PoliticsFederalFederal budgetOpinionAustralia has plenty of wealth. So why does everything feel so scarce?We have become a country that is exceptionally good at protecting what already exists and much less effective at building what comes next.Ivan PowerInvestor, adviserThe reaction to the federal budget was predictable. Arguments about superannuation, housing, tax concessions and who won and who lost. Who gets a bigger slice of the pie.What surprised me was not the arguments. It was how narrow they were. This week, senators, economists and industry groups have again been debating negative gearing, capital gains tax concessions and housing incentives.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Latest In FederalFetching latest articlesMost Viewed In Politics