Hi funksters,
I hope you are all doing well and that you have enjoyed some of the multimedia on the blog that's been featuring lately.
I read a great article in the SMH 'News Review' section on the weekend called
'We've never had it so good: so why are we so unhappy?'. The article discusses that in a day and age when Australianas are richer and healthier than ever, busy lives have forced us to re-evaluate what makes us happy.
The article talks about phenomena such as the self-help movie, The Secret, and the juxtaposed and arguably more authentic Swedish movie As It Is in Heaven, against a backdrop of the federal election and the very real chance that we may have a change of government after 11 years of Howard-led stewardship.
The article does not really give any answers to the question as to why people, in general are so unhappy, and sort of slams the notion of personal development, and blames unhappiness on our busy lives.
I tend to disagree to an extent, because I think where governments past and present have fallen short is in their perspective of what makes people happy. The assumption since government immemorial has been that we are happy when we are rich and therefore government's role lies in facilitating a rise above the struggle for survival along Maslow's hierarchy of needs. In my opinion, government should try to facilitate the highest possible amount of happiness amongst its population and the current mix of high wealth, high stress and relationship breakdowns is more of molotov cocktail than a genuine formula for happiness.
I don't think business in and of itself makes us unhappy, but I think too many Australians have lost that sense of community, connection with nature, and self-realisation in the last decades. Therefore we are now seeing a whole new focus on green values, new age meaning, and finding purpose in our lives. This is a positive development and that should be applauded, but I don't agree with either the government or the commentators in the article that these are the anthithesis to material wealth. I believe in abundance and I thoroughly believe people can busy (if they like), be happy, have meaning and be wealthy all at the same time. It is just a matter of having the right mind-set.
In terms of electoral outcomes, my conviction is that we will see a change in government, because Australians are now enjoying such unparalleled levels of seeming economic wealth that organic and more spiritual values seemingly espoused by labour may just hold the day. Simply playing the mortgage-card or 'it's the economy stupid' won't do it for a generation of boomers and y'ers who have turned Maslow's needs hierarchy on its head - self-realisation first please, survival second.
I encourage you to contribute your ideas on this controversial subject.
with funk
Anders
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