Inequality: Live With It

The Labour Party seems to be fighting back using the politics and rhetoric of class conflict. Which is hardly surprising - we have the rump end of a once popular and moderate Labour government fighting desperately, fitfully and ineffectually for survival. They will latch onto the ideology which they feel most comfortable with - basic, class based socialism.

What I does still surprise - and, if I am honest, still disappoints - me is that the Tories seem to be determined to paint themselves as the party of equality, as Theresa May seems determined to steal Harriet Harman's rhetoric:

"I also find it surprising that she should raise issues of social equality when she's part of government that has been in power for over 11 years, presiding over a 900,000 growth in the number of people living in severe poverty and over a country that has the lowest social mobility in the developed world... Labour has made poverty more entrenched and returning to the class warfare rhetoric of 20 years ago is neither helpful nor realistic."

One of the main reasons why I departed from the Tories was Cameron's embracing of Toynbee-esque visions of equality within society, and I maintain that some inequality within society isn't a bad thing. It may not be a great thing, either. But here's the rub - inequality is a natural aspect of a free society. Don't get me wrong; no-one should be discriminated against based in race, gender, sexual inclination etc and no-one should be subjected to true poverty. But the reality is that there will be inequality because people have different skills, different abilities, different desires and different jobs.

The problem is that whenever there is any debate about inequality, it quickly turns shrill. There will always be those who wade into any debate about inequality screaming "it isn't fair! I want to be rich too!" The tone of their contributions tends to be like a kid screaming indignantly in a toy shop, wanting something that is clearly out of their grasp and something that they are clearly never going to get. But those who advocate increasing equality through methods such as redistributing wealth miss two harsh, but fundamental truths.

Firstly, people can become rich. Pretty much anyone can become rich. However, the way to do that for the majority of people is through hard work an compromise. I know, I know I am never going to be massively wealthy. And you know what? That's fine. I'm not willing to work every hour God sends and there are somethings I would never compromise on, even for cash. And that's my choice. Which is the point. Other people can - and do - chose to put in the hard work that is required to become wealthy. And good luck to them. However, many people do not want to put in the hard work and would rather wealth was presented to them on a plate - often using the depressing and farcical notion that they deserve it, just through existing as a member of the human race.

Secondly, if you "level the playing field" or whatever else you might call redistributing welath from the deserving to the shrill, you won't incentivise people to become wealthy. You won't incentivise people to put in the hard work and long hours needed to be successful. Inequality motivates some within society to shout about how unfair life is. It motivates others to make the best for themselves and their families within that *unjust* society.

I concede that some people are held back by their backgrounds, and it is not as easy for someone from a poor background to hit the dizzy heights of wealth and success as it is for someone from a priviliged background. It is still possible, but much more difficult. Which is why I have some sympathy for those who talk about maximising equality of opportunity. But equality of outcome is absolutely alien to me, and should be absolutely alien and unnatural to any liberal, capitalist society.

I can see why people want to make life fairer for all. But the simple fact is that life isn't fair. If you allow for some inequality, then life will allow life to be more pleasant for some people that for others. However, if you want follow the rhetoric of Harman et al to the logical extreme, and try to eliminate all inequality in society, then all you end up with is life being equally unpleasant for all.

It sounds harsh, and it will sound brutal to some, but the conclusion of this debate is always the same: Life is unfair. Get over it. And get on with it.