Two items in the SMH this morning on different topics both point to the failings of neo-liberalism.
Paul Sheehan lays the blame for our economic crisis on the privileged and profligate generation known as the baby boomers . Alexander McCall Smith elsewhere blames the bad behaviour witnessed in the London riots on moral pluralism - the idea that there is no such thing as a general right or wrong.
The blame for both can be attributed to the faith of neo-liberalism, an excessive belief in individual choice and freedom from regulation. Even Sheehan noted the failure of regulation in curbing the excesses of derivative trading.
Neo-liberalism deviates from classical liberalism in its rejection of the principle known as the Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” That rule is necessary to both develop and maintain an organised society.
It was this set of neo-liberal beliefs that led Margaret Thatcher to assert “There is no such thing as society”. That was not true when she said it, but the unguarded embrace of neo-liberalism will certainly make it so. (As is their aim given the equating of society with "collectivism"
On a slightly different note but related to the values that really underpin Christianity, Kristina Kenneally has outlined why she supports gay marriage. She does so mostly by invoking the simple Gospel message of 'love one another as I have loved you'.
Novae Meridianae Demetae Dexter delenda est
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