Brotherhood Comment August 2006

ISSN 320 8632A regul Ar upd Ate from Soci Al Action And r e Se ArchAugust 2006Could the era of the common good be upon us?The Brotherhood’s winter appeal are involved. Our instincts are Australians are more than happy to has just finished, and I’ve just spent offended by such meanness. make moderate personal sacrifices the last few days signing more for the wider good when they than a thousand letters thanking And then there’s the strange case are moved by the right spirit and donors. You can’t sit through such of the recent federal budget. The convinced their money is being an exercise without being struck by public were showered with crisp well-spent—a position confirmed the enormous generosity of spirit fifty-dollar notes but remained consistently by the opinion polls. of the Australian people—from the indifferent. It’s becoming very wealthy to those who in fact obvious that people today want They’re also beginning to need occasional help themselves. more from their leaders than understand something incredibly hand-outs for themselves. important about their private and It’s been a real eye-opener. At a public generosity: it’s good for the time when we’re being encouraged In short, recent claims that economy. If we’re to be all that from some quarters to look after Australians have become addicted to we can be, we need to invest in ‘number one’, and criticised from individualism and materialism have the capacities of all our people other quarters ...