cars, fast food, novelties and travel has apparently turned to nausea. Keynesian force-feeding is a desperate attempt to prolong the orgy.

The tragedy is that in the short term governments cannot fund useful investment. There is no skilled workforce ready to restructure industry, energy and transport to meet climate instability. Those now facing unemployment have the wrong qualifications. The opportunity for nation-building was squandered over past decades as too many of us drifted into debt and into jobs weaving financial baskets or selling imported luxuries. Our relaxed and comfortable growth was all fat and no muscle.

In 1939 our forebears were no better prepared, but war transformed their response to grim leadership. Luxuries were rationed, people and material resources mobilised to revolutionise our capabilities. Can we respond with similar courage to dangers other than war?

Murray Scott Heathcote

Robyn Lewis (Letters, December 8) correctly points out that some recognition of frugality is more appropriate than overt extravagance for these uncertain economic times. But I wonder if she would change her opinion that "the Government cannot be blamed for such ludicrous behaviour" after reading yesterday's headline "Now hear this: it's time to spend, spend, spend"?

Brett Bates Cronulla

Thank you, Mr Rudd, for the extra cash you have given me and my wife.

I bought a flat screen TV, knowing that most of the money will go to help the Chinese economy. Some of it will go to Gerry Harvey, which should allay his fears of going broke. A small portion will go to Gunns for the woodchips that go into making the carton in which the TV came.

My wife bought some of the more expensive imported brands of food, so Woolies and Coles will enjoy their Christmas. The Cooper family and its brewery employees, along with Peter Lehmann and his winery staff, will get a small share.

Any money left over will go into the ANZ bank and should be welcomed by any of its staff remaining in employment after Christmas.

Tony Lyons Gawler East (SA)

Thanks Kevin. I stand ready to be stimulating for my country.

Susan Anthony Cammeray

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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