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Interesting new report from @taxjusticeUK which finds broad public support for higher taxes, but little public appetite for ‘bashing the rich’ and a widespread belief in meritocracy.
Some thoughts on this (thread): https://www.taxjustice.uk/blog/conservative-voters-shift-in-favour-of-tax-rises-under-lockdown https://www.taxjustice.uk/blog/conservative-voters-shift-in-favour-of-tax-rises-under-lockdown
Some thoughts on this (thread): https://www.taxjustice.uk/blog/conservative-voters-shift-in-favour-of-tax-rises-under-lockdown https://www.taxjustice.uk/blog/conservative-voters-shift-in-favour-of-tax-rises-under-lockdown
There is a clearly an opportunity to win moderate tax increases in the short term. But it’s clear the public are not convinced that extreme wealth is a major problem.
To change this, we need to start talking about where wealth comes from (see here): https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/tackle-inequality-we-need-start-talking-about-where-wealth-comes/
To change this, we need to start talking about where wealth comes from (see here): https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/tackle-inequality-we-need-start-talking-about-where-wealth-comes/
People’s views aren’t formed in a vacuum: they are shaped by social and political forces. The Thatcher revolution embedded a particular narrative about wealth — where entrepreneurs are the engines of wealth creation, and where everyone is rewarded according to contribution
New Labour largely accepted this narrative of wealth creation, and until relatively recently nobody in British politics challenged it. It shouldn’t be surprising that people think the UK is a meritocracy — it’s been drummed into our heads through our politics and culture
In reality, the amount of wealth in Britain that can truly be ascribed to “hard work”, however loosely defined, is incredibly small. The idea that Britain is a meritocracy, however appealing, is objectively false – and we shouldn’t be afraid to say so https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/tackle-inequality-we-need-start-talking-about-where-wealth-comes/
Distributive justice can’t be achieved by pandering to a narrative that was designed to promote Thatcherism. Instead, we need a compelling narrative about how wealth is really created and distributed in society, which recognises it is a collective process, not an individual one.
How wealth is acquired matters to people’s perception of fairness. If people can be persuaded that Britain isn’t quite as meritocratic as we’re told, attitudes towards wealth can be shifted in a more progressive direction, along with support for progressive policies
This doesn’t mean criticising people’s natural desire to earn more money. But it does mean highlighting where workers are being paid less than the value they create, owners are appropriating wealth they didn't create, and vast profits are being made by destroying our ecosystems
This isn’t just about winning a technical argument – it’s also about winning at the ballot box. Research shows that although most people view wealth accumulation in a positive light, they hold a much more negative view of wealth that has not been acquired fairly
Changing views won’t happen overnight, but it won’t happen at all unless we actually start trying. Allowing the right to own the narrative on wealth creation has been a huge barrier to social justice, and too often progressives legitimise this by failing to challenge it. END
