Cargo Cult: ... characterized by the belief that material wealth (as money or manufactured goods) can be obtained through ritual worship.
During my years in New Guinea, I heard about gatherings of thousands of people who believed that if they went to a certain place at a certain time and did certain things, great wealth would suddenly be showered on them.
We may be amused or scoff at this exhibition of placid trust by these primitive people in the “cargo cult” but are we much better? At this time of year, everyone is expectantly looking to Canberra because “The Budget” is coming soon. People seem to think that if they do certain things, like marching up and down, or saying certain things, such as “making strong representations”, then the good Government will suddenly shower them with nice things.
But if it does do this it will be only because it has previously taken nice things from other people. We should not imagine Wayne Swan as a whiskerless Father Christmas. All he gives away he has to pinch from other people first.
I suppose the main reason we look to the Government for everything, far more than we used to, is that many people have paid so much income tax in the past and this money has been used to look after other people. Now these people themselves expect to be looked after. This might indeed be just and right, but it doesn’t say it is the best way of governing a country.
However, going back to New Guinea and the people gathering on the mountain top awaiting the arrival of the cargo plane: they at least had the excuse that they were ignorant.
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