Friday 29 October 2010

The Politics of Class Envy 2: Social Experiment on Housing Benefits

The Conservatives stand accused of social engineering by forcing poorer families out of expensive areas by cutting the amount of benefit available to a still staggering £20,000 per annum. The argument is that this will create rich only areas and all the poorer off will have to retreat to other parts of the country. This is turning the idea of social engineering on its head.

If people on housing benefits are forced, like people not on housing benefits, to live where they can afford, that is by definition a free market based on supply, demand and affordability. To insist there must be poorer representation in the demographic of richer areas by providing taxpayer money to fund homes the recipients would not otherwise be able to afford, is the very definition of social engineering.

It is unfortunately typical of Labour's intrusive attitude towards Government. They think nothing of social engineering - it was at the core of New Labour's ethos and Miliband Minor will likely be no different. However, releasing the UK from this false and unaffordable society programme is unsurprisingly being met by the left as an attack on the lower classes. Yet again it is the politics of class envy where they will harp on about giving poorer families the opportunities of these richer people who pay for ther own houses. Unfortunately, as usual, they have no idea of the big picture and would continue to press a programme on Britain where those who are given benefits will be able to live a better life on those alone than those receiving nothing could dream of. This leapfrogging effect is profoundly wrong.

If you disagree, take a straw poll of your friends and family. Find out how many people can afford to spend £20,000 per annum on rent or mortgage. Not many - and they all have to find that money post-tax. Does it still seem ungenerous to give this away?

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