Interesting to see a number of your correspondents quoting the totally discredited book ‘The Spirit Level'. This book, which is the darling of the Left, promotes big government, less individual rights, more tax, more welfare etc.
The theory is that all of the ills in society have a common cause: inequality. Not - it must stressed - poverty or deprivation, but the psychological damage of living in a country with a wide gap between rich and poor.
The claim is that when you find out how much your neighbour earns, you will go nuts or become a P addict.
The problem with this book is the author's enthusiasm to establish their pet theory, using measures and statistics to suit their argument, leaving out those that didn't; and even ignoring whole countries with outcomes that did not support their theory. As any statistician can tell you, if you torture data it will confess to anything.
The Left continue to cling to this book and its shonky pseudo-science because it make them feel ‘oh so righteous' when they spray insults such as 'obscene salaries”, 'profits before people”, 'looking after your rich mates” and 'crony capitalism”. It also justifies their promotion of the politics of envy.

R Prince, Welcome Bay.