Fairness

I have been thinking about fairness quite a lot. It is one of those things that has been rattling around in the back of my brain. But it always feels rather childlike to say 'it's not fair'. But there now seems to be step change in the unfairness of what is happening

I think that fairness has been coming under increasing pressure. We Brits like things to be fair (not that everyone has to have the same thing). I have a hunch that fairness is one of those fundamental parts of our culture. Without it, there is no legitimacy and anarchy lurks.

The broad sense of unfairness has been looming for a while. The actions of the banks have taken this to another stage and the pension of Sir Fred Goodwin seems to be on the verge of taking it a step further. I wonder if he realises how out of touch he is with the real world. It would appear not.

Ignoring the growing sense of injustice is worrying. Fairness has been coming under pressure from many sides - traffic rules that seem to be about revenue generation, fortnightly rubbish collection with rising council tax, decisions about war that seem to be based on less than half truths, the rich getting richer, the poor taxpayer footing the bill, small pressure points but all building up and feeling as if they might all soon come to a head. There are police predictions about riots and they seem to understand what is going on. I shall be foregoing barricade building until the weather improves. In the meantime I am going to read up about Wat Tyler. Smithfield anyone?