Maidstone Weald Labour Party

Many who have belonged to the Labour Party have done so because they have had in mind that the Party is a way of achieving an understanding of, and action about, the age old and universal question 'Why are the many poor?”; no doubt because it was as cogent then as it is now, the question was posed specifically by the newly formed Fabian Society in the first of the Fabian Tracts in 1884 written by W.L.Phillips. It may well be that members have not found an answer to the question or having glimpsed an answer are still looking for solutions to the implication that has been stated in biblical terms 'You have the poor among you always' (Matt.26.11) but you have doubts that it need be so. To find that solution has been the task of many generations of socialists of many varieties and even when they have found to their own satisfaction what they regard as an answer, there is then the problem of implementing it ; that is what the Labour Party has historically been about and the day-to-day solutions are indicated in the perplexities of policies and opinions. It comes as no surprise to hear that there is still a problem here; there is an answer in the Fabian Tract in the first paragraph of it : “We live is a competitive society with Capital in the hands of individuals.. What are the results? A few are very rich, some well off, the majority in poverty, and a vast number in misery” - if this is taken today, to be a world-wide assessment, then it is still true today 122 years later, and the statistics clearly show it. Even if it be so, even if you make a judgement that such a situation is not just, there is still the conundrum about doing something curative about it or accepting it as a phenomenon of nature...........or indeed of accepting policies of amelioration and living with that.

So is there enough wealth for all? Is so where is all the wealth going? Can it be redirected? Much for discussion here especially if you opine that this is not a task for our Party.

P.S.. "In The Guardian 14th Nov 06 Polly Toynbee writes : "If ever there was a moment for Labour Ministers to open the debate on gross inequality, Farepak is it. Instead, silence from them all - again"

Leslie Turner 10 Nov 06