Houellebecq. Yep, I' pretty happy too!

As usual, Poirot, we agree.
I am conscious though, Houellebecq and others, that I sound like a broken record. The trouble is once you perceive something from the outside, it's hard going back in.
I'm also "happy", whatever that means, though my happiness is born of seeing through illusions at least to some extent. It's perfectly true that we're damned lucky, blessed even, to live in Oz and to have the luxury to be able to philosophise a species of aloof contentment, or in your case cynicism, Houellebecq.. That is, cynicism in the modern sense; I claim Diogenes' enlightened-cynicism for Squeers.

But back to the article, I'd be willing to bet a large percentage of the population decidedly do not want "to be more prosperous than anyone else in the world", and that even more would be willing to forgo it and even cut back a bit in favour of modesty if it meant Australia didn't have to become a bloody great quarry and home to 50 million upwardly mobile zealots. It's about time we threw out governments who only know this manic line, the mantra of growth at any price.
Everald ought to approve of me, I don't want a bar of the capitalist cornucopia. I still know how to take pleasure in simple things, and to wonder at the wonderful--such as the wonderful meekness of cattle--human cattle that is.

'Why lament that they've got to work for such long hours or devote more time to some mindless grind because they have chosen to have "all" the stuff and its accompanying debt at once? Why not practice a little delayed gratification in return for a less harried life rather than whining about how hard they're done by?'

Who?

I agree, but who are you preaching to? Delayed gratification is a cheap way to enjoy things more. Works well in the bedroom too. Instant gratification is also good at other times.

The point is I suppose... after you:-) That's what people think. I mean they don't want to be a hippie living on a farm with no friends to talk with about lentil recipes. You need a critical mass of anti-capitalists.

Regardless I find that people will complain about anything. It's an enjoyable past time. It's self evident that they are living the life they want to live, because they are not choosing to change anything. It's most ill-mannered to point this out though, as it rather deflates people and shows a lack of emotional intelligence.

But I don't see people complaining really. Maybe I should listen to more talk-back radio.

Dear Jon J,

You wrote:

<<One reason Australians are concerned and fearful is because they are at the mercy of a government>>
(("now recognised to be hopelessly incompetent and actively dangerous..."))

The first line says it all. Whether the government of the day is recognised or otherwise for what it is and what it does, a government is a government is a government and anyone who is at the mercy of one is rightfully concerned and fearful, even if it were the best of its kind (which it obviously ain't).

People should be able to live their own lives, on their own terms, by the dignity of their own efforts (plus the good-will of others when/where indeed necessary), refusing any of those crippling and humiliating entitlements and handouts from immoral, involuntary and violent bodies such as the state and its government.

'The trouble is once you perceive something from the outside, it's hard going back in.'

That's pretty arrogant. You perceive from the outside that your ideals and what leads to your happiness is right for others, and they are just too dumb or naive to realise this.

'cut back a bit in favour of modesty if it meant Australia didn't have to become a bloody great quarry and home to 50 million upwardly mobile zealots.'

It's ok as long as the Quarry isn't visible from the back yard really. 50 million yuppies would be a problem, but think of the market for Japanese restaurants and those leather boat shoes (Sorry don't know the fashion term for those shoes). Actually I can relate to the yuppies as well as the pikeys, I like saying the word Portfolio and pretending to know the sq metre-age of my house.

'It's about time we threw out governments who only know this manic line, the mantra of growth at any price.'

I think it's quite possible for you to have your anti-capitalist utopia in the exuisting capitilist system (There may even be a market for that, I'm sure there must be some good lifestyle accessories you could buy apart from Che berets;-). In fact I feel you're bragging about your 'outside'ness, so why does it matter to you so much? Why do you think your values and perception of the world would be right for others?

Isn't it more fun to just watch em squirm and go Na ni na ni na na, you're a slave to the Military Industrial Westfield Parking complex?

Or maybe that's what you're doing now...

Verging on the namedropping there Everald…

"SPEAKING at the Prime Minister’s Economic Summit in Brisbane in June, Reserve Bank Governor, Glen Stevens, told 150 business leaders… [followed by] I chatted with other delegates about this strange attitude, and there was a general consensus… that we are entitled to be more prosperous than anyone else in the world and, indeed, have a right to expect even greater affluence than we enjoy now."

Okay, I edited out 14 words from your fourth paragraph but I think it clarifies the problem by eliding the presumption of 150 business leaders about the feelings of the citizenry to make a point about exactly who expects the right to greater affluence.

It's the gall of this form of a sense of entitlement that makes voters angry – and as long as we are doing well enough with our lot in life to have spare time to care, if being angry makes us happy – then so be it.

Oh, and good luck with getting those 150 business leaders to agree with your "On all other matters, we should look after ourselves and stop blaming governments when we get into trouble."

I'm old enough to remember being taken on a two bus trip to a large city department store with my mother as she made another layby payment on the curtains that, when she had finished paying for them, were going to replace the donated old bedsheets that were serving as window coverings. As a special treat the kind staff took me back into the storage area to look at our curtains which in only six more months of payments would be able to go home with us.

These days I am happy to be able to share some of my good fortune in life with those less well off by buying household furnishings regardless of where they were made. It's my modest effort to share the wealth around – exactly the reverse of expecting greater affluence.