Oakeshott is just one of the so-called “journalists” who have fanned these flames. You can add Alison Pearson, Amanda Platell, Sarah Vine, Andrew Neil and many others to a very long list.
It's worth noting that a related issue is the treatment of "pockets" and thinking in terms of "neglected communities". Extreme poverty exists in a way that's much more hidden from national view within wealthy areas, particularly out in rural parts of England and parts of Wales; the places in question are desirable places to live. As a result many living there are well above national average incomes/wealth, but this hides the reality of poverty in those areas (unrelated to property prices).
Living in an area of a few square miles that includes houses of billionaires and multi-millionaires, senior lawyers, CxOs of large organisations etc., results in average stats that say "this place is fine, nothing to see here", but the reality for those living in that area on long term sick or unemployed, or on minimum state pensions or even on minimum wage jobs for which they have to fund travel (no, there's no buses or trains) is that they are poor. And even that they are worse off, financially, than those that live in the areas that make the news.
Socially of course they are better off; they are much more a part of the wider community, their children and grandchildren go to the same pre-schools, primary schools and parks. But they are nonetheless poor.
Very much agree, Chris. I have seen the impact of this up-close a couple of times in my life. The first was when I lived in the Paddington area of London, where the wealth inequality from one street to the next was truly astonishing. The second, when I was chair of governors in a primary school that served a community whose challenges were not always recognised because it was part of an otherwise wealthy market town.
Thanks, Tom. It would be nice to think that recent events will help more journalists see the dangers of letting this stuff go unsaid and encourage them to call it out…but I’ve been around too long to place too much hope in that happening.
I lived in a few countries over 20 years. Living in the US was especially instructive. The inequality arising as a direct result of slavishly following neoliberal capitalism is staggering. It has led to a generation of angry young men whose prospects of making a good life, the American Dream, is remote. There are more homeless in San Diego than the whole of the UK. In turn, the disaffected became the perfect recipients for Trump style othering. Guess what? We have our own version. The irony for the likes of Oakeshott et al, is their past worship at the alter of unbridled greed in the shape of poorly regulated capitalism. Therein lies the root of our street violence. In no way is this an excuse but it does set the stage for a reset before we have far right governments by default. My 2 penn’orth.
Oakeshott is just one of the so-called “journalists” who have fanned these flames. You can add Alison Pearson, Amanda Platell, Sarah Vine, Andrew Neil and many others to a very long list.
Absolutely right, Mac. And we need to push back on every single one of them.
It's worth noting that a related issue is the treatment of "pockets" and thinking in terms of "neglected communities". Extreme poverty exists in a way that's much more hidden from national view within wealthy areas, particularly out in rural parts of England and parts of Wales; the places in question are desirable places to live. As a result many living there are well above national average incomes/wealth, but this hides the reality of poverty in those areas (unrelated to property prices).
Living in an area of a few square miles that includes houses of billionaires and multi-millionaires, senior lawyers, CxOs of large organisations etc., results in average stats that say "this place is fine, nothing to see here", but the reality for those living in that area on long term sick or unemployed, or on minimum state pensions or even on minimum wage jobs for which they have to fund travel (no, there's no buses or trains) is that they are poor. And even that they are worse off, financially, than those that live in the areas that make the news.
Socially of course they are better off; they are much more a part of the wider community, their children and grandchildren go to the same pre-schools, primary schools and parks. But they are nonetheless poor.
Very much agree, Chris. I have seen the impact of this up-close a couple of times in my life. The first was when I lived in the Paddington area of London, where the wealth inequality from one street to the next was truly astonishing. The second, when I was chair of governors in a primary school that served a community whose challenges were not always recognised because it was part of an otherwise wealthy market town.
It's pretty awful that a newsletter like this is probably the only place you'll see a rational and thoughtful response like this.
Thanks, Tom. It would be nice to think that recent events will help more journalists see the dangers of letting this stuff go unsaid and encourage them to call it out…but I’ve been around too long to place too much hope in that happening.
Thank you. I was starting to think I was the only one who saw this even though (to me) it’s blindingly obvious, yet no one mentions it?
I lived in a few countries over 20 years. Living in the US was especially instructive. The inequality arising as a direct result of slavishly following neoliberal capitalism is staggering. It has led to a generation of angry young men whose prospects of making a good life, the American Dream, is remote. There are more homeless in San Diego than the whole of the UK. In turn, the disaffected became the perfect recipients for Trump style othering. Guess what? We have our own version. The irony for the likes of Oakeshott et al, is their past worship at the alter of unbridled greed in the shape of poorly regulated capitalism. Therein lies the root of our street violence. In no way is this an excuse but it does set the stage for a reset before we have far right governments by default. My 2 penn’orth.