Them and Us by Will Hutton

Or Why Britain needs a Fair Society.
I'm a libertarian, in the old fashion sense of the word. I'm not an egalitarian although I am strongly in favour of systems that allow for equal opportunity for all. I also don't believe everyone's made equal but I do think many of us would achieve much, much more given half a chance at the right moment.

Hutton's latest book is an emotional, driven plea for a fair society. In the same vein as Amartya Sen or Joseph Stiglitz he writes out a compelling case for why fairness is, ultimately, good for almost everyone. His case is focussed on Britain, but it's no less wide ranging for that. I like Hutton and if this book is strewn through with a sense of someone pushing back against the tide then that's something I'm wearied by even if, when writing this book, I have to wonder what else he could have done, whether there was a different approach that could have made it seem more hopeful. And hopeful is something I don't feel having finished. If it's not entrenched political parties, media families, corporates or even the upper middle class's sense of entitlement, there are not many of those with power and influence in this country who appear to think fairness, moderation and equality of opportunity for all is a good thing in actual practice. Oh, sure, they all say schooling should be improved (but then send their children to private schools), they 'volunteer' like the patronising self-satisfied wealthy that they are, but ask them to commit and it's all too hard to make any real sacrifice for others. They may even vote Liberal...but come opportunities for fairness and they vote loudly and with their feet.

I leave Hutton's book not knowing what to do. I want to believe in politicians but frankly they represent lobbyists. I want to trust newspapers but working with our PR firm I know that they basically print what they think will sell news regardless of the facts. I want to be part of communities where discussion, difference and opportunity are encouraged and sought out but I'm generally not. The problem is not me either. The politicians have seen normal people leave them in thunderous droves but instead of asking why they've simply turned to corporate backers - and one wonders why...Media write what sells and despite our public claims to want fairness, what sells is gossip, slander and binary morality tales.

Bah. This book has made me angry, not with Hutton, but with the seedy, miserable little Englander society I find myself in and the desperation I feel in knowing there's pretty much nothing I can do to change it.

Should you read it? Probably.