The gap between rich and poor is at its highest level for 30
years, yet this August's Ipsos MORI issues index, which
canvassed public opinion on the issues that matter, showed only
10% of people in the UK are concerned about it. Most of us can
see in our daily lives how our world is beset with social
problems. We're stressed, mistrustful, our communities have
eroded, crime is a constant problem, and the lives of growing
numbers are dominated by despair and depression. Despite all
this, it has been those at the harsher end of the social scale
who've been blamed - to read some commentators you'd believe all
our social problems would be solved if the poor just got their
act together and stopped being so feckless and lazy. This
equation of social suffering with personal failings is
particularly cruel when viewed in the light of how our economic
system actually works - whereby some people can take billions
through little more than speculation whilst others are expected
to work for free or in multiple jobs just to