taking equality out of the left ghetto, by bill kerry - compass think pieces, no. 50

8/14/2019 Taking Equality Out of the Left Ghetto, by Bill Kerry - Compass Think Pieces, No. 50

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compassDIRECTION FOR THE

DEMOCRATIC LEFT

TAKING EQUALITYOut of the Left Ghetto

June 2009by Bill Kerry

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In July 2007 the Joseph Rowntree

Foundation reported in its surveyentitled Public Attitudes toEconomic Inequality that: Over thelast 20 years, a large and enduringmajority of people (73 per cent in2004) have considered the gapbetween high and low incomes toolarge.

Compass publications are intended to create realdebate and discussion around the key issues facing thedemocratic left - however the views expressed in thispublication are not a statement of Compass policy.

TAKING EQUALITYOut of the Left Ghetto

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TAKING EQUALITY outof the left Ghetto

by Bill Kerry

Introduction

Following publication of Richard Wilkinsonand Kate Picketts The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always DoBetter, Bill Kerry argues that genuineprogressives, those who believe in greater

equality of outcomes and not justopportunity, must now argue from thepoint of view of peoples interests rather

than by appeals to social justice. Inaddition, equality must now be fused with

the themes of environmental sustainability and economic democracy in order tocreate a coherent set of ideas relevant to

the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Whilst the article deals with the UK andits political scene, the principles areapplicable across the developed world

where we are seeing the end of whateconomic growth can do for general levelsof wellbeing.

Bill Kerry is Secretary and co-founder of The Equality Trustwww.equalitytrust.org.uk

PART 1: Equality and harnessing thepolitics of interest

In July 2007 the Joseph RowntreeFoundation reported in its survey entitledPublic Attitudes to Economic Inequality

that: Over the last 20 years, a large andenduring majority of people (73 per centin 2004) have considered the gapbetween high and low incomes too large.In addition they note that: People do notnecessarily think that those on lowincomes are underpaid, but that those onhigher incomes are very overpaid.

It is reasonable to suppose that theproportion sharing this view has almostcertainly increased during the currenteconomic crisis which has thrown into

sharp relief the pay of bankers and thenMP pay and perks.

However, we know that these majoritiesdo not translate into supporting or votingfor progressive politics the same JosephRowntree Foundation report notes:Public attitudes to redistribution arecomplex, ambiguous and apparently contradictory. Current evidence does notexplain why a smaller proportion of people support redistribution than see theincome gap as too large.

Remedying this shortfall is, I believe, whereprogressives need to focus. Once wearticulate the vision of a healthier andhappier future and show that greater equality is the only sustainable route to

that future we can create a convergencebetween equality politics and a majorityof peoples interests which will be a very powerful motor for change.

Progressives can now demonstrate, froman incredibly strong evidential base, what

the UK could achieve if it moved frombeing one of the most unequal societies in the developed world to being one of themost equal - for example: rates of mentalillness (five times better); rates of imprisonment (five times better) and ratesof obesity (six times better). The evidencealso indicates that major improvementswould be made in levels of trust,participation in community life, educationalperformance, physical health, lifeexpectancy, teen bir ths, levels of violenceand social mobility - as well as fostering a

more constructive approach toenvironmental issues. The improvements

to be gained by becoming a more equalsociety are so large that they cannot beexplained simply by reference toimproving conditions for the poorestsections of society. It is clear that thebenefits of greater equality go right across

the social scale.

This means that progressives have ahistoric opportunity to present the casefor greater equality as a good news story

one that appeals to the vast majority and which promises greater wellbeing,

greater economic stability and realprogress in tackling looming environmentalcrises. Progressives can at last shed their hair-shirts and start spreading hope andoptimism for a change.

The role of The Equality Trust

The Equality Trust was formed in order toprovide and promote the hard evidence

that greater equality improves the quality of life for almost everyone. By doing this

the Trust aims to inform a newprogressive politics and aid thedevelopment of the broadest possibleconsensus on the benefits of greater equality. Such an evidence-led approach,we think, provides the best chance of winning the necessary majority, the bestchance of spreading progressive politicsbeyond the left ghetto and into the leafy suburbs, the white-collar workplaces and

the corridors of power - national, regionaland local.

The end of growth the new fact on

the block

Evidence presented in The Spirit Leveldemonstrates clearly that for the UK andother developed countries we have pretty much reached the limits of whateconomic growth can do for people in

terms of delivering a better life for thevast majority. More economic growth addslittle or nothing to life expectancy anddoes not improve measures of happinessor wellbeing for societies in the developedworld. By contrast, there is clear evidence

showing that, within these societies,greater equality is now the key way todeliver improved health, happiness andgeneral wellbeing for the vast majority.

The environmental aspect to the end of growth message is also clear and can only boost the arguments for greater equality.However, even before we reach thedesired steady state economy, there areshorter term gains to be had - moreequal societies recycle more, they havelower CO2 emissions per dollar of output,

their business leaders are more likely tosupport international environmental

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agreements and they are less consumeristand wasteful of the earths resources.

In the developing world, however,economic growth is still important andcontinues to deliver real improvements inwellbeing. The developed world and thedeveloping world link up on the equality agenda because there is evidence thatmore equal developed countries are morehelpful to developing countries in terms of giving more overseas aid, scoring higher on the Global Peace Index and beingmore likely to adhere to international

treaties that often aim to benefit thedeveloping world.

As The Equality Trust and others link greater equality with environmentalconcerns, this will lead to a major head-onchallenge to mainstream politicalorthodoxy which is largely unquestioningof growth and its supposed benefits. Thecurrent orthodoxy seems to be pinning itshopes on various forms of environmentally friendly techno-fix but

the required massive investment is lackingfrom a risk-averse and short-termistprivate sector and a near-bankrupt publicsector and all the while the clock is

ticking.

Making greater equality relevant atan individual, family and communitylevel

As well as promoting the macro-levelequality not growth argument,progressives have to develop micro-level

arguments at the individual, family andcommunity level and for each separatesocial or environmental issue that isaffected by inequality. Only this way can

the new progressive politics remainrelevant. For example, if we look at thehousing market, excessive incomes at the

top and insufficient incomes at the bottomhave caused an unstable marketcharacterised by a dangerously inflatedoverall market, property speculation,collapse of the first-time buyer market,rural price-out, homelessness and, of course, the horrendous levels of debt thatare now crushing so many people.

In fact nearly all the issues that dominatecurrent discourse are easily related toincome inequality and the stressed,hierarchical society it produces. However,progressives tend not to deal with matterson an issue by issue basis. There is a

tendency to stand on our moral moundand pronounce that its all to do withinequality and Thatchers legacy. We then

turn around and exit stage left to applausefrom our friends in the audience whoalready agree with us anyway. This will nothelp us win the necessary majority.

Whilst progressives should always try tochange the terms of the debate, by linkingup all the separate social andenvironmental problems with inequality atevery opportunity, we must also be ready

to make relevant and digestible argumentsfor each and every health, social andenvironmental problem caused by inequality. This is how the issues arecurrently dealt with in policy-making andin popular discourse - as discrete, largely unrelated problems. Arguing that all the

separate problems of society are linked toinequality is unlikely to help us win anargument on a radio phone-in which isspecifically dealing with obesity or mentalillness or youth crime. It will not help usget a hearing when the governmentunveils its latest ideas on reducing teenbirths. Sadly, progressives do not have theluxury of determining the field of battle. If we do not rise to this challenge thenequality and sustainability politics willremain at the margins as something slightly utopian, exotic or other and will be

regarded with suspicion by the majority of the people that we need to win over.

Taking back aspiration from theright the development of socialaspiration

Relating greater equality to the everyday concerns of the public will show thatpolicies promoting greater equality are thepolicies that promote the interests of individuals, families and local communities.This way we can contribute to thedevelopment of a more rounded conceptof aspiration - one could almost say social

aspiration. In a socially aspiring society people will be aware that greater equality increases their chances of living in apeaceful neighbourhood where their children can get into a decent local schooland where they may actually be able toafford their own home.

A more equal society has to be promotedas a practical solution to everyday concerns as well as larger-scale concernssuch as climate change - it has to bepromoted primarily as supportive andnurturing of peoples interests and less soby hopeful appeals to morality, social

justice and a spirit of sacrifice.

PART II: Getting the message across

Progressives need to promote a newlanguage of equality, one that resonateswith as broad a section of society aspossible and attempts to win them to aconsensus in favour of equality. Again, suchan approach flows directly from theevidence assembled in The Spirit Level

which shows that the gains of a moreequal society go right across the whole of society.

In party political terms, progressivesarguing the equality and sustainability agenda will need to consider where best

to target their resources. Traditionally itwould have been the Labour Party but weneed to be alive to a potentially shiftingscene which could, in my view, include any of the following in the next, say, 10-20years: the further advance of the Greens, a

leftward shift in the Labour Party, a split in the Labour Party, a Lib-Lab pact after thenext election or a Lib-Tory pact, a further attempt to forge left unity outside of theLabour Party, a functioning Red-Greenalliance or even the development of anew social (One Nation) wing of theTory party perhaps influenced by fresh

thinking on the right such as Philip BlondsRed Toryism.

Several implications flow from such a fluidpolitical environment and the likelihood

that equality and sustainability will need tobe promoted to people who are not

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traditionally seen as receptive to sucharguments.

Setting a hopeful tone

The campaigning tone adopted by progressives has to be one of hope andinclusiveness. We need to stay away frombrow-beating and finger-pointing andallowing ourselves to be portrayed by alazy media as dour communists or modern-day Levellers.

We should always accentuate the positive,emphasise what greater equality canachieve even more so than emphasising

the undoubted evils of inequality. We need to sell an inspiring vision. The message islikely to travel further and be receivedmore sympathetically if it is delivered in

this way. In the current climate of economic gloom, social unease andseemingly irreversible environmentaldoom people may be ready to hear something positive and uplifting.

Using accessible language

Progressives should use, wherever possible, an inclusive and non-ideological

terminology as it seeks to win theprogressive majority, for example: -ordinary people or working peopleinstead of working class and middle class;

transformation instead of revolution, and;employee rights, power and controlinstead of trade union rights, strikes andstruggles. We have to engage with UK society as it is - which I would say is

individualistic, fairly apolitical, conservativeand fearful - and not as we would wish it

to be. We must talk in a language thatdoes not switch people off.

Staying rooted in the evidence

Progressives should argue for greater equality on the basis that, objectively, it issimply the case that more equal societiesare better for the vast majority of their inhabitants a utilitarian approach. Any venturing into debates over policy or politics will be best served by stayingfirmly rooted in such evidence rather than

polemical or theoretical argument. Thelatter only increases the scope for progressives to be misinterpreted and/or misrepresented. We need to shed morelight than heat.

PART III: A new progressiveeconomics

Under the current government we haveseen unprecedented levels of publicspending yet the gains have been modestat best and have done little to allay thewidespread perception that ours is still adeeply troubled society where publicmoney is often wasted or poorly targeted.Allied to the new utilitarian politics of equality and sustainability, progressivesmust now move beyond tax and spend.

We need to advocate a fundamental transformation towards economicdemocracy - where the ownership andcontrol of the structures and institutionsof our economy are vested in the widestpossible numbers of people who are thenengaged in the running or stewardship of

those institutions. It is precisely the lack of real democracy, accountability and activeparticipation in our economic system thathas created the latest economic crisis thatnow engulfs us all.

Transformation needs to be about more than piecemeal, legislative reform handeddown by parliament to deal with specificissues as they arise and which can easily be reversed by the next government.Transformational policies and ideas shouldemerge via employee education,

engagement and action as much as through political parties, policies andprocesses. The pressure for transformationcan (and should) come more from below

than it does from the top.

Economic democracy

As well as advocating employeeownership of businesses, economicdemocracy will need to include other elements. The growth of co-operatives in

the private sector needs to be mirrored in the case of public sector institutions andservices. New forms of service delivery

where public bodies and services arecontrolled democratically by co-operationbetween employees and end-users shouldbe advocated. This would challenge theessentially right-wing analysis that suggestspublic service employees interests aresomehow opposed to those of theservice users, an idea that has beenruthlessly used to privatise public servicesunder the disguise of the choice agenda.

Progressives also need to get to grips withprofit and suggest alternatives to themyopic and harmful profit maximisationmodel and the corporate constitutions

that facilitate it. A concept of social profitor sustainable profit would be aninteresting area to explore one where

the rate of profit genuinely takes intoaccount all those externalities (principally employees and the environment) that arecurrently ignored under the profit-maximising model. The concept could thenbe developed into a financial model thatrelates profit to the business as a wholesuch that profit is not just whats left over

after every cost has been driven into thefloor. And profit should, at the very least,be related to genuine risk-taking, effortand/or innovation. Developing concepts todistinguish between good profit and badprofit may be another useful area toconsider.

PART IV: Some conclusions

Human flourishing is best realised inconditions of relative equality. This wasrecognised in Britain long before the

modern inventions of socialism andcommunism. It perhaps found its first realvoice in the period leading up to theEnglish Civil War when, through a religiousprism, many people advocated land andgoods being held in common.

For progressives the pursuit of greater equality should have the unquestioned,primary importance that the pursuit of greater profits has for those who believefervently in the capitalist system. Theinterests of manufacturing and financecapital are not always the same andcompetition between firms and

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entrepreneurs is often sharp and hostile,especially in trying economic times, butnone of them would ever question theprofit motive.

It is the sort of overriding pre-eminenceenjoyed by the profit motive in capitalistcircles that we should be trying to gain for ideas of equality amongst progressives. By re-asserting the primary importance of greater equality on an evidential basis wehave the chance to establish a newpolitical space where progressives of allhues can come together and then reachout to new supporters in order to win amajority. To aid this process, progressivesshould concentrate on achieving a new,simple, optimistic and inclusive narrativewhich:

1. relates the greater equality argument topeoples everyday lives at every opportunity to show that greater equality is supportive of their direct interests;

2. promotes the macro-level equality notgrowth argument at every opportunity and stresses that this does not mean anend to technical change, innovation andimprovement;

3. uses plain, accessible, jargon-freelanguage to deliver a hopeful and inclusivemessage about the possibilities for abetter society, and;

4. advocates economic democracy as theprincipal way to deliver sustainable, stable

and high levels of wellbeing in the future.

In doing this, I believe that the we canhelp lay the basis for a broad consensus infavour of greater equality where theproportion that votes for and supportsprogressive policies in the UK mirrors theproportion that already believes inequality is too great.

Bill Kerry is Secretary and co-founder of The Equality Trustwww.equalitytrust.org.uk

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