Dancing to a richer drumbeat

What rhythm? What dance?

The book,  The Free Lunch - Fairness with Freedom suggests new ways to nudge society to become more equitable. But how far do we want this to happen? This is what a five year old boy did:    

A grandfather made a deal with three grandchildren. The aim was to teach a little about choice, fairness and deferred gratification. 

The deal

The offer to each grandchild was: £1 to spend now, or £2 to spend in two week’s time on holiday. Two agreed to wait. The third, age 5, took his £1 to the shop, spent it on two Moshi Monster sticker packs and gave them to his brother and sister. 

The Free Lunch - Fairness with Freedom hints at the possibilities demonstrated by the boy who chose altruism rather than mere fairness, but the book settles for what might be more generally achievable in society. Since it was written, the near wrecking of the world's financial system and a growing disparity in income levels, has shown that its message is even more urgent.    

[Note: The boy was later rewarded for his generosity with £4 for holiday spending.]

Posted by Charles Bazlinton,  author The Free Lunch- Fairness with Freedom 

Lifting the burdens of injustice

Most people are good at compassion, responding with money and time when they realise the plight of the unfortunate. Cash giving after the tsunami last year was enormous. At the 2005 G8 summit in Edinburgh religious groups in particular - Christians, Moslems and Jews - were noted for having been a critical factor in leading to the decisions to forgive third world debt.

It is easier to spot poverty in a distant country and a strange culture. But what about poverty nearby? Obvious poverty can be seen following random misfortune such as a tsunami, harvest failure or epidemic, but poverty close to home is often so familiar that it escapes our notice or we dismiss it as inevitable.

The Jewish, Christian and Moslem faiths hold Moses in great esteem for his Law. The phrase that Jesus said summed up the Law of Moses was 'Love your neighbour as yourself' and he said that it was to be an essential guide for his followers. Despite being a 'Christian' country the way the UK economy is run pays little respect to basic Mosaic Law, and incidentally ignores similar crucial insights of the Classical Economists. The result is that millions will never escape from the poverty trap that our current laws keep them in. Something is drastically wrong and charity and welfare cannot give permanent solutions. Read The Free Lunch - Fairness with Freedom to understand poverty at home, wherever you live in the world, and see how this injustice could be lifted.
To buy the book: www.the-free-lunch.com