Has anything changed?
Some years ago Gerry Harvey the chief executive of retailer Harvey Norman said he couldn't find a path through the fog of bad economic news as it continued to weigh on consumers. He suggests people be happy and spend.
He said that with unemployment at only 5 per cent and a resources boom, we should all be happy. While there had been much commentary about this cautious consumerism, Harvey Norman franchisees had "never experienced so much customer traffic and transactions"
However, at that time the current economic mix was terrible. Retail, manufacturing and tourism were all in trouble. Harvey continued by saying that something is wrong when New Zealand, which isn't benefiting from a mining boom, is forecasting stronger growth than Australia.
Without doubt business leaders would applaud such sentiments, that (presumably) through consumer spending the economy will leap forward and the nation will escape from whatever economic downturn the world might have coming its way.
Then we can look now – some years later - the mining boom has slowed. There appear to be several issues with such economic forecasts.
The issues
What is good for the high profile retailers and miners may not necessarily be good for the 'Mums and Dads' of Australia. This is a pertinent point.
It is precisely because Mr and Mrs 'Average Australian' have been buying what were once termed 'luxuries', but are now advertised as 'necessities', that retail businesses did well. However, for the ordinary people, being in debt certainly doesn't make for happiness.
Another issue is that not everyone agreed that the mining boom automatically ensured that every other aspect of Australian commerce and industry is doing well.
Australia's manufacturers today are doing it tough. The last Australian white goods factory closed in Lithgow. Australia's primary industries are not singing 'hallelujah' from their farm roof tops. Our national airline Qantas had to go offshore to make ends meet in the international arena. The argument that we can be supported by our natural resources, and that the benefits are equally spread, doesn't ring true for everyone.
At the other end of the spectrum, if you talk to the Charity sector, you'll get a very different sentiment than being happy is based on spending.
Being happy
Being happy has very little to do with spending money. I offers some examples.
Ask any grandparent where their happiness lies, perhaps with a new born adding to their quiver of grandchildren, and they will be delighted and thankful for the new little lives.
Ask an athlete where their happiness lies, surely with a personal best or team best effort, and they will be thankful they have the where-with-all to enjoy such physical activity.
Ask any school teacher where their happiness lies, possibly when one of their charges finally "gets it" and the light goes on, and their understanding is changed forever; and the teacher is 'over the moon' that they have had an effect on the next generation.
Ask any Minister where their happiness lies, and he/she will probably tell you about the untold joy they experience when someone like themselves, a sinner, in need of repentance, forgiveness and Salvation, invites Jesus Christ into their whole being to guide and lead them.
No, spending money the like of which Gerry Harvey suggested, may or may not be helpful to the economy, it may or may not be helpful to someone's bank balance, but it certainly is not "the core essence" of happiness.
This is not the same as being blessed with the ability to know the where-with-all to gain wealth and in turn be a blessing to others and the community.
Luke chapter 12 verse 15 Then he said to them,"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children
