Although our last blog stressed that there is nothing in the recession that is worth killing oneself over, that has to be balanced by saying that neither should be effects of the recession be trivialised.

One would think that was pretty obvious, but there have been a number of contrary opinions recently: these come from sources ranging from well-meaning clerics preaching against materialism, through environmentalists and unreconstructed Marxists using the crisis to advance their political agenda, to newspaper editors looking for fresh angles on a familiar story.

All have tried to suggest that the recession is somehow a blessing in disguise.

If so, it is a very good disguise.

Here are some of the things that have been said in defence of the recession – and why they are wrong.  

1   “We needed a reality check because our culture had become too obsessed with money.” This may very well be true, but recession is not the cure: there is nothing like poverty and the threat of poverty to get people thinking about money more than ever.

2   “The recession will help the environment.” Rubbish! What we are in fact seeing is the environment taking second place to immediate economic needs in the decisions of both governments and families with tighter budgets.

3   “Recession can be good for the economy because it wipes out inefficient businesses.” Unpleasant as this sounds, a slight downturn every few years probably serves a necessary purpose – indeed, part of our present problem is that the downturn has been delayed too long and, as a result, is now much bigger than it need have been, so that it will destroy healthy businesses along with the unfit ones.

4   “People will have the opportunity to spend more time with their families and do other things they always wanted to do.” This is a positively insulting thing to say to someone who has just lost his business: there is the world of difference between making a positive choice to do something and being forced to do it.

5   “This is a golden opportunity to reorganise our whole economy.” True, but those in power have no idea how, and such reorganising as has been done, or proposed, appears to be in completely the wrong direction.