There is an interesting item on the BBC website today about the goals of government. The full text can be seen here. I have selected a few quotes and have a few observations.

"The best society is that where the people are happiest, and the best policy is the one that produces the greatest happiness. So argued the great 18th century thinkers like Jeremy Bentham, and their admirable views did much to inspire the social reforms of the century that followed. "

and

"In Britain and the US the number of people who believe that "most other people can be trusted" has halved in the last 50 years, and this reflects the growth of an individualism which makes personal success more important than almost anything else. "

This pinpoints something I have been thinking for some time now. Our country is misguided in its policies becuase we have mistaken wealth for well-being. Nearly all discuccion of public policy and government actions revolves around money. Christmas and Easter have become more about money than religion. We consume and work and consume and work in a vicious cycle, searching for happiness.

There is much talk on the right about the erosion of family values and loss of moral context in society. In the context of a rant from James Dobson or Rush Limbaugh I cannot disagree more. However in the context of an examination of moeny and life in America, i think this may be correct. We worship at the alter of the almighty dollar.

Look at a few issues in the abstract and then look at them in the context of American's lust for money.
- Environmental protection. In the abstract I cannot imagine many Americans would say we should pollute the air. If you change the question to include business (economic) concerns I think the answer changes dramatically.
- Social Safety Net. In the abstract American's would likely agree with the statement that all people deserve a safe place to live, safe water, access to food, medical care, and the opportunity to pursue their lives as they see fit (check the US Constitution). If you ask people if they want to help pay for these things there is a different result, I expect.
- Intellectual freedom. People deserve the right to an education and the right to read, write, and live by their personal beliefs. If you add in the cost of ideoligicall oriented education (private schools, college education, etc) Americans are reluctant to pony up any money.

American in the 21st Century is focused too much on the economy and too little on the citizenry. In the BBC report it is noted that Scandinavian countries always rank high on quality of life and hapiness. They also always rank high on taxes paid. The money is taken from individuals and given to the group to use on common goals. Here in America we like to believe there is no we, only a me. This drives indiviualism and distrust of others. The cycle continues; we distrust more and more and become more individually oriented.

This cultural reality fuels the conservitive agenda of hate, fear, and lower taxes. This approach can only move us toward more of the same. Americans need to be more invested in the America economy. Not in the financial economy but in the American Social Economy.