The people who have everything also run everything.

Social mobility might be at an all time low, but education is there for everyone and has been for quite some time now.

What do you think we should do about the young people who refuse an education Lessismore? Do we have to have compassion for them when they become unemployable?

Life is so not straightforward.

If everyone had the same amount of money on Monday, by Friday they would not be equal.
True

Those blessed with better brains to start with are usually able to get the better jobs. 'Twas ever thus and always will be. What else do you expect?
You also need drive and ambition - even the best brains and qualifications are not always a guarantee of success (or common sense!) but have the determination to succeed can go a long way.

Mind you, I did think of the bankers when I read the OP.

The haves and the have nots have always existed Yes Day6. I agree in a capitalist system such as ours this is inevitable, but is not an excuse for the extremes to which inequality has soared in the UK. Many other countries do not have this huge divide. 40% of the UKs wealth is owned by 10% of the population, and the wealthy have better access to better housing, education, health care and jobs. Students from public schools are over represented in the top universities. It is inevitable therefore that the "elite" will strive to maintain the status quo, but this inequality leads to a country which becomes unhappy, unhealthier physically and mentally and more unstable. Does this sound familiar I wonder?

The top 1% of earners pay 29% of all tax collected in U.K.

Please don't tell me to simmer down. That is very rude and patronizing.

a blinkered soap-box communist full of hatred impose his sort of 'justice' on the country

Is this all that is available to us? Surely we as civilized human beings should be trying to promote equality of opportunity and showing compassion. Why should privilege be rewarded with more privilege? Social mobility is at an all time low.

The idea of working hard and making your way is not a reality for many people....through no fault of their own.

A person can be bright and wear a hoodie and use a food bank

Of course they can. Whoever said they can't? You are choosing to be offended.

You are becoming outraged on behalf of .....?????

Read my post.

I suggested it would be of no use to drag the wine drinkers (see the cartoon) to street corners, food banks and dress them in hoodies. I said NOTHING about the people who live like that and have to use food banks.

Simmer down, eh?

If we talked of the poor the way we talk about the 'rich' we would find ourselves hounded to the ends of the earth. Anyway, what is a definition of rich - twice the average wage, 4 times, 6 times, what?

So 7% of the population went to private schools get 39% of the jobs, but but that is a lot less than half and the other 61% of people in power presumably come from homes that are not 'rich and privileged.

It is the same with Oxford and Cambridge well over 50% of students at those two universities are from state schools. If 24 percent of their graduates get top jobs, it could be because they are actually a damn sight brighter than the rest of the population. I mean they are elite universities and you do have to be both very bright and very rounded to get in there. Presumably most of that 24% would be state educated.

I have very little time for those who winge on constantly about privilege. My grandparents, one a docker married to the daughter of Irish immigrants living in a slum in London, the other an Irish factory worker, who enlisted in the army and married a shop assistant, all started life in poverty and and near the bottom socially. All died as members of the comfortable 'middle class'. One grandfather became an army officer decorated by the queen and the pope for his charitable work.

They got there by being clever and socially ambitious for themselves and their children. No privilege, no strings pulled. That way has always been open for the determined and ambitious and it still is. My FiL worked on the assembly line at Vauxhall. His son, my DH, got to grammar school, university and proved so good at what he does, that he is still being called back to advise on major engineering projects in his mid 70s.

A more equal society would give all people a fairer chance

Grany I completely agree BUT how do you make society more equal when it never has been?

What would you do to bring that about?

Most people would say "Make sure the rich pay the correct amount of tax." I also completely agree with that.

But it won't make a lot of difference. You cannot level out society.

You can throw money at the poor perhaps. Who subsidises who?

What is the solution? I don't think there is one. My advice would be, to everyone, if you want to get on, go to school, get an education, get a job. That is not always easy but it is a starting point and can eventually, maybe, set a poor person on the path to becoming a rich person. Yes, those starting rich have advantages, but would you advocate taking those advantages away to level the playing field. And if so, how would you so it?

I think we must accept society and life is unfair and that those born without the silver spoon have to make their own way in the world via schooling and by hard work. (If they are so inclined. Not everyone is.) It doesn't guarantee riches and it doesn't mean they won't be overlooked, but again, that's life. It was ever thus.

I'd like to win the lottery and win the high life. I'd like to emulate those with lots. It's not going to happen. I do not resent the rich though. I resent corruption and greed.

You cannot tar all wealthy and educated people with that brush.

I am waiting for someone to explain how we make the poor rich, or how we make the rich poor. It seems those with the politics of envy want to level a playing field that has always been sloped by getting at "the rich", as if they are criminals.

If everyone had the same amount of money on Monday, by Friday they would not be equal. Some people do their best to make their lives as comfortable as possible, others just spend what they don't have and then complain they want more. Yes, some people may seem to be lucky but you can make your own luck. You cannot improve the lives of the poorest in society by taking it off the rich, they have want to strive to improve their own lives.

From experience I know this. I was born into a poor working class family, lived in council property in a bad area with both parents working in factories. They didn't want that life for me so instilled in me the importance of a good education and a career. I now have a half a million pound mortgage free house in a nice area. I didn't get all that by being jealous of others' life styles, I did it by working hard and making sensible choices. It's the 'sensible choices' bit which is more important. I'm afraid, some people just don't seem to be able to make those, no matter how much they are helped..

I think most people get what they work for. Or for what their hubbies worked hard for

Those blessed with better brains to start with are usually able to get the better jobs. 'Twas ever thus and always will be. What else do you expect?

eazy, sorry I am dim. Where is the irony please.

I think Gary Younge is speaking the truth, and it has always been thus!
Is there a solution? I believe so. Those of us who have a lot of money in the bank, a large house, sent a child to a fee paying school, should consider giving others a hand-up. Mr G and I have many people in our social circle who always vote Conservative and do not care about the plight of the less privileged. I only know of two other couples, in our income bracket, who are willing to “give back to society”. We brought our daughter up to understand that she was fortunate, in life, and to always help others who are not as lucky!

Some people seem incapable of recognising irony.

homeless love dossing? What on earth?

Are we saying we should somehow cull the bright, rich, privileged and get them all wearing hoodies and using food banks?

That really is an appalling thing to say. A person can be bright and wear a hoodie and use a food bank.

Fair taxation is making those who can afford it pay more but unfortunately it is not a vote catcher.

Grany who decides fair taxation?

What they have in brains, they lack in common sense !

Why must all homeless people be tarred with the same brush ? I say there but for the grace of God------don't you ??
Silly me, of course you don't, as long as you're alright Jack---

A catchy sound bite.
May be true, but does it altogether bear scrutiny?
Or is it perhaps a case of post hoc ergo propter hoc?

Day 6 don't be silly ( Are we saying we should somehow cull the bright, rich, privileged and get them all wearing hoodies and using food banks?)
A more equal society would give all people a fairer chance.

The way the ruling elite are those in government now is grabbing the money giving it to the richest taking from the poor surely you have heard (that is why there lots more food banks) and not been angered by it? We are the 5th richest country. The thing is Austerity is a lie it need not have happened. But if that is how you like things.

Extreme poverty is the fault of the government and how they run the country manage finances, or not The money should be collected by fair taxation not letting rich hide their wealth crack down on tax evasion tax havens.

The biggest crime according to some on GN is to have money in the bank, own a biggish house, privately educate your children and vote Conservative.

Jealousy plays a big part in how some people perceive others.

The haves and have-nots have always existed. What's new???

Are we saying we should somehow cull the bright, rich, privileged and get them all wearing hoodies and using food banks?

Life is unfair, always has been, but communism (rounding people down to the lowest common denominators whilst those running the show get the privileges, via corruption, usually) is not the answer.

Is there an answer? Could it be that the rich just might have worked hard (and had no money behind them) and those who are homeless were thrown out because of their love of dossing and shooting up heroin?

Yes, extreme examples, but when on earth will those full of envy and scorn stop making assumptions which vilify the rich yet sympathise whole-heartedly with those who may have made no effort to improve their lot?

Extreme poverty is NOT the fault of those with wealth. I'd rather a Cambridge-educated person with insight and intelligence be in charge than a blinkered soap-box communist full of hatred impose his sort of 'justice' on the country.

And another thing - why are the educated and rich seemingly without sympathy?

The few I know are decent, kind people with a social conscience. Having money in the bank is not a sign of callous indifference.