| There is no doubt the global financial crisis will make | | | | It would be unrealistic to say that money is unimportant. |
| 2009 a hard year for many. Yet, despite all this, | | | | Indeed, until we satisfy the necessities of food, shelter |
| perhaps the downturn may cause us to reflect on | | | | and clothing, money is our highest priority. But beyond |
| more meaningful matters. | | | | this its significance diminishes rapidly. |
| This crisis, we are told, was caused by irresponsible | | | | The trouble with material wealth is that you can never |
| lending by banks on an enormous scale. When the | | | | apparently have enough. The more you get, the more |
| inevitable happened, and borrowers defaulted, the | | | | you want. There is no level at which the desire is |
| banks were left with humongous losses. The result, no | | | | satisfied. In reality the $100,000 limo offers little extra |
| money available for would-be homeowners and | | | | utility over a $1,000 banger. If you're stuck in a jam, |
| genuine businesses, and the taxpayer (ie you and me) | | | | short of having wings, it certainly won't get you there |
| left to pick up the (substantial) bill. But even this highly | | | | any quicker. |
| compacted summary may be reduced even further to | | | | The marketing industry is incredibly adept at fueling our |
| two words - sheer greed! | | | | material desires, making this/that latest "thing" seem the |
| Around the world governments are commendably | | | | "thing" we've always needed to make our life |
| taking action to revive the flagging economy, it is a top | | | | complete. But when we get it we find it isn't quite the |
| priority for incoming US President Barack Obama, and | | | | final piece of the jigsaw and so we desire the next |
| let us all hope they are successful. But surely the first | | | | latest "thing" for our fulfillment. And so on... |
| lesson from a crisis caused by indiscriminate spending | | | | Of course there is no need to withdraw from |
| is not to spend indiscriminately. As we must all be | | | | materiality, our very purpose in being born into the |
| careful with our expenditure, thankfully Obama has | | | | world is to engage with it. But let's begin to recognize |
| vowed to be "held to account - to spend wisely"; for | | | | that materiality forms but a small part of our reason |
| every cent (of our hard-earned money) set forward | | | | for being. There are many satisfying things that cost |
| by government must be allocated with prudence. | | | | little or nothing. Simply being in nature can be truly |
| There are important lessons too for individuals. The | | | | exhilarating. And the buzz that comes from helping a |
| humiliated financial institutions are staffed by individuals, | | | | fellow being is priceless. |
| all with too keen an eye on the bonus. And it was | | | | To paraphrase another great President, inaugurated |
| individual desire for material "things", albeit egged on by | | | | 48 years ago, ask not what this world can give you - |
| our bankers, that created the mess. | | | | ask what you can give this world. |