The Age September 24, 2004

Mr Howard argues that the election is about who can deliver a strong economy: but for what purpose? Obviously (or maybe not so obviously for the Liberal Party), the purpose of a strong economy is to bring benefits and an enhanced life to the citizens within it.

And here lies the challenge for the Liberals: pursuing a strong economy as the fundamental objective inevitably sees benefits to its citizens compromised. It is not a truism that a strong economy cures all ills automatically - after all, the US has the strongest economy in the world and we are all familiar with its shortcomings.

The compromises one needs to make in 'non-economic' areas for the sake of economic growth are the things that differentiate a civil and compassionate society from a rapacious and mercenary one. Health, education, environment, justice, welfare and other 'non-economic' areas are inevitably sacrificed in order to secure 'a strong economy'.

Government must be about 'optimisation' of the various competing influences within a nation in order to deliver the best possible outcome for its citizens. Economy is but one (albeit very important) element in this mix. It should not be about maximising any one of those factors.