Inequality

The bridge in the picture is on the Underley estate, just north of Kirkby Lonsdale. The estate - built, I understand, on "China tea money" - used to stretch for miles to the north and is perhaps now a third of its original size. It still owns a huge amount of land around here, and property, too. The cottage I live in is rented from the estate and, twenty years ago, I rented a farmhouse that was actually on the estate.

That meant I could use the bridge to get across the river, opening up running routes on the east side of the Lune. I cycled down to the bridge last night to take this photo. Despite the fact that there is a public foot path just over the other side, the bridge is private and large signs make this clear to walkers (and, I infer, runners).

So, it's frustrating to me that for the sake a hundred yards of private property, I can't extend my runs from the west side of the river across to Barbon and Casterton. Well, not without running a couple of miles south to Devil's Bridge, anyway.

Of course, the bridge belongs to someone and if they choose not to share it, that's their prerogative. We aren't all born equal and some people have more than others. I have lots of lovely stuff in my life and I don't want to waste time and energy on bitterness and envy. And, actually, there are lots of things to be envious of other than "stuff".

Of course, just because we aren't born equal doesn't mean society should favour the lucky few. I don't subscribe to the politics of envy but I do, at the very heart of my political beliefs, believe that everyone should have equal opportunities, fundamentally to health and education.

But I also believe that in a decent society, the fortunate should take care of the less fortunate. I don't, as a rule, believe in taxing the rich more, just because they can afford it. In a (somewhat simplified) world where everyone paid, say, 25% tax, the better off would, of course, be paying more.

However, these aren't simple times. We are all sat around a table and some of those with the most food are telling us that we need to tighten our belts. They are telling us that we need to cut back and that we are all in this together. And despite the fact that their plates are overflowing, despite the fact that they have more food than they need and, in some cases, could ever eat, they are taking food from the plates of those with the smallest portions. And then giving themselves more.

It is a disgusting state of affairs.

I'm not arguing the pros and cons of a free market versus socialism, small government versus a large state, I'm talking about the current Tory government (which, heartbreakingly, includes the LibDems). Even if you are a Conservative, you should be appalled at what the government is doing in your name. Abusing the poor, those who can't find work, those with disabilities. We need an election and we need to get these pigs' noses out of the trough and to start looking after one another.